this state of affairs continued for six years until in the seventh year the king ordered that the image of the man be drawn in one of the cups from which he drank and that his image be placed opposite the image of the king and that he be made to address the king and point to him from among the people of his kingdom and that his head be brought close to the head of the king in the picture as if he were whispering to him. then he gave that cup to one of his servants and said to him the kings desire this cup so if you want to sell it give it to soandso when he goes out to the land of the romans with his trade for if he sells it to the king himself it will benefit you but if he is unable to sell it to the king he will sell it to his minister or to one of his guards.
فلم تزل تلك حاله ست سنين، حتى إذا كان في السنة السابعة، أمر الملك أن تصور صورة الرجل في جام من جاماته التي يشرب فيها، وتجعل صورته بإزاء صورة الملك، ويجعل مخاطبا للملك، ومشيرا إليه من بين أهل مملكته، ويدني رأسه من رأس الملك في الصورة كأنه يسر إليه. ثم وهب ذلك الجام لبعض خدمه، وقال له إن الملوك ترغب في هذا الجام، فإن أردت بيعه، فادفعه إلى فلان إذا خرج نحو بلاد الروم بتجارته، فإنه إن باعه من الملك نفسه نفعك، وإن لم يمكنه بيعه من الملك، باعه من وزيره أو من بعض حامته.