486 — Al-‘Abbās ibn Hishām reported to me, from his father, from Khālid ibn Sa‘īd, who said: Kuthayyir entered upon ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Marwān and recited to him:

When men race for noble deeds, he surpasses them all—
The breadth and boundless reach of Ibn Laylā’s virtues.

When he had finished the poem, ‘Abd al-‘Azīz was greatly impressed and said, “Name your reward, Abū Sakhr.”

Kuthayyir replied, “I choose to take Ibn Rummāna’s place.” Ibn Rummāna was his secretary and the overseer of his affairs.

‘Abd al-‘Azīz said, “Woe to you! What made you seek such a position when you know nothing of its taxation or its records? Get out of my sight!”

Kuthayyir regretted his request, but persisted until he was finally admitted to ‘Abd al-‘Azīz again. He then recited:

[Long meter]

I marvel that I chose the path of folly,
After it seemed that ‘Abd al-‘Azīz would accept it;

That I aimed at difficult affairs, seeking to tame them,
When their easy course had already lain within my grasp.

You are a man from a house of enduring greatness,
Whose every undertaking and deed is directed to what is best.

Never have I seen a caravan come to us bearing your equal,
Nor a friendship in which one admitted to it brought you shame.

May Allah spread its rivulets throughout Ibn Laylā’s land,
That its inner reaches may grow lush and its Nile be blessed.

He replied, “As for allowing you to choose your reward, no. But we have ordered twenty thousand for you.”