Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/248

Rh set off for Syria, taking with me a slave-girl musician, to whom I had taught everything required by her art, and whose value to me I estimated at a hundred thousand dirhems. And when we drew near Syria, the caravan halted at a pool of water, by the side of which I dismounted, spread the food I had with me, and brought out a flask of wine. And whilst I was thus occupied, behold! a young man of fair countenance and form, mounted upon a chesnut horse, came by, and two attendants with him. And he saluted me, and asked, "Wilt thou receive me as thy guest?"

I replied, "Certainly;" and held his stirrup while he dismounted.

Then he said, "Give me to drink of thy wine."

So I gave him to drink, and he added, "Will it please thee to sing me a song?"

So I sang to him,

And he praised this warmly, and begged for a repetition of it many times; and then said, "Speak to thy slave-girl, and let her sing."

So I commanded her, and she sang,