"And indeed," continued 'Adi, "this Elegy on the Prophet (Abhak!) is well known, and to comment on it would be tedious."
Quoth Omar, "Who [of the poets] is at the door?" And quoth 'Adi, "Among them is Omar ibn Rabí'ah, the Korashi;" whereupon the Caliph cried, "May Allah show him no favor, neither quicken him! Was it not he who spoke impiously [in praising his love]?--
'Could I in my clay-bed [the grave] with Ialma repose,
There to me were better than Heaven or Hell!'
Had he not [continued the Caliph] been the enemy of Allah, he had wished for her in this world; so that 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 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."'