when summer came and his house was hot he would stir it up until it covered the hoe then he would pour many jugs of well water over it and step on it until it was level. that house would remain cool as long as it was moist. when the dew extended and its coldness continued that would suffice to cool it for the rest of the summer. if it dried up before the end of summer and the heat returned he would stir it up and pour it out again. he would say my hutch is earth and what i hutch is from my well. my house is cooler and my provisions are lighter. i am also better than them in virtue of wisdom and the quality of my tools.
وكان إذا دخل الصيف، وحر عليه بيته، أثاره حتى يغرق المسحاة ٣ ، ثم عليه جرارا كثيرة من ماء البئر ويتوطؤه حتى يستوي. فلا يزال ذلك البيت باردا ما دام نديا ٤ . فإذا امتد به الندى ودام برده بدوامه، اكتفى بذلك التبريد صيفته. وإن جف قبل انقضاء الصيف وعاد عليه الحر، عاد عليه بالإثارة والصب ٥ . وكان يقول خيشتي أرض، وما خيشتي ٦ من بئري. وبيتي أبرد، ومؤونتي أخف. وأنا أفضلهم أيضا بفضل الحكمة وجودة الآلة.