Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 25.3.5

25.3.5

when the Princess observing that one of her girls had made an impression on the Qhan's heart, offered her to him, adding that she was a girl of her's, and that she made him a present of her person. The other guests, as well as the favourites of that artful woman, who were all of the complot against the Qhan, having observed scruples in him, made it a point to encourage his timidity. "What harm is in that?" said they. "Is not the girl her property? Her mistress transfers it to you. What can be then the cause of so much precaution and so many denials?" It must be observed that in those days Moorshood-abad wore very much the appearance of one of Loth's towns; and it is still pretty much the same to-day, few people caring to look at their honour, or at that of others. Nay, the wealthy and powerful having set apart sums of money for these sorts of amours, used to shew the way, and to entrap and seduce the unwary, the poor, and the feeble; and as the proverb says: So is the King, so becomes his people; these amours got into fashion. Doubtless some poor and virtuous people must have preserved vestiges of modesty, and must have resisted the general corruption of manners; but most of the Grandees and rich men, on whom you could cast your eyes, were enslaved by this vice. "Every hem on which I could thrust my hand, proved soiled with dirt. "Do you see that lofty mountain yonder? Behind it is a desert plain."