«لَمْ يَحْكِهَا الْأَصْمَعِيُّ فِيمَا / حَكَى وَلَا حَاكَهَا الْكُمَيْتُ»
Even al-Aṣmaʿī did not recount such arts among his narratives, nor did al-Kumayt match them.
Al-Aṣmaʿī is a celebrated transmitter of Arabic language and literary lore; al-Kumayt is a recognized poet. The names serve as literary points of comparison in Abū Zayd’s boast, not as evidence that either man witnessed this event.
Ḥakā / ḥākā are close in sound but differ in sense: to narrate or report, and to imitate or match. The near-parallel adds wit to the exaggerated claim.