Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/70

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“If it must be and no help, admit Jerir.” So Adi went forth and admitted Jerir, who entered, saying:

Quoth Omar, “O Jerir, keep the fear of God before thine eyes and say nought but the truth.” And Jerir recited the following verses:

When the Khalif heard this, he said, “By Allah, O Jerir, Omar possesseth but a hundred dirhems.” [And he cried out to his servant, saying,] “Ho, boy! give them to him.” Moreover, he gave him the ornaments of his sword; and Jerir went forth to the [other] poets, who said to him, “What is behind thee?” And he answered, “A man who giveth to the poor and denieth the poets, and I am well-pleased with him.”