Desire ran with his hunting party through the divine garden, in search of game. Desire sought after an elusive golden bull; presumably the most magnificent animal in the whole garden. As for the rest of the party: Wish never made a kill, always passing every opportunity for an expected better one; Ambition only killed beasts that were better than all previous ones; and, Greed killed indeterminately.

Romance tended the plants and animals in the ethereal field with the help of her assistants. Affection cared for all nature, indiscriminately. Pleasure, cared only for the best specimens. Content cared for none as long as the others took care of the garden. As for Romance, she was raising a golden calf, so that it will eventually roam free through the garden as the most magnificent of beasts. This was the bull that Desire searched for, only that it had not yet grown to maturity.

And so, the moment finally came when Desire encountered Romance. To Desire's surprise, she was feeding the golden bull he wanted so much to kill. Not knowing personally Romance, Desire exclaimed: "that bull is mine to kill. Retreat! Away from my priced game, oh beautiful stranger, so that I can propel my silver arrow unobtrusively towards the heart of this most majestic animal."

"You will not kill this animal for I am rearing this calf," said Romance.

"But it is my right and privilege to down this unique beast," demanded Desire.

"If it is so rare and precious, why not keep it alive so that you may enjoy it for a long time? After all, the kill only last but a second."

"I am a hunter and killing the golden bull, which I have sought after for so long and that I consider it to be at the apex in the pride of the game, and know that the memory of its kill will last my lifetime."

"But you must wait, for it has not yet matured into a bull. It if is a bull that you must kill, you shall have to wait until I raise it to maturity."

Desire agreed, for he had changed his mind. He would hunt no more. Desire had matured with Love; and the thrill of hunting dissipated, to be left for his three companions. Yet unaware of this, she did not want to see her most precious animal be killed. So from then on, she feed the beast copper apples, so that it would never grow old, and keep it enclosed within fences to impede it from eating anything else.

This was how Desire first laid eyes on Romance; and from that moment on, he was overcome by the eagerness to have her instead. He wanted to kiss her, caress her, make her his. Extending his hand, Desire grabbed Romance and lay together under the shade of the tree named Sacrifice. And so, Romance was conquered by a kiss.

Though Romance wanted Desire dearly, feeling secure in his strong arms, she would not allow him to penetrate her. She vowed to keep her virginity and Desire was frustrated, not knowing how to persuade her. He had won her content and affection, but wanted her pleasure as well.

Then Kindness, the golden bird of Paradise, sang a love song. It told Desire of the need to give, in order to receive. Assistance, the silver bird, sang too a song which told Desire of the fruit of Sacrifice, the greatest tree in the garden; that these were unique fruits, in that they gave enlightenment. And Charity, the copper bird, flew to the highest branches and picked the richest Fruit of Life, giving it to Desire, which he then offered to Romance.

Consuming the fruit full of light, she was delighted and the couple made love; and as they copulated, Wish, Ambition, Greed, Affection, Pleasure, and Content dance with joy around them.

Sacrifice had brought Love between Desire and Romance. And so it is that to maintain Love there should be a balance between what is wanted and what is kept by the act of giving.

Sacrifice is welcomed, for there is need in what is given.

Sacrifice is happiness, for there is need in what is given.

Sacrifice is thoughtfulness, for there is need in what is given.

Sacrifice is hardship, for there is need in what is given.

Willingly, Desire impregnated Romance with a child, whose name was Happiness, for he is all that Love provides. Since birth his smiling face shone in soft radiance.

"This is my son," proclaimed Desire. "Jubilation! I am father and you are mother. Joy! Joy he brings us. So very proud I am."

The couple was so elated with their new child that they enjoy coitus again. And enlightened by the fruit of light, Romance gave birth again. The second child Romance engendered personifies Fruition, for she represents all the accomplishments that come from Love.

"This is our daughter," acclaimed Romance. "She has a beauty beyond everything else in Paradise. So very glad I am of my fertility, but we shall rise now our son and daughter, to teach them, so they will think with Maturity, Composure, and Integrity. To love them, so they will act with Politeness, Care, and Tolerance. This will be our greatest accomplishment."

Romance, by then, had eaten too much fruits and would not care for these anymore. Her interest was now in raising her son and daughter. However, Desire wanted more children. Relentlessly, Romance resisted his erotic persuasions and when the lust was too strong to bear, Desire took Romance by force and raped her.

She became once again impregnated but did not give a healthy birth. Frustration was a gray, cold, sexless abomination that she had aborted. It personifies all the undesired consequences of Love.

Desire was enraged, insulting Romance for her defile womb, never wanting to have another child with her. "I detest you-a foul fetus you have engendered. It has brought imperfection to this divine world. It has brought shame to my pride. It has brought my distaste in you."

So he ran away, seeking for another love.

Upon seen what had happened with the divine couple, Affection approached Desire and offered her love. "Romance does not realize your intense need to procreate and how hard for you to offer the fruits of Sacrifice. I venerate your divinity." She lay down as she finished her declaration and Desire ceased her naked beauty.

She became impregnated without the Fruit of Life giving birth to three dark abominations, these where: Hypocrisy, Selfishness, and Treason. They all lacked from a face, but in their heads each had a treacherous mouth to put forth their lies, seductions, and accusations.

Upon seen the futility of Affection, Desire ran away once again. On his errand for Love he encountered Pleasure and Content, together tending the garden. Desire was seduced by Pleasure. Naked, she laid, legs spread and without inhibitions, inviting Desire to make love to her.

As he entered her, she offered Content a deal. "I will share with you the love of Desire, but you must bring fruit from the tree, Sacrifice."

So she eternally ran back and forth between the loving couple and the tree, Sacrifice. Desire would make coitus with Content every time she arrived, only to return with Pleasure while she looked for more.

Though Pleasure never became pregnant, Content was most fertile. She gave birth to three Virtues: Humility, Silence, and Patience.

Romance was left with her three children-an enduring mother, loving Frustration as much as Happiness and Fruition.

Fruition, Happiness, and Frustration were as eternal children playing with the whims of Humans; planning, building and destroying as they pleased, the dreams and accomplishments of all Humans. Happiness and Fruition saw great fun in the mishaps Frustration cause. Their imperfect sibling disarranged what they tried to create; like an improvised game, always changing the rules, making things challenging and unpredictable. Sometimes they built too much, sometimes a great deal was destroyed, but they always laughed.

CIVILIZATION