 know someone who was tested with something like this and the anguish settled within him so he sought to deny it until the matter became severe and this was known in his characteristics from those who were exposed to knowledge and from those who were not exposed. and whoever was exposed to something he would reject it and find it ugly until whoever among his brothers wanted to gain favor with him would think that he would believe him in his denial and disbelieve whoever thought otherwise of him and he was pleased with this. and i knew him one day sitting with some of those who were exposed to him with what was in his conscience and he was completely absent when the person who was accused of having a relationship with him passed by them and it was no sooner that his eyes fell upon his beloved than he became agitated and changed his former appearance and his color turned yellow and the meanings of his words varied after good education so the one speaking to him interrupted his speech anxiously and was reminded of what he had mentioned. so it was said to him what happened? he said it is what you think an excuse from an excuse and a reproach from a reproach. in this regard i say a poem from it .
وإني لأعرف بعض من امتحن بشيء من هذا فسكن الوجد بين جوانحه، فرام جحده إلى أن غلظ الأمر، وعرف ذلك في شمائله من تعرض للمعرفة ومن لم يتعرض. وكان من عرض له بشيء نجهه وقبحه، إلى ان كان من أراد الحظوة لديه من إخوانه يوهمه تصديقه في إنكاره وتكذيب من ظن به غير ذلك، فسر بهذا. ولعهدي به يوما قاعدا ومعه بعض من كان يعرض له بما في ضميره، وهو ينتفي غاية الانتفاء، إذ اجتاز بهما الشخص الذي كان يتهم بعلاقته، فما هو إلا أن وقعت عينه على محبوبه حتى اضطرب وفارق هيئته الأولى، واصفر لونه، وتفاوتت معاني كلامه بعد حسن تثقيف، فقطع كلامه المتكلم معه قلقا واسترعى ما كان فيه من ذكره. فقيل له ما عدا عما بدا فقال هو ما تظنون، عذر من عذر، وعذل من عذل؛ ففي ذلك أقول شعرا منه .