Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/107

78 "In order that to-morrow morning he may rise amongst you as a devotee, and propose to you certain questions whereby he may lessen your self-esteem and lower your dignity. Therefore when you enter his presence, and take your places in the assembly, if he ask you concerning anything, let no one reply to him excepting me."

And when the morrow came, and they had been admitted into Muʾâwiyah's presence, and had taken their places, he rose from his seat, and standing erect, cried, "O ye people! who spoke Arabic before the Arabs; and to whom was the Arabic language revealed?"

Then et-Tarammâh rose, and answered, "To us, O Muʾâwiyah!" not adding, "O Commander of the Faithful!"

"How is that?" asked Muʾâwiyah.

"Because," replied et-Tarammâh, "when the Arabs came down to Bâbel, and all mankind spake the Hebrew language, the Most High inspired the tongue of Yaʾarab-ibn-Kahtân, el Bâhily, with Arabic. And he was our ancestor, and spoke Arabic; and his descendants after him handed it down from one to another until this our day. And we, O Muʾâwiyah!