Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/305

276 prison, and knows a story concerning the King of Nubia. Send for him and ask him about it."

So they brought him, and he cried, "Peace be upon thee, O Commander of the Faithful! and the mercy of God and His blessing."

El-Mansûr replied, "To return a salutation implies security, and that is not my intention. Nevertheless, be seated."

So ʾAbd-Allâh sat down, and el-Mansûr inquired, "What is thy story about the King of Nubia?"

"O Commander of the Faithful," he answered. "I was the heir-apparent to my father, and when thou didst pursue us I sent for ten of my slaves, and placed in the hands of each one of them a thousand dinârs, and equipped five mules, and fastened a jewel of great price within my girdle, and fled to the land of Nubia. And when we drew near, I sent one of my slaves, saying to him, 'Go to this King and salute him, and crave protection for us, and buy us