Chapter 1

OF THE CAUSES OF A COURTESAN RESORTING TO MEN; OF THE MEANS OF ATTACHING TO HERSELF THE MAN DESIRED; AND OF THE KIND OF MAN THAT IT IS DESIRABLE TO BE ACQUAINTED WITH

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

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