Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/244

Rh God pardon both us and thee!" said ʾIkrimah. Then they fetched the gaoler, who struck off his chains. And Khuzaimah commanded that they should be put upon his own feet. But ʾIkrimah asked, "What is this thou desirest?" He replied, "I wish to experience the same misery that thou hast undergone." "I adjure thee by Allâh!" said ʾIkrimah, "do it not."

So they went out together until they reached Khuzaimah's house. Then ʾIkrimah bade him farewell, and would have departed from him, but Khuzaimah said, "Thou wilt not leave me." He asked, "What dost thou wish?" "To alter thy condition," said Khuzaimah, "for verily my shame before the daughter of thy uncle is even greater than my shame before thee." Then he ordered a bath, and every one left it, and they two went in together. And Khuzaimah took it entirely upon himself to wait on ʾIkrimah and act as his servant. And when they came out, Khuzaimah bestowed a robe of honour upon him, and put it on him, and gave him also much money. Then Khuzaimah accompanied him to his house, and begged permission to go in and ask pardon of ʾIkrimah's cousin. So he made his excuses to her, and blamed himself for what had occurred.