Read "Les Bijoux Indiscrets" by Denis Diderot online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Mangogul returned to the favorite, where Selim was come before him. "Well, prince," said Mirzoza, "has the account of Cypria's travels done you any good? " "Neither good nor harm," answered the Sultan: "I understood it not. " "Why so? " replied the favorite. "Because," says the Sultan, "her Toy speaks like a Polyglot, all languages but mine. It is an impertinent Story-teller, but would make a excellent interpreter. " "What! " replied Mirzoza, "did you gather nothing at all from her narrative? " "But one thing, madam," answered Mangogul, "and that is, that travelling is more pernicious, if possible, to the modesty of the women, than to the religion of the men; and that there is very little merit in knowing many languages. For one may be master of Greek, Latin, Italian, French, Spanish, and the language of Congo, and yet have no more sense than a Toy. Is this your opinion, madam? and what is Selim's? Now let him begin his story: but above all, no more travels. They fatigue me to death."
Selim promised the Sultan, that the scene should be confined to one place, and spoke thus.