PERSIAN DECLINE. 77 



behind and hanging down over their mouths in front, 

 had issued from the dark forests of Central Europe, 

 and had streamed down from the Alps upon the green 

 Italian plains. The Persians soon ceased to he the 

 rude and simple mountaineers who had scratched 

 their heads with wonder at the sight of a silk dress, 

 and who had been unable to understand the object of 

 changing one thing for another. It was remarked 

 that no people adopted more readily the customs of 

 other nations. Whenever they heard of a new luxury 

 they made it their own. They soon became distin- 

 guished for that exquisite and refined politeness 

 which they retain at the present day ; their language 

 cast off its guttural sounds and became melodious 

 to the ear. Time went on, and their old virtues 

 entirely departed. They made use of gloves and 

 umbrellas when they walked out in the sun ; they no 

 longer hunted except in battues, slaughtering without 

 danger or fatigue the lean mangy creatures of the 

 parks. They painted their faces and pencilled their 

 eyebrows and wore bracelets and collars, and dined on 

 a variety of entries, tasting a little here and a little 

 there, drank deep, yawned half the day in their 

 harems, and had valets de chambre to help them out 

 of bed. Their actions were like water, and their words 

 were like the wind. Once a Persian's right hand had 

 been a pledge which was never broken ; now no one 

 could rely on their most solemn oaths. 



A country in which polygamy prevails can never 

 enjoy a well ordered constitution. There is always an 

 uncertainty about succession. The kingdom does not 

 descend by rule to the eldest son, but to the son of 

 the favourite wife ; it is not determined beforehand by 

 a national law, constant and unchangeable, given forth 



