she hath a nose like the point of a shining sword and a forehead brilliant with whiteness and joined eyebrows and black and melting eyes. If she speakfresh pearls are scattered from her mouth and all hearts are ravished by the daintiness of her charms；when she smilesthou wouldst think the moon shone out from between her lips and when she gazesswords flash from her eyes. In her all beauties have their termand she is the centre of attraction of traveller and stay-at-home. She hath two red lips softer than cream and sweeter of taste than honey，and a bosomas it were a way between two hillswherein are a pair of breasts like globes of ivory；likewisea smooth belly，soft of flanks as palm-flowers and creased with folds and dimples that overlap one anotherand luxuriant thighs，like columns of pearland buttocksthat beat together like seas of crystal or mountains of lightand two slender feet and hands like ingot of virgin gold. SoO wretched fellowwhere are mortal men besides the Jinn？ Knowest thou not that mighty kings and captains and noble princes still submit themselves humbly to women and depend on them for delight？ Verilythey[women] say'We rule over [all] necks and captivate [all]hearts.'How many a rich man have they not made poorhow many a powerful one have they not humbled and how many a noble have they not reduced to servitude！ Indeedthey seduce the learned and bring the pious to shame and make poor the rich and plunge the favoured of fortune into misery. Yetfor all thisthe wise but redouble in love and honour of themnor do they count this oppression or dishonour. How many a man for them hath transgressed against his Lord and called down on himself the wrath of his father and mother！ And all this because of the preponderance of the love of them over hearts. Knowest thou notO wretched fellowthat for them are palaces built and slave-girls boughtand over them curtains are let downthat for them do tears flow and for them armies levied and pleasure-houses raised up and riches gathered and heads smitten off？ And indeed he spoke sooth who said'The world is a commentary upon women.'
As for thy citation from the Holy Traditionsit is an argument against thee and not for thee；for the Prophet（whom God bless and preserve）compares boys to the houris of Paradise. Now，without doubtthe subject of comparison is more worthy than the object compared with it；soexcept women be the worthier and the goodlierwherefore should other than they be likened to them？ As for thy saying that girls are likened to boysit is not sobut the contrary： boys are likened to girls；for folk say'Yonder boy is like a girl.'As for that thou quotest from the poetsthe verses in question were the product of an unnatural complexion in this respect；and as for the confirmed sodomists and debaucheesthat sin against religionwhom God hath condemned in His Holy Bookwherein He denounceth their filthy practicessaying'Do ye betake you to males from the four corners of the world and forsake that which your Lord hath created for you of your wives？ Naybut ye are a froward folk.'These it is that liken girls to boysof their exceeding profligacy and frowardness and inclination to follow the devil and their own lustsso that they say'She is apt for two men；'and these are all wanderers from the path of right. Quoth their chief Abou Nuwas：
A slender oneboyish of waist and of witFor wencher as well as for sodomite fit.
As for what thou sayest of a boy's whiskers and moustaches and how they add to his beauty and graceby Allahthou wanderest from the right path and sayest that which is other than the truth；for whiskers change the charms of the comely into ugliness；even as saith the poet：
The whiskersthat sprout on the cheek of the wightHis lovers avengeif he 've done them unright.
I see not on 's face what is like unto smokeExcept that his curls are as coals to the sight.
If the most of his paper thus blackened bewhere Is there roomdeemest thoufor the pen to indite？
If any prefer him another above'Tis ignorance makes them thus turn from the light.
Glory be to God'continued she'how is it hidden from thee that the perfection of delight is in women and that abiding pleasure is not to be found but with them？ Seeing that God（blessed and exalted be He）hath promised His prophets and saints black-eyed damsels in Paradise and hath appointed them for a recompense of their pious works： and had God the Most High known that the supreme delight was in the possession of other than womenHe had rewarded them therewith and promised it to them. And quoth he whom God bless and preserve'The things in which I most delight of [the things of] your world are three： women and perfume and the solace of my eyes in prayer.'VerilyGod hath appointed boys to serve His prophets and saints in Paradisebecause Paradise is the abode of delight and pleasancewhich could not be complete without the service of boys；butas to the use of them for aught but serviceit is sin and corruption. How well saith the poet：
Men's turning unto boys is very frowardness；Who noble women loves is noble none the less.
What difference 'twixt the lewd and him whose bedfellow A houri isfor looks a very sorceress.
He rises from her couch and she hath given him scent；He perfumes all the house therewith and each recess.
No boyindeedis worth to be compared with her： Shall aloes evened be with what not filthiness？'
Then said she'O folkye have made me overpass the bounds of modesty and the province of free-born women and indulge in idle talk and freedoms of speechthat beseem not people of learning.
But the breasts of the noble are the tombs of secretsand conversations of this kind are in confidence. Moreoveractions are according to intentsand I ask pardon of God for myself and you and all Muslimsseeing that He is forgiving and merciful.'
With this she held her peace and thereafter would answer us of nought；so we went our wayrejoicing in that we had profited by her discourses and sorrowing to part from her.
