JAAFER THE BARMECIDE
Scene, Baghdad: time of the Khalif Haroun er Reshid. Salih ben Tarif speaks.
With Imam Hassan I had reached the khan
Outside of Ambar. Jaafer at the door
Of his pavilion watched a caravan
Inbound from Yemen.—Ah, the bales it bore
Of richest stuffs and spices!—'Mid the rout
Of porters, camel-drivers, old and poor,
A singer stood,—a blindman, singing out