280 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XVII, 
speak falsely to him). Heraclius said: ‘ Tell me of this man 
who appeared among you making the said claim.”’ I started be- 
littling to him his position, and making light of his prospects 
and saying: ‘‘ O King what is there in this affair of his to give 
you anxiety ? His position is less than has been reported to 
you.” But he began not to heed my words and said: “ Give 
me information about his position in reply to what I am going 
to ask of you.” I answered: ‘‘ Ask what seems good to you.” 
He enquired : ‘‘ How stands his lineage among you 2?” I said : 
‘Pure stock; he is of our best line.” ‘Tell me,’ said he, 
‘used any of his kin to utter such things as he, so that he is 
now imitating such a one?’ I replied: ‘‘ No.” He asked 
‘“ Has he any property among you of which you have robbed 
him, and he has devised this tale that you might restore him his 
property ?”’ I answered: ‘‘ No.” Henext said: ‘“‘ Tell me of 
persons of mature age and of degree among his people, none of 
them has followed him.’”’ Then he said: “ ‘Tell ‘me, do his 
followers love him and cleave to him, or do they hate him and 
forsake him ?”” I answered: ‘‘ None that does follow him after 
forsakes him.” ‘Tell me,” he asked, ‘‘ how stands the feud 
m. 
ously ?”” Abia Sufyan here interposes: I found nothing in 
his interrogatory I could find fault with him for save this. 1 
answered: ‘ No, and we have a truce with him, and are 
t secure against treachery on his part.” Now I swear 
Heraclius did not heed these last words of mine, but repeated 
Oo me our conversation as follows: ‘‘I asked you how stood 
his lineage among you, and you said he was of ‘ pure stock, of 
your best line’ ; and thus it is God takes his prophets; when 
he does take one, he takes him only from the best line of his 
poeple. And I enquired of you whether any of his kinsmen used 
to utter such things as he, so that he is now imitating him, and 
you answered “ No.’ And I asked you whether he has any 



