Also I have a boy by him, thin as a toothpick: neither of us gets a fill by him, and through hunger our weeping to him ceases not. So I have brought him to thee and set him before thee, that thou mayest test the substance of his assertion, and decide between us as God shall show thee. Then turned the Kadi to him and said: "Thou hast heard thy wife's story; now testify of thyself: else will I discover thy deceit and bid thy imprisonment." But he looked down as looks the serpent; then girt up his garment for a long strife, and said: Hear my story, for it is a wonder; there is laughter in its tale, and there is wailing. I am a man on whose qualities there is no blame, neither is there suspicion on his glory. Seruj is my home where I was born, and my stock is Ghassan when I trace my lineage: And study is my business; to dive deep in learning is my pursuit; and, oh! how excellent a seeking. And my capital is the magic of speech, out of which are molded both verse and prose. I dive into the deep of eloquence, and from it I choose the pearls and select them: I cull of speech the ripe fruit and the new; while another gathers but firing of the wood: I take the phrase of silver, and when I have molded it men say that it is gold. Now formerly I drew forth wealth by the learning I had gotten; I milked by it: And my foot's sole in its dignity mounted to ranges above which were no higher steps. Oft were the presents brought in pomp to my dwelling, but I accepted not every one who gave. But to-day learning is the chattel of slackest sale in the market of him on whom hope depends. The honor of its sons is not respected; neither are relationship and alliance with them regarded. It is as though they were corpses in their courtyards, from whose stench men withdraw and turn aside. Now my heart is confounded through my trial by the times; strange is their changing. The stretch of my arm is straitened through the straitness of my hand's means; cares and grief assail me. And my fortune, the blameworthy, has led me to the paths of that which honor deems base. For I sold until there remained to me not a mat nor household goods to which I might turn. So I indebted myself until I had burdened my neck by the carrying of a debt such that ruin had been lighter. Then five days I wrapped my entrails upon hunger; but when the hunger scorched me, I could see no goods except her outfit, in the selling of which I might go about and bestir myself. So I went about with it; but my soul was loathing, and my eye tearful, and my heart saddened. But when I made free with it, I passed not the bound of her consent, that her wrath should rise against me. And if what angers her be her fancying that it was my fingers that should make gain by stringing; Or that when I purposed to woo her I tinseled my speech that my need might prosper: