Page:The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana.djvu/168



having intercourse with men courtezans obtain sexual pleasure as well as their own maintenance. Now when a courtezan 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 this 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 courtezan, 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. 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.