the evidence that they do not fear poverty and that gathering and withholding are either a habit of theirs or a nature in them is that you may find the king stingy even though his kingdom is larger his tax is more abundant and his enemy is more peaceful. and you may find someone more prudent than him generous even though his kingdom is narrower his tax is less and his enemy is more active.
والدليل على أنه ليس بهم خوف الفقر، وأن الجمع والمنع إما أن يكون عادة منهم أو طبيعة فيهم، إنك قد تجد الملك بخيلا، ومملكته أوسع، وخرجه أدر ٦ ، وعدوة أسكن، وتجد أحزم منه جوادا، وإن كانت مملكته أضيق، وخرجه أقل، وعدوه أشد حركة.