The Perfumed Garden Part 4 — The Ladder (241–260)
The final twenty positions of al-Nafzawi's catalogue, arranged by what they ask of you rather than by number. Four rungs, gentle to expert — tap any to open it.
How the Catalogue Ends
Across four parts we've covered positions 183 to 260 — al-Nafzawi's complete catalogue. This final section contains the Tenth Posture, closing the numbered sequence that opened with the First Posture in Part 1, plus an Eleventh that sits outside it entirely.
The distribution here tells its own story. 10 of the twenty hand her control — a marked shift from the earlier sections, which leaned toward kneeling and rear-entry arrangements. A 15th-century manual chooses to end by handing over, and that's worth noticing.
Rungs 1 and 2 hold 9 of them — positions needing no strength, no flexibility and no furniture. Rung 4 holds 3, every one optional.
Rung 4: Surfaces and Grip Matter
The Annexer (252) rests her back and head on a raised surface with the rest of her unsupported — test that surface with weight before either of you commits. The Energetic Union (242) puts her in a handstand held against your grip; her arms tire first, and her call to stop is final. The Banqueting Table (257) has both of you holding structural positions at once. Skipping all three costs you nothing.
The Ladder
Rung 1 · Gentle
Low effort, high control — start here · 3 positions
243 Pounding On the SpotPulsatio in loco — seated, she twined around him
He sits with legs stretched; she settles onto his lap and twines her legs around his body. Faces are level, arms are free, and she controls speed and depth. The text describes a deliberate rhythm of accelerating, slowing, pausing entirely, then resuming — the stop-start pattern that recurs across every classical manual.
245 Union of LoveUnio amoris — seated squat, full embrace
He sits with legs stretched; she squats over his lap with her legs bent behind his back and her feet resting on the floor. Full embrace throughout, faces level, and the text frames it as arising from sudden mutual urgency rather than planning. Kissing is continuous rather than incidental here.
249 The Filter InPercolatio — both seated, facing, hands joined
Both sit facing each other with legs stretched and open, hands joined for grip and leverage, each pulling and releasing in turn. Complete eye contact, minimal effort, and no furniture required — the text recommends lawns, beaches and hilltops for exactly that reason.
Rung 2 · Steady
The woman-led core of the chapter · 6 positions
244 The ReflectionSpeculum — she rides with feet planted
He lies flat with legs stretched; she sits over him, folds her knees inward with her feet planted, and holds his hands for grip. Feet on the surface rather than tucked is what gives her leverage — she makes deep, slow, deliberate movements at exactly the pace she wants while he stays still.
253 Reciprocal Sights of the PosteriorAspectus reciprocus — she faces away, knees folded
He lies with legs spread and head slightly raised; she sits over him facing away, folds her knees and holds his thighs, moving in a slow rhythmic motion. The text compares it to rowing on a quiet river — this is a slow-water position, not a fast one.
254 Alternate Reciprocal SightsAspectus alternus — legs stretched, she bends back
The variation: he lies completely flat from head to toe while she sits over him with her legs stretched and her torso bent to whatever angle suits her, holding his legs while he supports her hips. One variable changes — her leg position — and the angle changes with it.
255 Seated CoitionCoitio sedens — she leans forward, facing away
He lies on his back; she sits over him facing away and leans forward, holding his heel while he assists her rhythm at her hips. Leaning forward while facing away produces one of the deeper angles in the woman-led family — and it works as well outdoors as in, per the text.
📖 Browse Congress of the Mouth →
256 The Opportunistic OneOccasio — standing, both against a wall
He leans back against a wall with legs spread; she leans back against him facing away, moving herself forward and back while he holds her hips. The wall carries the work, so unlike most standing positions this one lasts. Built for speed and confined spaces — the text names it for taking the opportunity.
258 The Eleventh PosturePositio undecima — lying over her, one leg lifted
A named posture beyond the numbered ten: she lies on her back with one leg slightly lifted while he lies fully over her with legs stretched, holding her raised thigh as she braces her hands on his back. Full body contact with faces close enough for continuous kissing and conversation.
