Storia do Mogor 63.3.1

63.3.1

I beg the reader to believe that it is impossible to set forth completely the flatteries used by the courtiers ; they exaggerate everything excessively in order to find favour with the great. On the other hand, if a great man, on seeing a handsome elephant of great height and well-proportioned body, or a well-made horse, says something depreciatory as to these animals, those present begin at once to express all the ill that can be said of an animal, calling it wretched, miserable, timid, out of condition, of no use. With all this the great men are delighted, for two reasons : first, to see others adopt their opinions out of mere submissiveness ; secondly, because these flatteries divert their minds from the cares they have.