 we after the upbringing of the caliphs and the neighbors of the ministers were born in the courts of our kings and we are the wings of our caliphs. so we took their traces and followed their example. we do not know anyone other than them nor do we know anyone other than them. no one from the speech of their king nor from those who are nominated to object to them has any hope of us. so who is more deserving of preference and more deserving of closeness in status than he who has these qualities in himself and these characteristics.
ونحن بعد تربية الخلفاء، وجيران الوزراء، ولدنا في أفنية ملوكنا، ونحن أجنحة خلفائنا، فأخذنا بآثارهم، واحتذينا على مثالهم، فلسنا نعرف سواهم، ولا نعرف بغيرهم، ولا يطمع فينا أحد قط من خطاب ملكهم، وممن يترشح للاعتراض عليهم. فمن أحق بالأثرة، وأولى بالقرب في المنزلة ممن هذه الخصال فيه، وهذه الخلال له.