8. if he orders them to attack, they do; if he orders destruction, they destroy; if he orders them to build, they build;
9. if he orders crops to be destroyed or fields to be planted, it is done.
10. Everybody, soldier or civilian, obeys the emperor. And when he sits down to eat or drink and then falls asleep,
11. his servants stand guard round him, without being able to go and take care of their own affairs, for they never disobey him.
12. Gentlemen,” he ended by saying, “since people obey the emperor like this, certainly nothing in the world is stronger than he is.”
13. The bodyguard who had written about women and the truth — it was Zerubbabel — spoke last.
14. “Gentlemen,” he began, “the emperor is certainly powerful, men are numerous, and wine is strong, but who rules and controls them all? It is women!
15. Women gave birth to the emperor and all the men who rule over land and sea.
16. Women brought them into the world. Women brought up the men who planted the vineyards from which wine comes.
17. Women make the clothes that men wear; women bring honour to men; in fact, without women, men couldn't live.
18. “Men may accumulate silver or gold or other beautiful things, but if they see a woman with a pretty face or a good figure,
19. they will leave it all to gape and stare, and they will desire her more than their wealth.
20. A man will leave his own father, who brought him up, and leave his own country to get married.
21. He will forget his father, his mother, and his country to spend the rest of his life with his wife.
22. So you must recognize that women are your masters. Don't you work and sweat and then take all that you have earned and give it to your wives?
23. A man will take his sword and go out to attack, rob and steal, and sail the seas and rivers.
24. He may have to face lions or travel in the dark, but when he has robbed, stolen, and plundered, he will bring the loot home to the woman he loves.
25. “A man loves his wife more than his parents.