Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/188



She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the preacher woman ended her verse she resumed, addressing the man, " 'Laud to Allah Almighty! how can it be hid from thee that the perfect pleasure is in women and that abiding blessings are not to be found but with them, seeing that Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) hath promised His prophets and saints black eyed damsels in Paradise and hath appointed these for a recompense of their godly works. And had the Almighty known that the joy supreme was in the possession of other than women, He had rewarded them therewith and promised it to them. And quoth he (whom Allah bless and preserve!), 'The things I hold dearest of the things of your world are three: women and perfume and the solace of my eyes in prayer.' Verily Allah hath appointed boys to serve his prophets and saints in Paradise, because Paradise is the abode of joy and delight, which could not be complete without the service of youths; but, as to the use of them for aught but service, it is Hell's putridity [FN#248] and corruption and turpitude. How well saith the poet,

'Men's turning unto bums of boys is bumptious; * Whoso love noble women show their own noblesse. How many goodly wights have slept the night, enjoying * Buttocks of boys, and woke at morn in foulest mess Their garments stained by safflower, which is yellow merde; * Their shame proclaiming, showing colour of distress. Who can deny the charge, when so bewrayed are they * That e'en by day light shows the dung upon their dress? What contrast wi' the man, who slept a gladsome night * By Houri maid for glance a mere enchanteress, He rises off her borrowing wholesome bonny scent; * That fills the house with whiffs of perfumed goodliness. No boy deserved place by side of her to hold; * Canst even aloes wood with what fills pool of cess!' [FN#249]

Then said she, 'O folk ye have made me to break the bounds of