Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/257

228 Hishâm cried, "Ho, young man! here is work for thee. Bring me that gazelle."

But the youth turned his head towards him, and said, "O ignorant of the manners of high estate; verily thou hast looked upon me scornfully, and spoken to me disdainfully; and thy speech was the speech of a tyrant, and thy deed the deed of an ass!"

Then cried Hishâm, "Woe be to thee! O young man! Dost thou not know me?"

He replied, "I know this of thee, that thou hast been badly educated; for thou didst begin talking to me before saluting me."

"Woe upon thee!" repeated Hishâm. "I am Hishâm-ibn-ʾAbd-el-Málik."

Then cried the Arab, "May good be far from thy dwelling, and may thy grave be forgotten! Do not add to thy words and diminish thy dignity."

And he had scarcely ceased speaking before the soldiers gathered round them from all sides, each one of them saying, "Peace be upon thee, O Commander of the Faithful!"

"Enough of words!" said Hishâm; "secure this young man."

So they seized him; and Hishâm returned to his