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But for the spying of the eyes [ill-omened,] we had seen Wild cattle’s eyes and antelopes’ tresses of sable sheen.
The huntress of th’ eyes[1] by night came to me. “Turn in peace,” [Quoth I to her;] “This is no time for visiting, I ween.”
“If it must be and no help, admit Jerir.” So Adi went forth and admitted Jerir, who entered, saying:
He, who Mohammed sent, as prophet to mankind, Hath to a just high-priest[2] the Khalifate assigned.
His justice and his truth all creatures do embrace; The erring he corrects and those of wandering mind.
I hope for present[3] good [and bounty at thy hand,] For souls of men are still to present[3] good inclined.
Quoth Omar, “O Jerir, keep the fear of God before thine eyes and say nought but the truth.” And Jerir recited the following verses:
How many, in Yemameh,[4] dishevelled widows plain! How many a weakling orphan unsuccoured doth remain,
For whom is thy departure even as a father’s loss! To fly or creep, like nestlings, alone, they strive in vain.
Now that the clouds have broken their promise to our hope, We trust the Khalif’s bounty will stand to us for rain.[5]
When the Khalif heard this, he said, “By Allah, O Jerir, Omar possesseth but a hundred dirhems.”[6] [And he cried out to his servant, saying,] “Ho, boy! give them to him.” Moreover, he gave him the ornaments of his sword; and Jerir went forth to the [other] poets, who said to him, “What is behind thee?”[7] And he answered, “A man who giveth to the poor and denieth the poets, and I am well-pleased with him.”[8]
- ↑ i.e. she who ensnares [all] eyes.
- ↑ Imam, the spiritual title of the Khalif, as head of the Faith and leader (lit. “foreman”) of the people at prayer.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Or “worldly.”
- ↑ A town and province of Arabia, of which (inter alia) Omar ben Abdulaziz was governor, before he came to the Khalifate.
- ↑ Syn. munificence.
- ↑ About £2 10s.
- ↑ i.e. what is thy news?
- ↑ Or “I approve of him.”
