AtD translation: though to what pleasures given posed a question far too dangerous

[Becky Lindroos]

I’d just say “'why they liked it' posed a question far too dangerous. “   ("what pleasures given” -  what they were getting out of it) 

> an odalisque of the snows—though to what pleasures given posed a question far too dangerous— we're not even sure if that's a face, or human -- what awful activities might give it pleasure? 


Becky
https://beckylindroos.wordpress.com

> On Feb 15, 2018, at 6:55 AM, Monte Davis <montedavis49 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Odalisques were imagined as "given to" (accustomed to, fond of, trained for) pleasures. The inversion "to what pleasures given" is poetic diction common in English poetry (or ornate prose) of the 16th-19th centuries, faintly archaic in this context. "Far too dangerous": in parallel with the other descriptions -- we're not even sure if that's a face, or human -- what awful activities might give it pleasure? 
> 
> On Thu, Feb 15, 2018 at 7:56 AM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com> wrote:
> P141.24-32   “More like due diligence,” replied Dr. Counterfly, “and a respect for probabilities.” He gestured toward the image transmitted by the prisms of the instrument, which had been growing steadily clearer, like a fateful dawn none await with any eagerness. Too soon we discovered that we could not look away. Though details were still difficult to make out, the Figure appeared to recline on its side, an odalisque of the snows—though to what pleasures given posed a question far too dangerous—with as little agreement among us as to its “facial” features, some describing them as “Mongoloid,” others as “serpent-like.”
> 
> What does "to what pleasures given" mean?
> 
> 

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