Montesquieu

“ HORROR, darkness, and terror reign in the seraglio; a dreadful affliction is upon us; at every moment a tiger vents on us all his rage. He has tortured two white eunuchs, who have only confessed their innocence ”

“ He keeps us shut up each in her apartment; and although we are alone there, he forces us to wear our veils. We are no longer allowed to speak; to write would be a crime: we have no liberty except to weep. ”