Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/211

182 but completed his devotions before returning their salutation. Then they told him, "el-Hajjâj has sent to fetch thee."

"And is compliance absolutely necessary?" he asked.

"Absolutely," they replied.

So he praised and glorified God, and blessed His prophet, and then rose and walked with them until they came to the monastery of the monk, who called out, "ye horsemen! have ye found your friend?" "Yes," they replied. "Then come up into the monastery," said he; "for of a truth lions and lionesses prowl round about it during the night. Therefore come in quickly, before dusk."

And they all did so excepting Saʾîd, who refused to