AND LOWER EGYPT. 1 59 



telliffcnt in the art of amusing, and not of cxtin- 

 guishing the ardour which consumes them, the 

 same disorder pursues them still into solitude ; 

 . sad resources, miserable indemnifications of a pri- 

 vation, which, under a temperature equally warm 

 and dry, and to souls all on fire, appears no easy 

 matter to support. 



The men are well aware of these dispositions, 

 and their jealousy is offended at it. Not only do 

 they bar all access to the apartments of the women 

 to every other man ; for that name is not to be 

 given to the mutilated beings, who have the figure 

 only ; but they do not permit the introduction of 

 even inanimate objects which might favour illu- 

 sion. They know not what it is to repose confi- 

 dence in the discretion of a wife; they are not 

 afraid to make sure that those who, under their 

 roof, pass for the most reserved, may not let slip 

 opportunities of becoming unfaithful, nor find the 

 means of satisfying their temperament. The mon- 

 sters ! They have the presumption to talk of fide- 

 lity ; their mouth dares to pollute, by pronouncing 

 it, the name of honour ! Unfaithful to Nature, 

 whom they serve only by outraging her, they 

 carry their impudence so far as to pretend to the 

 most desirable favours of her fairest workman- 

 ship ! They perceive not, wretches as they are, 

 that the infidelities of which they complain, are 



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