Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/278

Rh and Ibrahîm said, "O Commander of the Faithful! in good truth, the Yémenites were the Arabs to whom everything was subjected. They possessed cities, and never lacked kings and rulers, but one illustrious ancestor transmitted their might to another from the beginning to the end. The Nuʾamanites, the Mundhirites, the Kabusites, and the Tobbaïtes came from them. And from them came he who is praised in the writings of Daûd: and he who was washed by angels. And from them came he whose death shook el-ʾArsh. And from them came he who was spoken to by the wolf. And from them came he who seized all vessels by force. And there was nothing of value but derived its origin from them—whether thoroughbred steeds, or trenchant blades, or impenetrable armour, or rich robes, or precious pearls. If anything were asked from them, they granted it; but if it were demanded of right, they refused it. And if guests came to them, they feasted them. None could excel their greatness, neither could any attain superiority over them. They were the Arabs of Arab descent, and all beside them were but Arabs by nurture."