William Muir

“ The noble Arab of my tribe is more comely in my sight than the obese and bearded men around me. O that I were once again in my desert home! I would not exchange it for all these gorgeous halls."
The lady's verses, coming to Mu'awiya's ears, displeased him. Like 'Ali, he had become from luxurious living obese and portly, and felt the taunt of his wife aimed at himself. So he dismissed Yezid with his mother to the tents of her tribe, the Beni Kelb, where in boyhood he acquired his Bedawi taste for the chase and a roving life. ”

“ The tent fanned by desert breeze is dearer to me than these lofty towers. I should ride more joyously on the young camel than on the richly caparisoned steed. The wild blast over the sandy plain is sweeter far to me than flourish of royal trumpets. ”

“ The leading dissentients at Medina were Al­-Hosein, son of 'Ali, 'Abd ar-Rahman, son of Abu Bekr, and the two 'Abdallahs, sons of 'Omar and Az-Zubeir. Mu'awiya on entering the city received them roughly, and so, to avoid further mortification, these left at once for Mecca. The remainder of the citizens consented to the nomination of Yezid, and took the oath accordingly. Continuing his journey to Mecca, the Caliph carried himself blandly towards its people for the first few days, which were occupied with the rights of the lesser pilgrimage. ”