Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/130

 have kept my word, that it be not said, Good faith is gone from among mankind.  Said Abu Zarr, By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I became warrant for this young man, without knowing to what tribe he belonged, nor had I seen him before that day; but, when he turned away from all who were present and singled me out, saying, This man shall answer for me and be my bail, I thought it not right to refuse him, and generosity forbade to disappoint his desire, there being no harm in compliance therewith, that it be not bruited abroad, Benevolence is gone from among mankind.  Then said the two young men, O Commander of the Faithful, we forgive this youth our fathers blood, seeing that he hath changed desolation into cheerfulness; that it be not said, Humanity is gone from among mankind.  So the Caliph rejoiced in the acquittance of the youth and his truth and good faith; moreover, he magnified the generosity of Abu Zarr, extolling it over all his companions, and approved the resolve of the two young men for its benevolence, giving them praise with thanks and applying to their case the saying of the poet,

Who doth kindness to men shall be paid again; * Neer is kindness lost betwixt God and men.

Then he offered to pay them, from the Treasury, the blood-wit for their father; but they refused, saying, We forgave him only of our desire unto Allah, [FN#151] the Bountiful, the Exalted; and he who is thus intentioned followeth not his benefits with reproach or with mischief. [FN#152]  and amongst the tales they relate is that of