"But," said Muʾâwiyah, "you cannot cope with him, and you will get nothing out of him; nor can you say anything to him without his giving you the lie; and if he makes use of his eloquence against you, all his hearers will be convinced."
But they persisted, saying, "Send for him, for we are certainly a match for him."
So Muʾâwiyah sent a message to Hásan, and when the latter appeared, Muʾâwiyah said to him, "O Hásan! I did not wish to send for thee; but nevertheless these others would have thee brought. Hearken therefore to their words."
Then Hásan replied, "Let them speak, and we will give heed."
So ʾAmru-ibn-el-ʾAs arose, and having praised and glorified God, said: "O Hásan! art thou aware that thy father was the first who incited to insurrection, and aimed at the sovereign power?[1] And what didst thou think of the judgment of the Most High?"
Then rose el-Walid-ibn-ʾUkbah, and praised and glorified God, and then said: "O ye sons of Háshim! ye were of kin to ʾOthmân-ibn-ʾAffân, and thanks
- ↑ See Note *, p. 75.
