It is related that Ibn al-Sammak[FN#281] went in one day to Al-Rashid, and the Caliph, being athirst, called for drink.  So his cup was brought him, and when he took it, Ibn al-Sammak said to him, “Softly, O Prince of True Believers!  An thou wert denied this draught, with how much wouldst thou buy it?” He replied, “With the half of my reign;” and Ibn al-Sammak said, “Drink and Allah make it grateful to thee!” Then, when he had drunken; he asked him, “An thou wert denied the issuing forth of the draught from thy body, with what wouldst thou buy its issue?” Answered Al-Rashid, “With the whole of my reign;” and Ibn al-Sammak said, “O Commander of the Faithful, verily, a realm that weighteth not in the balance against a draught of water or a voiding of urine is not worth the striving for.”  And Harun wept.

Al-Maamun and Zubaydah[FN#282]

It is said that Al-Maamun[FN#283] came one day upon Zubaydah, mother of Al-Amin,[FN#284] and saw her moving her lips and muttering somewhat he understood not; so he said to her, “O mother mine, art thou cursing me because I slew thy son and spoiled him of his realm?” Said she, “Not so, by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful!” and quoth he, “What then was it thou saidest?” Quoth she, “Let the Prince of True Believers excuse me.”  But he was urgent with her, saying, “There is no help but that thou tell it.”  And she replied, “I said, Allah confound importunity!” He asked, “How so?” and she answered, “I played one day at chess with the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, and he imposed on me the condition of forfeits.[FN#285] He won and made me doff my dress and walk around the palace, stark naked; so I did this, and I felt incensed against him.  Then we fell to playing and I won; whereat I made him go to the kitchen and lie with the foulest and fulsomest wench of the wenches thereof; but I found not a slave-girl fouler and filthier than they mother;[FN#286] so I so bade him tumble her.  He did my bidding and she conceived by him of thee, and thus was I the cause of the slaying of my son and the spoiling of him of his realm.”  When Al-Maamun heard this, he turned away, saying, “Allah curse the importunate!” that is, himself, who had importuned her till she acquainted him with that affair.

Al-Nu’uman and the Arab of the Banu
Tay[FN#287]

It is said that Al-Nu’uman[FN#288] had two boon-companions, one of whom was hight Ibn Sa’ad and the other Amru bin al-Malik, and he became one night drunken and bade bury them alive; so they buried him.  When he arose on the morrow, he asked for them and was acquainted with their affair, whereupon he built over them a building and appointed to himself a day of ill-luck and a day of good fortune.  If any met him on his unlucky day, he slew him and with his blood he washed that monument, which is a place well known in Kufah; and if any met him on this day of good