[53] His name, his wealth,his honors, were the gift of a master, who might, without injustice, resume what he had bestowed.

Rustan's knowledge, if he possessed any, could only serve to confirm his habits by prejudices.

His language afforded not words for any form of government, except absolute monarchy.

The history of the East informed him, that such had ever been the condition of mankind.
[54] The Koran, and the interpreters of that divine book, inculcated to him, that the sultan was the descendant of the prophet, and the vicegerent of heaven; that patience was the first virtue of a Mussulman, and unlimited obedience the great duty of a subject.
[Footnote 52: Voyage de Chardin en Perse, vol.iii.p.

293.] [Footnote 53: The practice of raising slaves to the great offices of state is still more common among the Turks than among the Persians.