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ʾILÂM-EN-NÂS.
THE HISTORY OF THE SLAVE-GIRL
ZHALFÂ.
ABU-SUWAID says: Abu-Zeid, el-Azdy, related to me the following tale.[1]
I went into the presence of Sulaimân-ibn-ʾAbd-el-Málik, who was seated in the hall paved with red marble, and carpeted with green damask, in the middle of the enclosed garden. Verily, the trees were in full bearing, and the fruit was ripe. And behind him stood female slaves each one of whom was more beautiful than her neighbour. And the sun was sinking, and winged creatures were humming around, and
- ↑ I think that el-Wajîh Abu-ʾAbd-Allâh Muhammad-ibn ʾAly ibn-Abi-Tâlib, generally known by the name of Ibn (not Abu)-Suwaid, must be meant here. He was a merchant of Takrît, a place on the Tigris, north of Baghdâd, in lat. 34° 33′ N., long. 43° 40′ E.
I have been unable to discover anything further concerning Abu-Zeid, and cannot therefore explain the allusion to some quarrel or disagreement with the Khalîfah contained in his address.
