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. 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
Confidants
parasites
Comedians
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
Men possessed of unfailing sources of income
Men who consider themselves handsome
Men who are always praising themselves
One who is a eunuch, but wishes to be thought a man
One who hates his equals ,One who is naturally liberal
One who has influence with the king or his ministers
One who is always fortunate
One who is proud of his wealth
One who disobeys the orders of his elders
One upon whom the members of his caste keep an eye
An only son whose father is wealthy
An ascetic who is internally troubled with desire
A brave man
A physician of the king
Previous acquaintances
On the other hand, those who are possessed of excellent qualities are to be resorted to for the
sake of love, and fame. Such men are as follows: Men of high birth, learned, with a good
knowledge of the world, and doing the proper things at the proper times, poets, good story tellers,
eloquent men, energetic men, skilled in various arts, far-seeing into the future, possessed of great
minds, full of perseverance, of a firm devotion, free from anger, liberal, affectionate to their
parents, and with a liking for all social gatherings, skilled in completing verses begun by others
and in various other sports, free from all disease, possessed of a perfect body, strong, and not
addicted to drinking, powerful in sexual enjoyment, sociable, showing love towards women and
attracting their hearts to himself, but not entirely devoted to them, possessed of independent
means of livelihood, free from envy, and last of all, free from suspicion. Such are the good
qualifies of a man.
The woman also should have the following characteristics:
She should be possessed of beauty, and amiability, with auspicious body marks. She should
have a liking for good qualifies in other people, as also a liking for wealth. She should take delight
in sexual unions, resulting from love, and should be of a firm mind, and of the same class as the
man with regard to sexual enjoyment. She should always be anxious to acquire and obtain
experience and knowledge, be free from avarice, and always have a liking for social gatherings,
and for the arts. The following are the ordinary qualities of all women: To be possessed of
intelligence, good disposition, and good manners; to be straightforward in behaviour, and to be
grateful; to consider well the future before doing anything; to possess activity, to be of consistent
behaviour, and to have a knowledge of the proper times and places for doing things; to speak
always without meanness, loud laughter, malignity, anger, avarice, dullness, or stupidity; to have
a knowledge of this Manual, and to be skilled in all the arts connected with it. The faults of women
are to be known by the absence of any of the above mentioned good qualities.
The following kinds of men are not fit to be resorted to by courtesans:
One who is consumptive; one who is sickly; one whose mouth contains worms; one whose breath
smells like human excrement; one whose wife is dear to him; one who speaks harshly; one who
is always suspicious; one who is avaricious; one who is pitiless; one who is a thief; one who is
self-conceited; one who has a liking for sorcery; one who does not care for respect or disrespect;
one who can be gained over even by his enemies by means of money; and lastly, one who is
extremely bashful.
Ancient authors are of opinion that the causes of a courtesan resorting to men are love, fear,
money, pleasure, returning some act of enmity, curiosity, sorrow, constant intercourse, Dharma,
celebrity, compassion, the desire of having a friend, shame, the likeness of the man to some
beloved person, the search after good fortune, the getting rid of the love of somebody else, the
being of the same class as the man with respect to sexual union, living in the same place,
constancy, and poverty. But we think that desire of wealth, freedom from misfortune, and love are
the only causes that affect the union of courtesans with men. Now a courtesan should not
sacrifice money to her love, because money is the chief thing to be attended to. But in cases of
fear, etc., she should pay regard to strength and other qualities. Moreover, even though she be
invited by any man to join him, she should not at once consent to a union, because men are apt
to despise things which are easily acquired. On such occasions she should first send the
shampooers, and the singers, and the jesters, who may be in her service, or, in their absence the
Confidants, and others, to find out the state of his feelings, and the condition of his mind. By
means of these persons she should ascertain whether the man is pure or impure, affected, or the
reverse, capable of attachment, or indifferent, liberal or niggardly; and if she finds him to her
liking, she should then employ the Vita and others to attach his mind to her. Accordingly, the
Confidants should bring the man to her house, under the pretence of seeing the fights of quails,
cocks, and rams, of hearing the mania (a kind of starling) talk, or of seeing some other spectacle,
or the practice of some art; or he may take the woman to the abode of the man. After this, when
the man comes to her house the woman should give him something capable of producing
curiosity, and love in his heart, such as an affectionate present, telling him that it was specially
designed for his use. She should also amuse him for a long time by telling him such stories, and
doing such things as he may take most delight in. When he goes away she should frequently
send to him a female attendant, skilled in carrying on a jesting conversation, and also a small
present at the same time. She should also sometimes go to him herself under the pretence of
some business, and accompanied by the Confidants.
Thus end the means of attaching to herself the man desired.
There are also some verses on the subject as follows:
'When a lover comes to her abode, a courtesan should give him a mixture of something fragrant
to eat , garlands of flowers, and perfumed ointments, and, showing her skill in arts, should
entertain him with a long conversation. She should also give him some loving presents, and make
an exchange of her own things with his, and at the same time should show him her skill in sexual
enjoyment. When a courtesan is thus united with her lover she should always delight him by
affectionate gifts, by conversation, and by the application of tender means of enjoyment.'
0 comments:
Post a Comment