Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/67

47 “And indeed,” continued Adi, “this ode on the Prophet (may God bless and keep him!) is well known and to comment it would be tedious.” Quoth Omar, “Who is at the door?” “Among them is Omar ibn [Abi] Rebya the Cureishite,” answered Adi, and the Khalif said, “May God show him no favour neither quicken him! Was it not he who said. . . . ?” And he recited the following verses:

“Except,” continued the Khalif, “he were the enemy of God, he had wished for her in this world, so he might after [repent and] return to righteous dealing. By Allah, he shall not come in to me! Who is at the door other than he?” Quoth Adi, “Jemil ben Mamer el Udhri is at the door;” and Omar said, “It is he who says in one of his odes”. . . . [And he recited the following:]