as for the materials do not expose him at all and do not pay attention to his attention even if he comes to the crops and the offspring and even to the spirit and the heart. do not be deceived by his saying that i am a valley and do not judge for him by his claim that i am a grandfather and a pious man. look at his speech and the exits of his words and the melody of his speech and his method and nature and his creation and his disposition and his behavior and determination and his hesitation and rashness. consider the extent of his distress at his lack of concern and look at his anger in you and for you and at his turning away from those who turned away from you and his inclination toward those who inclined toward you and at his surrender to evil and his biting it and his flattery and uncovering his mask. rather do not judge for him by all of that as long as it was during the days of your rule and with the approval of your matter even if the days are long and the months are many until the referrals are organized and the times are equal in him.
وأما المواد فلا تعرض له البتة، ولا تلتفت لفته، ولو أتى على الحرث والنسل، وحتى على الروح والقلب. ولا تغتر بقوله إني واد، ولا تحكم له بدعواه بأني جد وامق. وانظر أنت في حديثه وإلى مخارج لفظه، وإلى لحن قوله، وإلى طريقته وطبيعته، وإلى خلقه وخليقته، وإلى تصرفه وتصميمه وإلى توقفه وتهوره. وتأمل مقدار جزعه من قلة اكتراثه، وانظر إلى غضبه فيك ولك، وإلى انصرافه عمن انصرف عنك وميله إلى من مال إليك، وإلى تسلمه من الشر وتعضه له، وإلى مداهنته وكشف قناعه. بل لا تقض له بجماع ذلك ما كان ذلك في أيام دولتك ومع إقبال من أمرك، وإن طالت الأيام وكثرت الشهور، حتى تنتظم احالات، وتستوي فيه الأزمان.