Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/307

278 other hung about him like a mantle. His feet were bare; and with him were ten men with javelins, three of whom went before him and seven followed. So I despised his condition, and questioned within myself as to his murder. But whilst he approached, behold! there appeared a vast multitude, and I exclaimed, 'What means this?' They said, 'It is horsemen.' And therewithal came ten thousand bridles. And the horsemen arrived at the moment of the King's entrance, and ranged themselves round about us. And when the King had entered he sat down upon the ground; so I inquired of his interpreter, 'Why does he not sit upon the place which I have prepared for him?' And he asked the King, who replied, 'Tell him, verily I am a king; and he whom Allâh has raised to be king over his slaves should humble himself before Allâh and His might.'

"Then he scored the ground with his fingers for a while, but presently lifted up his head, and said, 'Ask him: How comes it that you have been deprived of this kingdom which has been snatched away from you, and you the men most nearly related to your Prophet?' I answered, 'He who is more nearly related to him than we, came and pillaged us, and