they were tempted by it and the story is full of sorrows and they had not left until a note from the envious people came to me in which there were arrows of threat and introductions to intimidation warning and intimidation to attack what i had composed of books if i did not guarantee them a partnership in what was done to me. so i gave their note to one of them who was closest to me and he read it and then said may god kill them! are they unjust they throw stones at the nile and seek a partnership in good deeds! to extract the soul with hooks is easier than to give a good deed with intimidation. and he began to say
افتنوا فيها والحديث ذو شجون فما برحوا حتى أتتني رقعة أناسية من الحساد فيها سهام الوعيد، ومقدمات التهديد والتحذير والتخويف، للطعن على ما ألفت من الكتب إن أنا لم أضمن لهم الشركة فيما يجرى علي، فدفعت رقعتهم إلى من قرب إلي منهم، فقرأها ثم قال قاتلهم الله! أبظلم يرمون النيل ويلتمسون الشركة في المعروف! لنزع الروح بالكلاليب أهون من بذل معروف بترهيب . وأنشأ يقول