Ilikepointingmorals，andinventingformyselfcheapconsolations，toreconcilemetothatstateoflifeintowhichithaspleasedHeaventocallme；andastheLightoftheWorlddisappearedroundthecorner，IreasonedpleasantlywithmyselfaboutHisHighness，andenjoyedthatsecretselfishsatisfactionamanhas，whoseesheisbetteroffthanhisneighbour。\"MichaelAngelo，\"Isaid，\"youarestill（bycourtesy）young：ifyouhadfivehundredthousandayear，andwereagreatprince，Iwouldlayawagerthatmenwoulddiscoverinyouamagnificentcourtesyofdemeanour，andamajesticpresencethatonlybelongstothesovereignsoftheworld。Ifyouhadsuchanincome，youthinkyoucouldspenditwithsplendour：distributinggenialhospitalities，kindlyalms，soothingmisery，biddinghumilitybeofgoodheart，rewardingdesert。Ifyouhadsuchmeansofpurchasingpleasure，youthink，yourogue，youcouldrelishitwithgusto。ButfancybeingbroughttotheconditionofthepoorLightoftheUniverseyonder；andreconcileyourselfwiththeideathatyouareonlyafarthingrushlight。ThecriesofthepoorwidowfallasdeaduponhimasthesmilesofthebrightesteyesoutofGeorgia。Hecan’tstirabroadbutthoseabominablecannonbeginroaringanddeafeninghisears。Hecan’tseetheworldbutovertheshouldersofarowoffatpashas，andeunuchs，withtheirinfernalugliness。Hisearscanneverberegaledwithawordoftruth，orblessedwithanhonestlaugh。Theonlyprivilegeofmanhoodlefttohim，heenjoysbutforamonthintheyear，atthistimeofRamazan，whenheisforcedtofastforfifteenhours；and，byconsequence，hastheblessingoffeelinghungry。\"SunsetduringLentappearstobehissinglemomentofpleasure；theysaythepoorfellowisravenousbythattime，andasthegunfiresthedish-coversaretakenoff，sothatforfiveminutesadayhelivesandishappyoverpillau，likeanothermortal。
Andyet，whenfloatingbytheSummerPalace，abarbaricedificeofwoodandmarble，withgildedsunsblazingovertheporticoes，andallsortsofstrangeornamentsandtrophiesfiguringonthegatesandrailings——whenwepassedalongrowofbarredandfiligreedwindows，lookingonthewater——whenweweretoldthatthoseweretheapartmentsofHisHighness’sladies，andactuallyheardthemwhisperingandlaughingbehindthebars——astrangefeelingofcuriositycameoversomeill-regulatedminds——justtohaveonepeep，onelookatallthosewondrousbeauties，singingtothedulcimers，paddlinginthefountains，dancinginthemarblehalls，orlollingonthegoldencushions，asthegaudyblackslavesbroughtpipesandcoffee。Thistumultuousmovementwascalmedbythinkingofthatdreadfulstatementoftravellers，thatinoneofthemosteleganthallsthereisatrap-door，onpeepingbelowwhichyoumayseetheBosphorusrunningunderneath，intowhichsomelucklessbeautyisplungedoccasionally，andthetrap-doorisshut，andthedancingandthesinging，andthesmokingandthelaughinggoonasbefore。Theysayitisdeathtopickupanyofthesacksthereabouts，ifastrayoneshouldfloatbyyou。TherewerenoneanydaywhenIpassed，ATLEAST，ONTHESURFACEOFTHEWATER。
IthasbeenratherafashionofourtravellerstoapologiseforTurkishlife，oflate，andpaintglowingagreeablepicturesofmanyofitsinstitutions。Thecelebratedauthorof\"Palm-Leaves\"（hisnameisfamousunderthedate-treesoftheNile，andutteredwithrespectbeneaththetentsoftheBedaween）hastouchinglydescribedIbrahimPasha’spaternalfondness，whocutoffablackslave’sheadforhavingdroppedandmaimedoneofhischildren；andhaspennedamelodiouspanegyricof\"TheHarem，\"andofthefondandbeautifuldutiesoftheinmatesofthatplaceoflove，obedience，andseclusion。Isaw，atthemausoleumofthelateSultanMahmoud’sfamily，agoodsubjectforaGhazul，inthetruenewOrientalmanner。
TheseRoyalburial-placesaretheresortofthepiousMoslems。
Lampsarekeptburningthere；andintheantechambers，copiesoftheKoranareprovidedfortheuseofbelievers；andyouneverpassthesecemeteriesbutyouseeTurkswashingatthecisterns，previoustoenteringforprayer，orsquattedonthebenches，chantingpassagesfromthesacredvolume。Christians，Ibelieve，arenotadmitted，butmaylookthroughthebars，andseethecoffinsofthedefunctmonarchsandchildrenoftheRoyalrace。