Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 5.7.3

5.7.3

Among the females of this description who nightly filled his house, was a young and beautiful damsel, remarkable for the elegance of her dancing, with whom our countryman fell violently in love; but the mother, apprehending that the girl would lose her health and bodily vigour with her virginity, never for a moment lost sight of her, and she resisted all the overtures and incessant solicitations of the court physician. While in despair of obtaining the object of his affections, Jehan-Guyre, at the Am-Kas, once offered him a present before all the Omrahs by way of remuneration for an extraordinary cure which he had effected in the seraglio. 'Your Majesty,' said Bernard, 'will not be offended if I refuse the gift so munificently offered, and implore that in lieu thereof your Majesty would bestow on me the young Kencheny now waiting with others of her company to make the customary salam.' The whole assembly smiled at this refusal of the present, and at a request so little likely to be granted, he being a Christian and the girl a Mahometan and a Kencheny; but Jehan-Guyre, who never felt any religious scruples, was thrown into a violent fit of laughter, and commanded the girl to be given to him, 'Lift her on the physician's shoulders,' he said, 'and let him carry the Kefidien away.' No sooner said than done. In the midst of a crowded assembly the girl was placed on Bernard's back, who withdrew triumphantly with his prize and took her to his house.