tomorrow and when the next day has passed the king will discover something that requires him to kill this owner so he will come to his owner and tell him that he has hidden a treasure in his house and that he needs his help to find it the next day so he will take him to his house and he will not stop that day teasing him rather he will tire him out by digging and searching for that treasure until when that day has passed and the king has discovered what he has discovered he will then tell him the truth about the matter. i say that even if this man had initially told his owner something that has no truth he is not blameworthy in that nor is he disgraced when the news is revealed contrary to what he narrated since he had intended by it a beautiful great matter that is beneficial to the one who informed. so this and similar and similar information that has no truth does not result in scandal blame or remorse from its owner but rather in gratitude and beautiful praise. as for the second type that has no purpose then in its revelation there is scandal and blame. as for the scandal if there is no harm to the informant from that like a man who tells his friend that he saw in such and such a city an animal a jewel or a plant of such and such a condition and story which has no truth to it and the liars only intend to astonish him. as for the blame if it also brings harm to the informant like a man who tells his friend about the king of a vast town desiring to be close to him and yearning for him and he is certain in his soul that if he bears to him and travels towards him he will attain such and such a place and such and such a position and he only does that to attain something of what he leaves behind until when his friend takes pains and endures and strives and comes to that king he does not find any truth to it and finds him angry and furious with him so he comes to
غد، وأنه متى انقضى يوم غد ظهر الملك على أمر ما يوجب أن يقتل صاحبه هذا، فجاء إلى صاحبه وأخبره أنه استخفى في منزله كنزا وأنه يحتاج إلى معاونته عليه في يوم غد، فأخذ به إلى منزله فلم يزل يومه ذلك يعلله بل يكده بالحفر والبحث عب ذلك الكنز، حتى إذا انقضى ذلك اليوم وظهر الملك على ما ظهر عليه أخبره حينئذ بالأمر على حقيقته. أقول إن هذا الرجل وإن كان قد أخبر صاحبه أولا بما لا حقيقة له فليس في ذلك بمذموم ولا عند تكشف الخبر على خلاف ما حكاه بمفتضح، إذ كان قد قصد به إلى أمر جميل جليل نافع للمخبر. فهذا وما أشبهه ونحاه من الإخبار مما لا حقيقة له لا يعقب صاحبه فضيحة ولا مذمة ولا ندامة بل شكرا وثناء جميلا. وأما النوع الثاني العديم لهذا الغرض ففي تكشفه الفضيحة والمذمة. وأما الفضيحة فإذا لم يكن على المخبر من ذلك ضرر، كرجل حكى لصاحبه أنه عاين بمدينة كذا وكذا حيوانا أو جوهرا أو نباتا من حالته وقصته كذا وكذا، مما لا حقيقة له ولا يقصد به الكاذبون إلا إلى التعجب منه فقط. وأما المذمة فإذا جلب على المخبر مع ذلك ضررا، كرجل حكى لصاحبه عن ملك بلدة ما شاسعة رغبة في قربه وتوقانا إليه، وحقق في نفسه أنه إن احتمل إليه وسار نحوه نال منه مكان كذا ومرتبة كذا، وإنما فعل ذلك لينال شيئا مما يخلفه، حتى إذا تعنى صاحبه وتحمل واجتهد فورد على ذلك الملك لم يجد لشيء من ذلك حقيقة، ووجده حنقا مغضبا عليه فأتى على