Quoth ’Adi, “Jamil bin Ma’mar al-Uzri is at the door.”  And quoth Omar, “’Tis he who saith in one of his love-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."’

Quoth Omar, “Away with him from me!  Who is at the door?” And quoth ’Adi, “Kutthayir ’Azzah”:  whereupon Omar cried, “’Tis he who saith in one of his [impious] Odes:—­

     ’Some talk of faith and creed and nothing else,
          And wait for pains of Hell in prayer-seat;
     But did they hear what I from Azzah heard,
          They’d make prostration, fearful, at her feet.’

Leave the mention of him.  Who is at the door?” Quoth ’Adi, “Al-Ahwas al-Ansari.”  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 that she might outlive her master:—­

     Allah be judge betwixt me and her lord
          Whoever 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.”  And Omar said, “Tis he who glories in wickedness....  He shall not come in to me!  Who is at the door other than he?” ’Adi replied, “Al-Akhtal al-Taghlibi.”  And Omar said, “He is the [godless] miscreant who saith in his singing:—­

     ’Ramazan I ne’er fasted in lifetime; nay
          I ate flesh in public at undurn day! 
     Nor chid I the fair, save in word of love. 
          Nor seek Meccah’s plain in salvation-way: 
     Nor stand I praying, like rest, who cry,
          “Hie salvation-wards!” at the dawn’s first ray....’

By Allah! he treadeth no carpet of mine.  Who is at the door other than he?” Said ’Adi, “Jarir Ibn al-Khatafah.”  And Omar cried, “Tis he who saith:—­

     ’But for ill-spying glances, had our eyes espied
          Eyes of the antelope, and ringlets of the Reems! 
     A Huntress of the eyes, by night-time came; and I
          cried, “Turn in peace!  No time for visit this, meseems."’

But if it must be, and no help, admit Jarir.”  So ’Adi went forth and admitted Jarir, who entered saying:—­

     ’Yea, He who sent Mohammed unto men. 
          A just successor of Islam assigned. 
     His ruth and his justice all mankind embrace. 
          To daunt the bad and stablish well-designed. 
     Verily now, I look to present good,
          for man hath ever transient weal in mind.’

Quoth Omar, “O Jarir! keep the fear of Allah before thine eyes, and say naught save the sooth.”  And Jarir recited these couplets:—­