A reverie of Prince Demetrius Cantemir, Ospidar of Moldavia [graphic]

"Burke sleeps in a half-reclining position, his arms folded, legs extended, spectacles pushed up on his forehead. On a pedestal above his head (right) is a bust inscribed 'Mahomet', a fierce-looking, mustachioed man. A hanging lamp burns before it. On the right is Burke's reverie or dream: A Turk sits cross-legged on a divan holding out his arms eagerly to a young girl who is being brought to him by his mother, an elderly woman, who says, grinning, "I have procured another Lamb for my Lord"; the girl turns away with a gesture of distress. Above the Turk's head is an open book inscribed 'Koran'. Beside Burke in the foreground (right) is propped an open book inscribed: 'And I have observed that the greatest Degree of Respect is paid to Women of Quality in the East and that the strongest Instances of Maternal Affection & filial Duty prevail there. Note Begum - The Viziers Mother frequently procures one of the most beautiful Virgins whom she adorns with Pearls and precious stones and brings to the Vizier whom she calls her Lion and desires him to take her to his Arms, this he most religiously performs and she is afterwards consig[ned] to the Zenana with 200 others whom he never sees a second Time.'"--British Museum online catalogue