（Quoth Abou el Ainai ）There were in our street two womenone of whom had to lover a man and the other a beardless boyand they foregathered one night on the roof of a house，not knowing that I was within hearing. Quoth one to the other，'O my sisterhow canst thou brook the harshness of thy lover's beardas it falls on thy breastwhen he kisses theeand his moustaches rub thy cheek and lips？'Silly wench that thou art，'replied the other'what adorns the tree but its leaves and the cucumber but its bloom？ Didst ever see aught uglier than a scald-headwith his beard plucked out？ Knowest thou not that the beard is to men as the side-locks to women；and what is the difference between the chin and the cheek？ Knowest thou not that God（blessed and exalted be He）hath created an angel in heavenwho saith'Glory be to Him who adorneth men with beards and women with tresses？'Sowere not the beard even as the tresses in comelinessit had not been coupled with themO silly woman！ How shall I underlie a boywho will be hasty with me in emission and forestall me in flaccescenceand leave a manwhowhen he takes breathclips close and when he enters，goes leisurelyand when he has donerepeatsand when he pushespushes hardand as often as he withdrawsreturns？'
The other was edified by her speech and said'I forswear my lover by the Lord of the Kaabeh！'
