me! who is at the door other than he?" Quoth Adi, "Jamil bin
ma'mar al-Uzri[FN#98] is at the door;" and quoth Omar, "'Tis he
who saith in one of his elegies,

'Would Heaven conjoint we lived, and if I die * Death only grant
me a grave within her grave:
For I'd no longer deign to live my life * If told upon her head
is laid the pave.'"[FN#99]

Quoth Omar, "Away with him from me! Who is at the door?" and
quoth Adi, "Kuthayyir 'Assah"[FN#100]; whereupon Omar cried,
"'Tis he who saith in one of his odes,

'Some talk of faith and creed and nothing else * And wait for
pains of Hell in prayer-seat;[FN#101]
But did they hear what I from Azzah heard, * They'd make
prostration, fearfull at her feet.'

"Leave the mention of him. Who is at the door?" Quoth Adi, "Al-
Ahwas al-'Ansari."[FN#102] Cried Omar, "Allah Almighty put him
away and estrange him from His mercy! Is it not he who said,
berhyming on a Medinite's slave-girl, so she might outlive her
lord,

'Allah be judge betwixt me and her lord! * Who ever flies with
her and I pursue.'

"He shall not come in to me. who is at the door, other than he?"
Adi replied, "Hammam bin Ghalib al-Farazdak;"[FN#103] and Omar
said, "'Tis he who saith, glorying in whoring,