Page:The Perfumed Garden - Burton - 1886.djvu/26

10

The tale goes, that on a certain day, Abd-el-Melik ben Merouane, went to see Leilla, his mistress , and put various questions to her. Amongst other things, he asked her what were the qualities which women looked for in men.

Leilla answered him: "Oh, my master, they must have cheeks like ours." "And what besides?" said Ben Merouane. She continued: "And hairs like ours; finally they should be like to you, O prince of believers, for, surely, if a man is not strong and rich he will obtain nothing from women."

The virile member, to please women, must have at most a length of the breadth of twelve fingers, or three hand-breadths, and at least six fingers, or a hand and a half breadth.

There are men with members of twelve fingers, or three hand-breadths; others of ten fingers, or two and a half hands. And others measure eight fingers, or two hands. A man whose member is of less dimensions cannot please women.