Thus： God（blessed and exalted be He）preferred the male above the femalesolely because of the quality of masculinity；and in thisthere is no difference between us. Now this quality[of masculinity] is common to the childthe boythe youth，the adult and the graybeard；nor is there any distinction between them in this. Sincethenthe superior excellence of man enures to him solely by virtue of the quality of masculinity，it behoves that thy heart incline to the graybeard and thy soul delight in himequally with the boyseeing that there is no distinction between themin point of masculinity. But the difference between thee and me turns upon the qualities that are sought as constituting excellence of intercourse and delight of usance；and thou hast adduced no proof of the superiority of the male over the female in this.'
'O my lady，'answered he'knowest thou not that which is proper to the boy of symmetry of shape and rosy cheeks and pleasant smile and sweetness of speech？ Boys arein these respectssuperior to women；and the proof of this is what is reported of the Prophetthat he said'Stay not thy gaze upon the beardless boysfor in them is the similitude of the black-eyed girls of Paradise.'Nor indeed is the superiority of the boy over the girl hidden to anyand how well saith Abou Nuwas：
The least of his virtues it is that thou'rt free From uncleanness with him nor with child can he be.
And what another poet says：
Quoth th'Iman Abou Nuwaspast-master sure was he In every canon of debauch and jolly knavery，'O ye that love the downy cheeks of younglingstake your fill Of a delightin Paradise that will not founden be.'
So if one enlarge in praise of a girl and wish to enhance her value by the mention of her charmshe likens her to a boy，because of the illustrious qualities that belong to the latter，even as saith the poet：