tyranny of the son of el-Hákam; but to whom shall I turn from thy oppression?" And he recited, saying:
May the king live for ever! Do not cause me to be
Like him who from burning sand takes refuge in the fire.
Restore Saida to one whom grief has distracted.
At eve and at morn he finds himself remembering and sad.
Covet her not from me, but loosen the bonds;
For doest thou this, verily I am not without gratitude.
Then he said, "By Allâh! O Commander of the Faithful! wert thou to offer me the Khalifate, I would not take it without Saida." And he recited, saying:
Excepting Saida, my heart refuses to love; and hateful
To me is womankind. I am guileless on their account.
Then said Muʾâwiyah to him, "But thou hast confessed that thou didst divorce her, and Marwân confessed that he divorced her, and we wish to give her the choice. If she choose other than thee, we ourselves will marry her: but if she choose thee, we will give her up to thee." He said, "Let it be done." So Muʾâwiyah cried, "Speak, Saida ! which is dearest to thee, the Commander of the Faithful with his power, and his rank, and his palaces, and his empire,
