Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/64

Rh And Jábalah wept until the tears streamed down his beard. Then he asked me, "Do you know who was the composer of that?" And upon my answering that I did not, he said, "Hásan." And he then repeated to me the lines beginning—to the end. And presently he asked me about Hásan: "Is he alive?" And when I said "Yes," he ordered for him a robe of honour, and another like it for me. And he also ordered treasures for Hásan, and she-camels laden with wheat; and said to me, "If you find him still alive, make over the gift to him, and transmit to him my salutations. But if you find him dead, give the presents to his people, and slay the camels on his grave."

And when I returned to ʾOmar, and gave him an account of Jábalah, and told him of the conditions which the latter had imposed upon me, and of the answer which I had given, ʾOmar said, "And why did you not also promise him the succession to the government? For if the Most High chose to give the power into his hands, and to decree against me, it would be in His wisdom. Nothing would happen except what He had willed."