ʿAlī ibn Ẓabyan (1), Abū al-Ḥasan al-ʿAbsī, was appointed by Hārūn al-Rashīd as judge of the eastern district of Baghdad. A trustworthy and learned scholar, he belonged to the circle of Abū Ḥanīfah. The caliph later conferred upon him the office of Chief Judge, and whenever al-Rashīd departed, he would have him accompany him. He died in Qarmaisīn in this very year (2).

al-ʿAbbās ibn al-Aḥnaf (3) ibn al-Aswad ibn Ṭalḥah, the renowned poet, was of Arab stock from Khurāsān but grew up in Baghdad. He was refined, witty, well-received, and an accomplished composer of verse. Abū al-ʿAbbās reports that ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Muʿtazz once said, “If I were asked, ‘Who is the finest poet you know?’ I would answer, ‘al-ʿAbbās.’”

They have trailed the hems of surmise about us,
And scattered among the people their words in factions.
A liar has cast his suspicions upon other than yourselves,
While a truthful one is unaware that he has spoken the truth. (4)

Hārūn al-Rashīd once summoned him in the middle of the night; the abrupt call alarmed him and frightened his wives. When he stood before the caliph, the latter said, “Woe unto you! A line has occurred to me about a slave-girl of mine, and I want you to pair it with a matching line.” al-ʿAbbās replied, “Commander of the Faithful, never have I feared anything more than this night.” “And why is that?” asked the caliph, whereupon he described how the guards had entered upon him in the darkness. After he had regained his composure, he said, “What was the line, Commander of the Faithful?” The caliph recited:

A tender one we have beheld; never have we seen her like among mankind.

al-ʿAbbās responded:

Her face grows lovelier still, the more you let your gaze abide upon it.