21. And with his wife he ends his days, and remembers neither father, nor mother, nor country.
22. By this also you⌃ must know that women have dominion over you: do you⌃ not labor and toil, and give and bring all to women?
23. Yes, a man takes his sword, and goes forth to make outroads, and to rob and to steal, and to sail upon the sea and upon rivers;
24. and looks upon a lion, and walks in the darkness; and when he has stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he brings it to his love.
25. Wherefore a man loves his wife better than father or mother.
26. Yes, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become bondmen for their sakes.
27. Many also have perished, have stumbled, and sinned, for women.
28. And now do you⌃ not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him?
29. Yet did I see him and Apame the king’s concubine, the daughter of the illustrious Barticus, sitting at the right hand of the king,
30. and taking the crown from the king’s head, and setting it upon her own head; yes, she struck the king with her left hand:
31. and therewithal the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, he was fain to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him again.
32. O sirs, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus?
33. Then the king and the nobles looked one upon another: so he began to speak concerning truth.
34. O sirs, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he encircles the heavens round about, and fetches his course again to his own place in one day.
35. Is he not great that makes these things? therefore great is truth, and stronger than all things.
36. All the earth calls upon truth, and the heaven blesses her: all works shake and tremble, but with her is no unrighteous thing.
37. Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, all the children of men are unrighteous, and unrighteous are all such their works; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also they shall perish.