An old man recounts that he had courted a girl, decorated a room with flowers, sat in private with her, fell deeply in love with her, and stayed awake for many nights, telling jokes and witty stories so that she might become accustomed to him and not feel frightened.

Among other things, I used to say: 'You are fortunate and blessed to have fallen into the company of an old man, mature, experienced, worldly-wise, calm, having tasted both good and bad, who knows the value of companionship and fulfills the conditions of friendship. Compassionate and kind, good-natured and sweet-tongued.'

So that I can win your heart

And if you trouble me, I will not trouble you.

And if, like a parrot, sugar is your food

My sweet life is sacrificed for your upbringing.

You have not fallen into the hands of a conceited, reckless, impetuous, and fickle young man who has a new desire every moment, a new opinion every second, sleeps somewhere different every night, and takes a new lover every day.

Do not expect loyalty from the nightingales of the eye

For they sing to a different flower every moment.

Unlike old men who live with reason and courtesy, not according to the ignorance of youth.

Seek one better than yourself and seize the opportunity

For with one like yourself, you will waste your time.

He said: I spoke in this manner for so long that I thought her heart was captured by me and she was my prey. Suddenly, she let out a cold sigh from the depth of her pain and said: All the words you have spoken have no weight in the scales of my reason compared to what I once heard from my midwife, who said that for a young woman, an arrow in the side is better than an old man.

When she saw before her husband

Something like the drooping lip of a fasting man

She says, 'This one has a dead person with him'

While the incantation is only for the sleeping one.

A woman who rises from a man without consent

Much strife and war will arise from that house.

An old man who cannot rise from his place

Unless with a cane, how can his cane rise?

In short, agreement was not possible, and it ended in separation. When the waiting period was over, they married her to a young, harsh-faced, poor, ill-tempered man. She endured oppression and hardship but still gave thanks to God, saying: 'Praise be to God that I have escaped from that painful torment and have reached this lasting bliss.'

With all this oppression and harshness

I will bear your burden because you are beautiful.

To burn with you in torment

Is better than going with another to paradise.

The smell of onion from the mouth of a beautiful face

Is more pleasant than a flower from an ugly hand.