I swear by him to whose Ka'beh the companies journey when the fleet camels speed them onward, That deceit toward chaste ladies is not of my nature, nor are glozing and lying my badge. Since I was reared naught has attached to my hand save the swiftly moving reeds and the books: For it is my wit that strings necklaces, not my hand; what is strung is my poetry, and not chaplets. And this is the craft I meant as that by which I gathered and gained. So give ear to my explaining, as thou hast given ear to her; and show respect to neither, but judge as is due. Now when he had completed the structure of his story and perfected his recitation, the Kadi turned to the young woman, being heart-struck at the verses, and said, now that it is settled among all judges and those who bear authority that the race of the generous is perished, and that the times incline to the niggardly. Now I imagine that thy husband is truthful in his speech, free from blame. For lo! he has acknowledged the debt to thee, and spoken the clear truth; he has given proof that he can string verses, and it is plain that he is bared to the bone. Now to vex him who shows excuse is baseness, to imprison the destitute is a sin: to conceal poverty is self-denial, to await relief with patience is devotion. So return to thy chamber and pardon the master of thy virginity: refrain from thy sharpness of tongue and submit to the will of thy Lord. Then in the almsgiving he assigned them a portion, and of the dirhems he gave them a pinch; and said to them, "Beguile yourselves with this drop, moisten yourselves with this driblet: and endure against the fraud and the trouble of the time, for 'it may be that God will bring victory or some ordinance from himself.'" Then they arose to go, and on the old man was the joy of one loosed from the bond, and the exulting of one who is in affluence after need.