THE ABBASSIDE DYNASTY.
235
THE BEGINNING OF THE ABBASSIDE
DYNASTY.
THE founder of this dynasty was Abu-Muslim, el-Khurasâny, and his name was ʾAbd-er-Rahmán-ibn-Muslim. Amongst his sayings are the following lines:
Tho' they were reinforced, I obtained by vigilance and secrecy
What fell away from the Kings of the Benu-Marwân.
I ceased not striving with might for their overthrow,
And the people were careless and verily the men slept.
Never before had been such slumber. But with the sword
I fell upon them, and from their slumber woke them.
For he who sleeps while tending his flock where wild beasts roam,
Will find that the lion constitutes himself their shepherd.
The first of these Abbasside Khalîfahs was Abu-ʾAbd-Allâh, es-Saffâh.
TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.
Upon the death of Hishâm, A.H. 125 (A.D. 742), el-Walîd, the son of Hishâm's brother and predecessor, Yezîd, succeeded to the throne. (See Note *, p. 222.) But so immoral was el-Walîd's life, and so impious were his religious opinions,
