Unknown

“ 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. [24]
When the Khalif heard this, he said, “By Allah, O Jerir, Omar possesseth but a hundred dirhems.” [25] [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?” ”

“ The word rendered “in public,” i.e. openly, avowedly, may also perhaps be translated “in the forenoon,” and in this El Akhtel may have meant to contrast his free-thinking disregard of the ordinances of the fast with the strictness of the orthodox Muslim, whose only meals in Ramazan-time are made between sunset and dawn-peep. As soon as a white thread can be distinguished from a black, the fast is begun and a true believer must not even smoke or swallow his saliva till sunset. ”

“ Jerir [4] accosted him and begged him to crave admission for them [to the Khalif] . “It is well,” answered Adi 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 are abiding [5] and their arrows go straight to the mark.” Quoth Omar, “What have I to do with the poets?” And Adi answered, saying, “O Commander of the Faithful, the Prophet (whom God bless and preserve) was praised [by a poet] and gave [him largesse,] and therein [6] is an exemplar to every Muslim.” ”