The Scented Garden

The Shame of the Prodigal. 71 satire is concealed ; but my munshi failed to make me see the joke. 8. Shahrava was a despot who forced leather money into circulation. The passage means accord- ing to Mahbub that El Qahar will not use a leather dildo, but his own stalwart member, upon the po- dex of Habib ; but I prefer to think that he simply means “ I will not beat thee ” i.e. with leather thongs. In all countries beating is jestingly spoken of as “ payment.” Besides, the whole ode concerns active punishment, not mere deprivation of plea- sure. (See note to XII. Ed.)