Rung 3 · Demanding
Deeper angles, squats and held positions · 8 positions
241 The Tenth PosturePositio decima — kneeling, lowered to the ground
The last of al-Nafzawi's numbered sequence. Both begin kneeling and facing; he holds her hands and lowers her upper body to the ground while she lifts her hips and rests her legs against his back. The kneeling base gives him leverage without arm strain, and the hand-hold is what makes the descent controlled rather than sudden.
246 Race of the MemberCursus membri — he draws his thighs up
He lies flat and draws his thighs up toward his chest; she lowers herself onto him on folded knees with her toes raised, holding his hands for support while his legs rest above her thighs. She controls everything from a half-kneeling crouch — demanding on her thighs, so it runs in intervals.
247 The Imprisoned MemberMembrum captum — cushioned, she faces away
His hips rest on a raised cushion with one leg open and lifted, leaning back for stability; she sits over him facing away and rides while he holds her hips. The cushion sets an angle that a flat surface can't, and the reversed orientation changes which internal surfaces receive contact.
248 The Racing HorseEquus currens — she squats, hands held
He lies back with legs bent and raised; she squats over his hips with her feet planted near his thighs and holds his raised hands for balance. The squat gives her total control of depth and angle but demands real thigh strength — best in intervals with the hand-hold taking some of her weight.
250 The PalanquinLectica — she squats leaning back
He lies flat with legs stretched; she squats over his thighs, stretches her legs back and holds his legs for support, leaning backward while he holds her bent knees to his chest. The backward lean opens the angle considerably and she controls depth throughout. Named for the carried litter — he is the vehicle.
251 Blossom On the HillsideFlos in colle — he forms an inclined ramp
He stretches his legs fully and lifts his head and chest by bracing on his hands behind — forming an inclined ramp from head to toe. She sits over him with her feet on the floor and holds his neck for grip. Holding that incline is genuinely demanding for him, which the text acknowledges.
259 Riding the WaveUnda — she leans back on her elbows
She leans back onto her elbows with legs half stretched and her front raised slightly; he leans toward her with legs stretched, hands braced near her shoulders. She adjusts the angle by lifting her legs and shifting her hips. The wave in the name describes the rocking motion the arrangement produces.
260 Raising the BeamTrabs erecta — both feet over one shoulder
The catalogue closes with a deep-contact kneeling posture: she lies on her back and both legs lift with her feet placed over one of his shoulders, legs held closed together; he kneels and holds them while she braces on his thighs. Legs together over a single shoulder narrows the angle sharply — the deepest arrangement in this final section.
Rung 4 · Expert
Real strength and stable surfaces required — optional · 3 positions
242 The Energetic UnionCoitus vigorosus — she supports herself on her hands
She supports her upper body entirely on her hands with her legs stretched behind his back; he stands, holding her hips and rocking through his torso. She is effectively holding a handstand against his grip — genuinely demanding for both, and the text says so. Short intervals only, and stop the moment her arms tire.
📖 See Perfumed Garden Part 2 →
252 The AnnexerAnnexor — she rests on a raised surface, he squats
Her back and head rest on a raised surface while the rest of her hangs; he stands between her legs in a partial squat, holding her hips and buttocks with her legs resting on his thighs. Demanding on his legs and her core, and the raised surface must be genuinely stable — this is not a position for a soft mattress edge.
257 The Banqueting TableMensa convivii — he forms a table on all fours
He holds himself on all fours with his front raised to form a table; she supports herself on her hands and rests her legs over his shoulders, moving with her arms. Both partners are holding static positions while one generates movement — the most demanding entry in this section by a distance.
