B990 <=> B992 [BTG XLII Beelzebub in America, p. 991]

“’Hence it is that any one slightly cunning man here may already be accounted a very “honorable man” and the “patriarchal father of a family.”

“’To those around him it is of no concern that this “honorable” and “patriarchal father of a family” has perhaps at the same time – if of course his means permit – as many mistresses as he pleases on the side; on the contrary, those around him here usually show even more respect for such a man than for one who is unable to have any “mistresses” at all.

“’Here, these “honorable husbands” who have the means, not only have on the side, in addition to their one legal wife, seven, but sometimes even seven times seven “illegal wives.”

“’And those European husbands who have not the means of supporting several illegal wives in addition to their one legal wife, spend almost the whole of their time in what is called “drooling,” that is to say, for days on end they stare at and as it were “devour with their eyes” every woman they meet.

“’In other words, in their thoughts or in their feelings, they betray their one legal wife an innumerable number of times.

“’But although among us in Persia, a man can have as many as seven legal wives, yet nevertheless all his thoughts and feelings are occupied day and night how he can best arrange both the inner and the outer life of these legal wives of his; and the latter, in their turn, are absorbed in him and try their utmost, also day and night, to aid him in his life duties.