Yehya ben Khalid the Barmecide was returning homeone day，from the Khalif's palacewhen he saw a man at the gate of his housewho rose at his approach and saluted himsaying'O YehyaI am in need of that which is in thy handand I make God my intermediary with thee.'So Yehya caused set apart a place for him in his house and bade his treasurer carry him a thousand dirhems every day and that his food should be of the choicest of his own meat. The man abode thus a whole monthat the end of which timehaving received in all thirty thousand dirhemshe departed by stealthfearing lest Yehya should take the money from himbecause of the greatness of the sum；and when they told Yehya of thishe said'By Allahthough he had tarried with me to the end of his daysyet had I not scanted him of my largesse nor cut off from him the bounties of my hospitality！'Forindeedthe excellences of the Barmecides were past count nor can their virtues be told；especially those of Yehya teen Khalidfor he abounded in noble qualitieseven as saith the poet of him：
I asked munificence'Art free？'It answered'Noperdie！
Yehya ben Khalid's slave am I；my lord and master he.'
'A boughten slave？'asked I；but'Nayso heaven forfend！'
quoth it. 'From ancestor to ancestor he did inherit me.'
