when the letter was read to the king and he passed by that letter he disapproved of it and said to the translator place my hand on this letter so he placed it. he ordered that that letter be cut out with a knife and it was cut out of the letter. then he wrote to alexander the head of the kingdom is the soundness of the kings nature and the head of the king is the truthfulness of the speech of his messenger for it is through his tongue that he speaks and to his ear that he conveys. i have cut out with my knife what was not of my speech for i did not find a way to cut out the tongue of your messenger.
فلما قريء الكتاب على الملك، فمر بذلك الحرف، أنكره فقال للمترجم ضع يدي على هذا الحرف فوضعها. فأمر أن يقطع ذلك الحرف بسكينة، فقطع من الكتاب. وكتب إلى الإسكندر إن رأس المملكة صحة فطرة الملك، ورأس الملك صدق لهجة رسوله، إذ كان عن لسانه ينطق، وإلى أذنه يؤدي. وقد قطعت بسكينتي ما لم يكن من كلامي، إذ لم أجد إلى قطع لسان رسولك سبيلا.