Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/261

232 Then the young man composed and recited these verses:

The historian continues: "Then Hishâm smiled, and said, 'By my relationship to the Messenger of God! had he thus spoken at the first moment, and asked anything short of the Khalîfate, verily I would have given it to him. Here, attendant! cram his mouth with pearls and jewels, and be liberal in compensating him, and let him go about his business.'"