749. After this the angel guide approached the six maidens and telling them too about his companions, asked them to be kind enough to spend some time with them. So they came towards them, but when they were close, they suddenly turned away and went into the women's quarters, where their maiden friends were too. On seeing this the angel guide went after them and asked why they had suddenly turned away without speaking to the guests. 'We were unable to come close,' they replied. 'Why so?' he asked. 'We do not know,' they answered, 'but we became aware of something repelling and drawing us back. Please forgive us.'
So the angel went back to his companions and told them the answer he had received; and he added: 'I suspect your attraction to the opposite sex is not chaste. In heaven we love maidens for their beauty and the elegance of their manners; we love them very dearly, but in a chaste manner.' His companions laughed at this, and said: 'Your suspicions are well founded. Can anyone see such beauties close at hand without some feeling of desire?'
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