Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/190

Rh end should come, bring it forth; and liberate ten slaves for me; and send somebody ten times on the pilgrimage for me; and equip for me ten men with horses and weapons; and bestow a thousand dinârs for me in alms. And be not uneasy about it, O uncle! for verily the treasure is considerable.' And when my uncle had heard my words, he went to his wife and made the same known to her. Then nothing could exceed the hurry with which she and her slave-girls set off to come to me. And she laid her hand on my head and said, 'By Allâh! O son of my brother! I did not know of thy illness nor of what had happened to thee until the father of So-and-so told me about it this moment.' And she talked to me coaxingly, and doctored me with medicines, and overpowered me with kindness, and drove the suitors away from her daughter. And when I saw this, I was upon my guard. After a while I sent to my uncle, and said, 'O my uncle! truly God, the Glorious and Most High, has been gracious unto me and restored me to health. Seek out for me, therefore, a girl with such and such beauty and accomplishments and qualities; and let nothing be demanded from thee that thou dost not grant.' So he asked,