📖 See the Massage Foreplay guide →
⭐ The Ladder Table
| # | Position | Rung | Intensity | Pairs With |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 241 | The Tenth Posture | Rung 3 | ●●●●○ | Skore Dots Condoms → |
| 242 | The Energetic Union | Rung 4 | ●●●●● | Bleu Spiral → |
| 243 | Pounding On the Spot | Rung 1 | ●●○○○ | Skore Not Out (Delay) → |
| 244 | The Reflection | Rung 2 | ●●●○○ | Bleu Ultra-Thin → |
| 245 | Union of Love | Rung 1 | ●●○○○ | Love Light Glow → |
| 246 | Race of the Member | Rung 3 | ●●●●○ | Bleu Dotted → |
| 247 | The Imprisoned Member | Rung 3 | ●●●●○ | Love Light Super Thin → |
| 248 | The Racing Horse | Rung 3 | ●●●●○ | Skore Dots Condoms → |
| 249 | The Filter In | Rung 1 | ●●○○○ | Love Light Xceptionelle → |
| 250 | The Palanquin | Rung 3 | ●●●●○ | Bleu Spiral → |
| 251 | Blossom On the Hillside | Rung 3 | ●●●●○ | Love Light Capsules → |
| 252 | The Annexer | Rung 4 | ●●●●● | Bleu Ultra-Thin → |
| 253 | Reciprocal Sights of the Posterior | Rung 2 | ●●●○○ | Skore Not Out (Delay) → |
| 254 | Alternate Reciprocal Sights | Rung 2 | ●●●○○ | Love Light Glow → |
| 255 | Seated Coition | Rung 2 | ●●●○○ | Bleu Dotted → |
| 256 | The Opportunistic One | Rung 2 | ●●●○○ | Love Light Super Thin → |
| 257 | The Banqueting Table | Rung 4 | ●●●●● | Bleu Spiral → |
| 258 | The Eleventh Posture | Rung 2 | ●●●○○ | Love Light Xceptionelle → |
| 259 | Riding the Wave | Rung 3 | ●●●●○ | Skore Dots Condoms → |
| 260 | Raising the Beam | Rung 3 | ●●●●○ | Bleu Ultra-Thin → |
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Explore More Guides
Perfumed Garden Part 3 · Part 2 · Part 1 · Kamasutra Part 4 · Tao Field Guide · Ananga Ranga Part 2 · All About Condoms · How-To Guides · Bedroom Stories · All Sex Positions
Closing al-Nafzawi's Catalogue
Seventy-eight positions across four parts, and the pattern that emerges is a fifteenth-century author working systematically: hold a posture constant, change one element, catalogue the result. What lasts isn't the acrobatics at the top of the ladder — it's the practical notes and the closing choice to hand the last third of the book to her. Climb as far as suits you and stop there without ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Part 4 complete the Perfumed Garden?
Parts 1 to 3 covered positions 183 through 240. This final section runs 241 to 260 and closes al-Nafzawi's catalogue — including the Tenth Posture, which ends the numbered sequence begun with the First Posture in Part 1, and an Eleventh that sits outside it.
Why are so many of these woman-led?
Thirteen of the twenty hand her control of pace and depth, with the text repeatedly instructing him to remain a still participant. That's a marked shift from the earlier parts, which were weighted toward kneeling and rear-entry arrangements — the catalogue ends by handing over.
Which rung should we start on?
Rungs 1 and 2. Pounding On the Spot (243), Union of Love (245) and The Filter In (249) need nothing but a floor and some time, keep both partners face to face, and can continue as long as you like. Nothing in the lower rungs asks anything physical.
Which positions carry real risk?
The Annexer (252) depends on a genuinely stable raised surface — test it with weight first. The Energetic Union (242) puts her in a handstand against his grip, and The Banqueting Table (257) has both partners holding structural positions at once. All three sit in Rung 4 and all three are optional.
What is the Tenth Posture?
The last of al-Nafzawi's numbered sequence, which runs across all four parts of this guide — First through Fourth in Part 1, Fifth and Sixth in Part 2, Seventh through Ninth in Part 3, and the Tenth here. They function as anchor postures, with the descriptively named positions clustering around them as variations.
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Completely. Every order ships in plain, unmarked packaging with sender name CA Gain Healthcare — no product name or brand visible anywhere on the box. Delivering privately across India since 2010.
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