Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Montesquieu (1689–1755). Persian Letters. 1901.

Letter CLX

Solim to Usbek, at Paris

I HAVE made up my mind: your misfortunes shall disappear; I am going to punish.

Already I feel a secret joy: my soul and yours will soon be appeased: we shall exterminate crime, and make innocence turn pale.

Oh, all you who seem made only to be unconscious of your own feelings, and to be indignant even at your own desires, everlasting slaves of shame and modesty, would that I could bring you in crowds into this unhappy seraglio, to astonish you with the torrent of blood I am about to shed!

THE SERAGLIO AT ISPAHAN, the 8th of the first moon of Rebiab, 1720.