“I saw thee, O thou best of human race, * Bring out a Book which
     brought to graceless Grace. 
Thou showedst righteous road to men astray * From Right, when
     darkest Wrong had ta’en its place;—­
Thou with Islam didst light the gloomiest way, Quenching with
     proof live coals of frowardness;
I own for Prophet Mohammed’s self; And man’s award upon his
     word we base;
Thou madest straight the path that crooked ran, * Where in old
     days foul growth o’ergrew its face. 
Exalt be thou in Joy’s empyrean * And Allah’s glory ever grow
     apace.

“And indeed” (continued Adi), “this Elegy on the Prophet (Abhak!) is well known and to comment it would be tedious.”  Quoth Omar “Who is at the door?” and quoth Adi, “Among them is Omar ibn Abi Rabi’ah, the Korashi;[FN#96] whereupon the Caliph cried, “May Allah show him no favour neither quicken him!  Was it not he who said these verses,

’Would Heaven what day Death shall visit me * I smell as thy
     droppings and drippings[FN#97] smell! 
Could I in my clay-bed on Salma lie * There to me were better
     than Heaven or Hell!’

“Had he not been” (continued the Caliph) “the enemy of Allah, he had wished for her in this world, so he might after repent and return to righteous dealing.  By Allah, he shall not come in to 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,

’Two girls let me down eighty fathoms deep, * As low sweeps a
     falcon wi’ pinions spread;
And cried; as my toes touched the ground, ’Dost live * To return,
     or the fall hath it done thee dead?

“He shall not come in to me. who is at the door, other than he?” Adi replied, “Al-Akhtal al-Taghlibi"[FN#104] and Omar said, “He is the Miscreant who saith in his singing,