one day i went to abu alsarri ammar ibn ziyad our companion the client of almuayyad and found him thinking and concerned. i asked him what was wrong with him. he enjoyed himself for a while and then said to me i have never heard of a wonder. i said what is that? he said i saw in my sleep last night a slave girl. i woke up and my heart had gone to her and i was in a state of the most difficult love for her. he remained for many days more than a month sad and nothing could comfort him with longing until i rebuked him and said to him it is a great mistake to occupy yourself with something that is not true and to attach your concern to something that does not exist. do you know who she is? he said no by god. i said you are indeed an elephant of opinion and afflicted with insight when you love.
وذلك أني دخلت يوما على أبي السري عمار بن زياد صاحبنا مولى المؤيد فوجدته مفكرا مهتما فسألته عما به، فتمتع ساعة ثم قال لي أعجوبة ما سمعت قط. قلت وما ذاك قال رأيت في نومي الليلة جارية فاستيقظت وقد ذهب قلبي فيها وهمت بها، وإني لفي أصعب حال من حبها. ولقد بقي أياما كثيرة تزيد على الشهر مغموما لا يهنئه شيء وجدا، إلى أن عذلته وقلت له من الخطأ العظيم أن تشغل نفسك بغير حقيقة، وتعلق وهمك بمعدوم لا يوجد، هل تعلم من هي قال لا والله، قلت إنك لفيل الرأي مصاب البصيرة إذ تحب