"Despots like ourselves! Why then do these civilized men not shut up their women, to force them to a fidelity which they do not practise?"
"Because their civilization is barbarous, and their barbarism civilized, my lord."
"All this is sad enough, if true," observed Djalma, with a pensive air, adding, with a species of enthusiasm, employing, as usual, the mystic and figurative language familiar to the people of his country; "yes, your talk afflicts me, slave--for two drops of dew blending in the cup of a flower are as hearts that mingle in a pure and virgin love; and two rays of light united in one inextinguishable flame, are as the burning and eternal joys of lovers joined in wedlock."
Djalma spoke of the pure enjoyments of the soul with inexpressible grace, yet it was when he painted less ideal happiness, that his eyes shone like stars; he shuddered slightly, his nostrils swelled, the pale gold of his complexion became vermilion, and the young prince sank into a deep reverie.
Faringhea, having remarked this emotion, thus spoke: "If, like the proud and brilliant king-bird of our woods, you prefer numerous and varied pleasures to solitary and monotonous amours--handsome, young, rich as you are, my lord, were you to seek out the seductive Parisians--voluptuous phantoms of your nights--charming tormentors of your dreams--were you to cast upon them looks bold as a challenge, supplicating as prayers, ardent as desires--do you not think that many a half-veiled eye would borrow fire from your glance? Then it would no longer be the monotonous delights of a single love, the heavy chain of our life--no, it would be the thousand pleasures of the harem--a harem peopled with free and proud beauties, whom happy love would make your slaves.So long constrained, there is no such thing as excess to you.Believe me, it would then be you, the ardent, the magnificent son of our country, that would become the love and pride of these women--the most seductive in the world, who would soon have for you no looks but those of languor and passion."