But if these I disdain,
I abandon my gain,
And by fortune at once am refused: 
Then pardon their use,
And accept my excuse,
Nor of guilt let my guile be accused.”

Then he took leave of me, and went away from me,
Leaving in my heart the embers of lasting regret.

THE CALIPH OMAR BIN ABD AL-AZIZ AND THE POETS

A Semi-Poetical Tale:  Translation of Sir Richard Burton, in ‘Supplemental Nights to the Book of The Thousand Nights and A Night’

It is said that when the Caliphate devolved on Omar bin Abd al-Aziz, (of whom Allah accept!) the poets resorted to him, as they had been used to resort to the Caliphs before him, and abode at his door days and days; but he suffered them not to enter till there came to him ’Adi bin Artah, who stood high in esteem with him.  Jarir [another poet] accosted him, and begged him to crave admission for them to the presence; so ’Adi answered, “’Tis well,” and going in to Omar, said to him, “The poets are at thy door, and have been there days and days; yet hast thou not given them leave to enter, albeit their sayings abide, and their arrows from the mark never fly wide.”  Quoth Omar, “What have I to do with the poets?” And quoth ’Adi, “O Commander of the Faithful, the Prophet (Abhak!) was praised by a poet, and gave him largesse—­and in him is an exemplar to every Moslem.”  Quoth Omar, “And who praised him?” And quoth ’Adi, “Abbas bin Mirdas praised him, and he clad him with a suit and said, ‘O Generosity!  Cut off from me his tongue!’” Asked the Caliph, “Dost thou remember what he said?” And ’Adi answered, “Yes.”  Rejoined Omar, “Then repeat it;” so ’Adi repeated:—­

     “I saw thee, O thou best of the human race,
          Bring out a book which brought to graceless, grace. 
     Thou showedst righteous road to men astray
          From right, when darkest wrong had ta’en its place:—­
     Thou with Islam didst light the gloomiest way,
          Quenching with proof live coals of frowardness: 
     I own for Prophet, my Mohammed’s self,
          and men’s award upon his word we base. 
     Thou madest straight the path that crooked ran
          Where in old days foul growth o’ergrew its face. 
     Exalt be thou in Joy’s empyrean! 
          And Allah’s glory ever grow apace!”

“And indeed,” continued ’Adi, “this Elegy on the Prophet (Abhak!) is well known, and to comment on it would be tedious.”

Quoth Omar, “Who [of the poets] is at the door?” And quoth ’Adi, “Among them is Omar ibn Rabi’ah, the Korashi;” whereupon the Caliph cried, “May Allah show him no favor, neither quicken him!  Was it not he who spoke impiously [in praising his love]?—­

     ’Could I in my clay-bed [the grave] with Ialma repose,
          There to me were better than Heaven or Hell!’

Had he not [continued the Caliph] been the enemy of Allah, he had wished for her in this world; so that he might, after, repent and return to righteous dealing.  By Allah! he shall not come in to me!  Who is at the door other than he?”