and his wealth, and all that thou hast seen around him; or Marwân son of el-Hákam, with his tyranny

and his injustice; or this Arab, with his hunger and his poverty?"

So she recited, saying:

This one.

And even in hunger and want

He were dearer to me than my kin and my friends,

And the wearer of the crown, or his vicegerent, Marwân.
And for me all are possessed of dirhems and dinârs.

Then she continued: "By Allâh! O Commander of the Faithful! I am not going to forsake him because times have changed, nor because the days are darkened. Neither let it be forgotten that I have been his companion from the first, and our love is not worn out. And it is right that I should be the one to bear patiently with him in adversity, who have with him been happy in brighter days."

Then Muâwiyah marvelled at her wisdom, and her affection for the Arab, and her fidelity to him. And he gave her ten thousand dirhems, and gave the same sum to the Arab, who took her and departed.

HOW HASAN-IBN-'ALY BY HIS ELOQUENCE DISCOMFITED HIS ADVERSARIES.

From "Thamarât-el-Aurâk, or Speaking Leaves," concerning the eloquent and pungent replies of Háshim.

TRANSLATOR'S PREFATORY NOTE.

'Amru-ibn-el-'As, son of 'Omeyyah of the tribe of Kuraish, was one of three Mekkan poets whose satires caused so much vexation to the Prophet that he engaged three poets of the tribe of el-Kházraj to answer them. One of the latter was Hásan son of Thâbit, of whom mention is made in the story of Jábalah (see page 34). 'Amru fought against Muhammad under Abu-Sufyân at the battles of Bedr and Ohod. He professed el-Islám in the eighth year of el-Hijrah, and was sent by the Prophet to destroy Sâwah, the idol worshipped by the tribe of Hudhail at Rohat, a place about three miles from Mekkah. He was also sent on an embassy inviting to el-Islám two princes of the tribe of el-Azd, who were reigning at 'Omân. In the reign of Abu-Bekr he was sent into Lower Palestine in command of a large force, and in that Khalifah's last year, A.H. 13, 'Amru laid siege to and took Gaza, and Theophanes asserts that he forced the inhabitants of the whole tract from Gaza to Mount Sinai and the borders of the desert, to submit to the Khalîfah. He was one of the generals who this same year, under the supreme command of Khâlid son of el-Walîd, sat down before Damascus and reduced it. On Abu-Bekr's death

and the accession of 'Omar, Khâlid was deposed, and Abu'Obaidah appointed in his stead. Under him 'Amru held command at the siege of Jerusalem. In A.H. 16, that city surrendered to the Khalifah in person (see Note *, page 11); after which 'Omar despatched 'Amru to invade Egypt. He was, however, delayed in Syria, in order to reduce certain towns and fortresses which still held out; and it was not until A.H. 18 that he entered Egypt.* Having conquered that country, he was made its governor, but was, in A.H. 24, dis

* Now that the energy and indomitable perseverance of Mons. de Lesseps has accomplished the great work of cutting the Suez Canal, it is interesting to note that rather more than twelve centuries ago a design to cut a channel through the present Isthmus of Suez, and thereby open a communication between the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea, was formed by 'Amru-ibn-el-'As. It did not, however, meet with the Khalifah's approval, for he considered that the execution of it would facilitate the entrance of Christians into Arabia.

It was 'Amru who, by the order of 'Omar, destroyed the noble and most valuable library at Alexandria. It was in the Serapœum and suburb Rhacotis, and was called the daughter of that founded by Ptolemy Philadelphus. The latter was burnt, and the four hundred thousand volumes it contained entirely consumed, in the time of Julius Cæsar; and the former, which contained when the other perished at least five hundred thousand MSS., and was afterwards greatly increased, was destroyed, as stated, by 'Amru-ibn-el-'As, in accordance with 'Omar's fanatical order which said that if these books agreed in all points with the Book of God (el-Kurân), the latter would still be perfect without them, and they would therefore be superfluous; but that if they contained anything repugnant to the doctrine of that book, they ought to be condemned as pernicious, and destroyed. And thus was caused an irreparable loss to science, philosophy, and history.

missed from that post by 'Othmân, 'Omar's successor. He
then retired into Palestine, and led a private life until
after the murder of 'Othmân the dissensions arose betwixt
'Aly and Muâwiyah. 'Amru joined himself to the latter
under the promise of being returned to the lieutenancy of
Egypt, and he it was who, when the dispute between 'Aly
and Muawiyah was to be decided by two persons nominated
by either party, was chosen as Muâwiyah's advocate. In
A. H. 40, a conspiracy was formed to assassinate on the same
day 'Aly at el-Medînah, Muâwiyah at Damascus, and 'Amru
in Egypt; but it was successful only in the case of 'Aly.
'Amru died A.H. 43. He was justly esteemed one of the
greatest men amongst the Arabs of the age in which he
lived. The Prophet is reported to have said, "There is
no truer a Muslim, nor any one more steadfast in the faith,
than 'Amru."

HE following is one of the best among them.

THE

There assembled before Můâwiyah, 'Amruibn-el-'As, and Walîd-ibn-'Ukbah,* and 'Utbah-ibnAbu-Sufyân, and el-Mughîrah-ibn-esh-Shủabah,† who said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful! send to Hásan son of 'Aly, ‡ and let him appear before us."

"And why?" asked Muâwiyah.

"In order," they replied, "that we may reprove him, and inform him that his father killed 'Othmân."

"But," said Muâwiyah, "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 Muâwiyah sent a message to Hásan, and when the latter appeared, Muâwiyah 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 'Amru-ibn-el-'As 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?* And what didst thou think of the judgment of the Most High?"

Then rose el-Walîd-ibn-'Ukbah, and praised and glorified God, and then said: "O ye sons of Háshim! ye were of kin to 'Othmân-ibn-'Affân, and thanks * See Note*, p. 75.