when a king enters upon someone who is equal to him in authority followers honor birth and household he should stand up take a few steps toward him embrace him take him by the hand seat him in his place and sit below him. this is a situation that the king needs from the one who enters upon him when he visits him. if he diminishes his share and prevents him from what is due to him the king cannot be sure that the same will not be done to him. when each of them does to the other something that is outside the laws and regulations corruption is born from that and grudges arise between the kings which leads to hatred enmity and envy. if this comes together in the kingdom it will be a cause of ruin and a call to trials.
وعلى الملك، إذا دخل عليه من يساويه في السلطان والتبع والعز والولادة والبيت، أن يقوم فيخطو إليه خطى ويعانقه، ويأخذ بيده فيقعده في مجلسه، ويجلس دونه؛ لأن هذه حال يحتاج الملك إلى مثلها، من الداخل عليه، إذا زاره؛ فإن بخسه حظه ومنعه ما يجب له، لم يأمن الملك أن يفعل به مثل ذلك. ومتى فعل كل واحد منهما بصاحبه ماهو خارج عن النواميس والشرائع، تولد من ذلك فساد، وحدثت ضغائن بين الملوك يقع بسببها التباغض والتعادي والتحاسد. وإذا اجتمع ذلك في المملكة، كان سببا للبوار، وداعية إلى التجارب.