330
woman, who had once been mine. When she saw me, she wept and made a show of affliction and praised God the Most High for my safety. Then she went forth, as if she would go to the market, in the interests of hospitality, and I thought no harm; but, ere long, I espied Ibrahim el Mausili[1] making for the house, with his servants and troopers, led by a woman whom I knew for the mistress of the house. She brought them to my hiding-place and delivered me into their hands, and I saw death face to face. They carried me, in my woman’s attire, to Mamoun, who called a general council and let bring me before him. When I entered I saluted him by the title of Khalif, saying, “Peace be on thee, O Commander of the Faithful!” and he replied, “May God neither give thee peace nor bless thee!” “At thy leisure, O Commander of the Faithful!” rejoined I. “It is for him in whose hand is revenge[2] to decree retaliation or forgiveness; but forgiveness is nigher to the fear of God, and God hath set thy forgiveness above all other, even as He hath made my sin to excel all other sin. So, if thou punish, it is of thy right, and if thou pardon, it is of thy bounty.” And I repeated the following verses:
Great is my sin, in sooth, ’gainst thee, But thou art greater still, perdie.
So take thy due of me, or else Remit it of thy clemency.
If of the noble I’ve not been Indeed, yet do thou of them be.
At this he raised his head to me and I hastened to add these verses:
Indeed, I’ve offended full sore, But thou art disposed to forgive.
’Twere justice to punish my crime And grace to allow me to live.
Then he bowed his head and repeated the following verses:
