Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/320

Rh So I said, "By Allâh! thou deservest praise. Allâh has richly endowed thee, O madman!"

Upon this, he seized hold of something to throw at me; so I placed myself at a distance from him. Then he exclaimed, "I recited to thee what thou dost like and approve, and thou sayest to me, 'O madman !' and dost league thyself with Fate against me!"

"I have done wrong," I said. To which he replied, "Thou art forgiven, having confessed thy fault;" and presently added, "Shall I recite to thee another poem?" I said, "Yes." So he began, saying:

Then I said to him, "Thou hast done excellently, by Allâh! let us hear more."

So he continued: