Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/74

Rh third, O ʾAmr! And but for my abhorrence of killing such as thee, surely I had slain thee.'

"Then I said, 'Slay me. I would rather die than that this should be reported amongst the Arab horsemen.' To which he replied, 'O ʾAmr! Pardon can only be granted three times. If I had thee in my power a fourth time, I should certainly kill thee.' And he recited, and said,

"Then I feared him with exceeding fear; and I said to him, 'Truly there is one thing I crave of thee.' He asked, 'And what is that?' I replied, 'That I may become thy friend.' He said, 'My friends are not such as thee.' And that answer was even harder upon me, and more terrible to bear, than his victory over me. And I did not cease entreating for his friendship until at length he said, 'Unhappy man! knowest thou whither I purpose?' I replied, 'No,