By having intercourse with men courtesans obtain sexual pleasure, as well as
their own maintenance. Now when a courtesan takes up with a man from love,
the action is natural; but when she resorts to him for the purpose of getting
money, her action is artificial or forced. Even in the latter case, however, she
should conduct herself as if her love were indeed natural, because men repose
their confidence on those women who apparently love them. In making known
her love to the man, she should show an entire freedom from avarice, and for
the sake of her future credit she should abstain from acquiring money from him
by unlawful means.
A courtesan, well dressed and wearing her ornaments, should sit or stand at the
door of her house, and, without exposing herself too much, should look on the
public road so as to be seen by the passers by, she being like an object on view
for sale. (1) She should form friendships with such persons as would enable her
to separate men from other women, and attach them to herself, to repair her
own misfortunes, to acquire wealth, and to protect her from being bullied, or
set upon by persons with whom she may have dealings of some kind or
another.
These persons are:
*The guards of the town, or the police
*The officers of the courts of justice
*Astrologers
*Powerful men, or men with interest
*Learned men
*Teachers of the sixty-four arts
*Pithamardas or confidants
*Vitas or parasites
*Vidushakas or jesters
*Flower sellers
*Perfumers
*Vendors of spirits
*Washermen
*Barbers
*Beggars
And such other persons as may be found necessary for the particular object to
be acquired.
The following kinds of men may be taken up with, simply for the purpose of
getting their money:
* Men of independent income
*Young men
*Men who are free from any ties
*Men who hold places of authority under the king
*Men who have secured their means of livelihood without difficulty
No comments:
Post a Comment