Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/258

Rh palace, and seated himself in his council-hall, and said, "Bring the young Bédawy to me."

So they brought him. And when he beheld the multitude of slaves, and porters, and wazîrs, and scribes, and scions of royalty, and lords of justice, he paid no heed to them, and sought no notice from them; but let his chin fall on his breast, and watched his own foot-steps until he reached Hishâm, and stood before him. Then the young man cast his eyes upon the ground, and stood still, and spoke no word. And one of the attendants exclaimed, "O dog of an Arab! what hinders thee from saluting the Commander of the Faithful?"

Then he turned towards him in a fury, and cried, "O saddle of an ass! I am prevented by the length of the approach, and the projecting steps, and other obstacles."

Then said Hishâm, and verily his anger was increasing, "O young man! of a truth the day has arrived when thy death is near, and thy desires frustrated, and thy life at an end."

The young man replied, "By Allâh! O Hishâm! even were the term of my life to be prolonged, thy words, whether little or big, could do me no hurt."

Then the chamberlain cried, "Has it come to this,