Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/291

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When saw she 'twas a grey-beard, Desiring yet a kiss,

Not satiate with caresses, She sought his fond embrace.

And at this moment cried she, Hasten and bring the sweets!

Whereat a youth refreshed me, With wine as honey soft,

More fragrant than carnations, Within a lovely bower,

Than roses or the cypress, In my nostrils was its odour.

And the lute thrummed and thrummed to me, And the drum rumbled low;

The dancers swayed, swayed, swayingly; The clappers clapped, clapped, clappingly;

The mutton roasted frizzlingly, On leaves from quince-tree plucked;

The turtle-dove cooed ceaselessly, Reiterating wearyingly.—

Yet now upon a wretched ass, Thou mayst behold me borne.

Upon three legs it hobbleth, Hobbleth as do the lame.

And men throughout the market, With pebbles stoned my camel:

And coming round affrighting me, They followed and preceded me;

But fleeing, on I passed, Though dreading the ass should fall,

To meet in face the king, The honoured, the revered.

So shall he order me a robe, Red as is my red blood;

In walking I shall raise it, Glorying in my train.

I am 'Almaï the Polished, Whose tribe dwells in el-Máwsal;

My education surpassing all, I have composed a beautiful ode:

In its opening words I say, By the piping voice of the Bulbul.

The historian continues: And it was so difficult that the King could not remember it. And he looked towards the Mamlûk and the slave-girl, but they had neither of them learnt it. So he cried, "O brother of