Tales from the Arabic — Complete. Anonymous

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СКАЧАТЬ whilst the princess did the like with Nuzhet el Fuad. Moreover, the Khalif increased Aboulhusn in his stipends and allowances, and he [and his wife] ceased not [to live] in joy and contentment, till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Companies, he who layeth waste the palaces and peopleth the tombs.

THE KHALIF OMAR BEN ABDULAZIZ AND THE POETS.[FN#41]

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      It is said that, when the Khalifate devolved on Omar ben Abdulaziz[FN#42] (of whom God accept), the poets [of the time] resorted to him, as they had been used to resort to the Khalifs before him, and abode at his door days and days, but he gave them not leave to enter, till there came to Omar Adi ben Artah,[FN#43] who stood high in esteem with him. Jerir[FN#44] accosted him and begged him to crave admission for them [to the Khalif]. "It is well," answered Adi and going in to Omar, said to him, "The poets are at thy door and have been there days and days; yet hast thou not given them leave to enter, albeit their sayings are abiding[FN#45] and their arrows go straight to the mark." Quoth Omar, "What have I to do with the poets?" And Adi answered, saying, "O Commander of the Faithful, the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) was praised [by a poet] and gave [him largesse,] and therein[FN#46] is an exemplar to every Muslim." Quoth Omar, "And who praised him?" "Abbas ben Mirdas[FN#47] praised him," replied Adi, "and he clad him with a suit and said, 'O Bilal,[FN#48] cut off from me his tongue!'" "Dost thou remember what he said?" asked the Khalif; and Adi said, "Yes." "Then repeat it," rejoined Omar. So Adi recited the following verses:

      I saw thee, O thou best of all the human race, display A book

       that came to teach the Truth to those in error's way.

       Thou madest known to us therein the road of righteousness, When

       we had wandered from the Truth, what while in gloom it lay.

       A dark affair thou littest up with Islam and with proof

       Quenchedst the flaming red-coals of error and dismay.

       Mohammed, then, I do confess, God's chosen prophet is, And every

       man requited is for that which he doth say.

       The road of right thou hast made straight, that erst was crooked

       grown; Yea, for its path of old had fall'n to ruin and

       decay.

       Exalted mayst thou be above th' empyrean heaven of joy And may

       God's glory greater grow and more exalted aye!

      "And indeed," continued Adi, "this ode on the Prophet (may God bless and keep him!) is well known and to comment it would be tedious." Quoth Omar, "Who is at the door?" "Among them is Omar ibn [Abi] Rebya the Cureishite,"[FN#49] answered Adi, and the Khalif said, "May God show him no favour neither quicken him! Was it not he who said … ?" And he recited the following verses:

      Would God upon that bitterest day, when my death calls for me,

       What's 'twixt thine excrement and blood[FN#50] I still may

       smell of thee!

       Yea, so but Selma in the dust my bedfellow may prove, Fair fall

       it thee! In heaven or hell I reck not if it be.

      "Except," continued the Khalif, "he were the enemy of God, he had wished for her in this world, so he might after [repent and] return to righteous dealing. By Allah, he shall not come in to me! Who is at the door other than he?" Quoth Adi, "Jemil ben Mamer el Udhri[FN#51] is at the door;" and Omar said, "It is he who says in one of his odes" … [And he recited the following:]

      Would we may live together and when we come to die, God grant the

       death-sleep bring me within her tomb to lie!

       For if "Her grave above her is levelled" it be said, Of life and

       its continuance no jot indeed reck I.

      "Away with him from me! Who is at the door?" "Kutheiyir Azzeh,"[FN#52] replied Adi, and Omar said, "It is he who says in one of his odes … " [And he repeated the following verses:]

      Some with religion themselves concern and make it their business

       all; Sitting,[FN#53] they weep for the pains of hell and

       still for mercy bawl!

       If they could hearken to Azzeh's speech, as I, I hearken to it,

       They straight would humble themselves to her and prone

       before her fall.

      "Leave the mention of him. Who is at the door?" Quoth Adi, "El Akhwes el Ansari."[FN#54] "God the Most High put him away and estrange him from His mercy!" cried Omar. "Is it not he who said, berhyming on a man of Medina his slave-girl, so she might outlive her master … ?" [And he repeated the following line:]

      God [judge] betwixt me and her lord! Away With her he flees me and I follow aye.

      "He shall not come in to me. Who is at the door, other than he?" "Heman ben Ghalib el Ferezdec,"[FN#55] answered Adi; and Omar said, "It is he who saith, glorying in adultery … " [And he repeated the following verses:]

      The two girls let me down from fourscore fathoms' height, As

       swoops a hawk, with wings all open in full flight;

       And when my feet trod earth, "Art slain, that we should fear,"

       Quoth they, "or live, that we may hope again thy sight?"

      "He shall not come in to me. Who is at the door, other than he?" "El Akhtel et Teghlibi,"[FN#56] answered Adi; and Omar said, "He is the unbeliever who says in his verse … " [And he repeated the following:]

      Ramazan in my life ne'er I fasted, nor e'er Have I eaten of

       flesh, save in public[FN#57] it were.

       No exhorter am I to abstain from the fair, Nor to love Mecca's

       vale for my profit I care;

       Nor, like others a little ere morning appear who bawl, "Come to

       safety!"[FN#58] I stand up to prayer.

       Nay, at daybreak I drink of the wind-freshened wine And prostrate

       me[FN#59] instead in the dawn-whitened air.

      "By Allah, he treadeth no carpet of mine! Who is at the door other than he?" "Jerir ibn el Khetefa," answered Adi; and Omar said, "It is he who saith … " [And he recited as follows:]

      But for the spying of the eyes [ill-omened,] we had seen Wild

       cattle's eyes and antelopes' tresses of sable sheen.

       The huntress of th' eyes[FN#60] by night came to me. "Turn in

       peace," [Quoth I to her;] "This is no time for visiting, I

       ween."

      "If СКАЧАТЬ