one day while he was in a gathering busy with his good deeds and his affairs and had hidden himself with his efforts a poet appeared from before him and recited to him a poem in which he praised him commended him and glorified him. when he finished he said you have done well. then he turned to his secretary and said give him ten thousand dirhams. the poet was extremely happy. when he saw his condition he said i see that this statement has resonated with you. make it one thousand dirhams. the poet almost came out of his skin but when he saw that his joy had doubled he said your joy is doubled in proportion to the multiplication of the speech. give him soandso forty thousand. his joy almost killed him.
بينا هو يوما في مجلس، وهو مشغول بحسنابه وأمره، وقد احتجب بجهده، إذ نجم ٢ شاعر من بين يديه، فأنشده شعرا مدحه فيه، وقرظه ٣ ، ومجده. فلما فرغ قال قد أحسنت . ثم أقبل على كاتبه فقال أعطه عشرة آلاف درهم . ففرح الشاعر فرحا شديدا؛ فلما رأى حاله قال وإني لأرى هذا القول قد وقع منك هذا الموقع؟ اجعلها ألف درهم . فكاد الشاعر يخرج من جلده، فلما رأى فرحه قد تضاعف، قال وإن فرحك ليتضاعف على قدر تضاعف القول؟ أعطه يا فلان أربعين ألفا . فكاد الفرح يقتله.