Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Book 16, Hadith 343 (English) ⓘ
Abu Nujayd said, "A poet came to 'Imran ibn Husayn and 'Imran gave him something. 'Imran was asked, 'You give to a poet?' He said, 'I am preserving my reputation (from his satire).'"
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ حُبَابٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ نُجَيْدِ بْنِ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ الْخُزَاعِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي نُجَيْدٌ، أَنَّ شَاعِرًا جَاءَ إِلَى عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ فَأَعْطَاهُ، فَقِيلَ لَهُ: تُعْطِي شَاعِرًا؟ فَقَالَ: أُبْقِي عَلَى عِرْضِي.
also referenced under: Hadith 343 (Reference) & Book 16, Hadith 11 (In-Book)