«رَأَيْتُ غُلَامًا أَفْرَعَ فِي قَالِبِ الْجَمَالِ، وَلُبِّسَ مِنَ الْحُسْنِ حُلَّةَ الْكَمَالِ»
I saw a thick-haired youth, as though cast in beauty’s mould and clothed in perfection’s robe.
Afraʿ describes abundant hair. Qālib al-jamāl makes beauty a mould; ḥullat al-kamāl makes perfection a garment. These images emphasise outward appearance, which later influences the governor’s conduct.
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The Raḥbiyyah Maqāmah — An Accusation, an Unusual Oath and a Hundred-Mithqāl Offer
«رَأَيْتُ غُلَامًا أَفْرَعَ فِي قَالِبِ الْجَمَالِ، وَلُبِّسَ مِنَ الْحُسْنِ حُلَّةَ الْكَمَالِ»
I saw a thick-haired youth, as though cast in beauty’s mould and clothed in perfection’s robe.
Afraʿ describes abundant hair. Qālib al-jamāl makes beauty a mould; ḥullat al-kamāl makes perfection a garment. These images emphasise outward appearance, which later influences the governor’s conduct.