and he mingled with the paths of the early philosophers and sages so from the depths of their error was the source of these peoples support for they waver between the doctrines of dualism and the philosophers and around the limits of logic in their arguments they hum. and my search for the likeness of his opponent has been prolonged for i have been able to suppress him and his opponent and in such a case i recite… i knew evil not for evil… but to avoid it… and he who does not know evil… among the people falls into it…
واختلط بمسالك الأوائل من الفلاسفة والحكماء فمن بواطن غيهم كان استمداد هؤلاء فانهم بين مذاهب الثنوية والفلاسفة يترددون وحول حدود المنطق في مجادلاتهم يدندنون ولقد طال تفتيشي عن شبه خصمه لما تقدر على قمعه وخصمه وفي مثل ذلك أنشد عرفت الشر لا للشر لكن لتوقيه ومن لا يعرف الشر من الناس يقع فيه 