'Say, canst not come to us one momentling, * Like milk of ewekin or aught glistening And eat what liketh thee of dainty cake, * And take thy due of fee in silverling, And bear whatso thou wilt, without mislike, * Of spanling, fistling or a span long thing?'"
Then Mahmud of Balkh would have laid hands on Ala al-Din to ravish him; but he rose and baring his brand, said to him, "Shame on thy gray hairs! Hast thou no fear of Allah, and He of exceeding awe?[FN#45] May He have mercy on him who saith,
'Preserve thy hoary hairs from soil and stain, * For whitest colours are the easiest stained!'"
And when he ended his verses he said to Mahmud of Balkh, "Verily this merchandise[FN#46] is a trust from Allah and may not be sold. If I sold this property to other than thee for gold, I would sell it
