and his wealth, and all that thou hast seen around him; or Marwân son of el-Hákam, with his tyranny and his injustice; or this Arab, with his hunger and his poverty?"
So she recited, saying:
This one. And even in hunger and want
He were dearer to me than my kin and my friends,
And the wearer of the crown, or his vicegerent, Marwân.
And for me all are possessed of dirhems and dinârs.
Then she continued: "By Allâh! O Commander of the Faithful! I am not going to forsake him because times have changed, nor because the days are darkened. Neither let it be forgotten that I have been his companion from the first, and our love is not worn out. And it is right that I should be the one to bear patiently with him in adversity, who have with him been happy in brighter days."
Then Muʾâwiyah marvelled at her wisdom, and her affection for the Arab, and her fidelity to him. And he gave her ten thousand dirhems, and gave the same sum to the Arab, who took her and departed.
