458 — Muhammad ibn al-Husayn narrated to me, saying: Abū Abd al-Rahmān al-Tāī narrated to me, saying: Mujālid ibn Saīd narrated to me, from al-Shabī, who said: Umayya ibn Abī al-Salt came to Abd Allah ibn Judān al-Taymī when wine had taken hold of Abd Allah, and began reciting:

[al-Wāfir meter]

Must I voice my need, or have your modesty—
for modesty is your nature—and your knowledge of affairs made that unnecessary?
You are a noble scion, possessed of refined lineage
and splendor.
Noble are you: neither morning nor evening
can turn you from noble character.
When a man praises you one day,
his praise alone conveys the request he came to make.

He said: Ibn Judān had two slave girls with him. He told him, “See which of the two pleases you most and take her by the hand.” They were his most cherished possessions. Umayya took one of them and departed. Some young men of Quraysh met him and said, “What have you done? You went in to our elder and master when drink had taken hold of him, and you took one of his two favorites, among the possessions dearest to him. Go back and return her to him, and he will compensate you many times over.”

He returned to him, and Ibn Judān asked, “What brought you back to us, Umayya?”

He replied, “She wished to keep her sister company.”

Ibn Judān said, “No. Rather, you were told, ‘You have separated the old man from his dearest possession.’ By Allah, you shall take the other by the hand as well!”

So he took them both and departed, reciting:

[al-Tawīl meter]

Your gift adorns the man whom you favor with bounty,
though not every gift adorns.
Nor does a man incur disgrace by humbling himself before you,
though some entreaties do bring disgrace.