Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/91

62 tyranny of the son of el-Hákam; but to whom shall I turn from thy oppression?" And he recited, saying:

Then he said, "By Allâh! O Commander of the Faithful! wert thou to offer me the Khalifate, I would not take it without Saida." And he recited, saying:

Then said Muʾâwiyah to him, "But thou hast confessed that thou didst divorce her, and Marwân confessed that he divorced her, and we wish to give her the choice. If she choose other than thee, we ourselves will marry her: but if she choose thee, we will give her up to thee." He said, "Let it be done." So Muʾâwiyah cried, "Speak, Saida ! which is dearest to thee, the Commander of the Faithful with his power, and his rank, and his palaces, and his empire,