Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/213

 ER RESHID AND THE BARMECIDES.

It is said that the most extraordinary of that which happened to Er Reshid was as follows: His brother El Hadi, when he succeeded to the Khalifate, enquired of a seal-ring of great price, that had belonged to his father El Mehdi, and it came to his knowledge that Er Reshid had taken it. So he required it of the latter, who refused to give it up, and El Hadi insisted upon him, but he still denied the seal-ring of the Khalifate. Now this was on the bridge [over the Tigris], and he threw the ring into the river. When El Hadi died and Er Reshid succeeded to the Khalifate, he came in person to that bridge, with a seal-ring of lead, which he threw into the river at the same place, and bade the divers seek it. So they did [his bidding] and brought up the first ring, and this was reckoned [an omen] of Er Reshid’s good fortune and [a presage of] the continuance of his reign.