Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/88

Rh Then he was agitated, and his throat became dry, and he fell swooning, and writhed like a serpent. And when Muʾâwiyah heard his words and his recital, he said, "The son of el-Hákam has exceeded the limits of prudence, and has been unjust, and has dared to do what is unlawful amongst Muslims:"—and then added, "Of a truth, O Arab! even in tradition I never heard the like of what thou hast brought before me." And he sent for an inkstand and paper, and wrote a letter to Marwân-ibn-el-Hákam, in which he said:

"Verily what I have heard concerning thee is, that thou hast overstepped the limits of prudence in dealing with thy subjects. And it is imperative that he who holds rule should, concerning his passions, be as one who is blind, and should turn his back upon his desires." Then after this he wrote a long epistle [I have abridged it], and recited, saying:

Thou didst reign over a mighty province, but thou wert not capable; Therefore ask pardon from God for thine adulterous deed.

And verily the miserable youth came weeping to us,

And laid before us his trouble and his sorrows.

I swear an inviolable oath to Heaven,

Yea, and else may I be excluded from my religion and my faith,