you are responsible for the expenses and are generous with him. you are very generous with the baker the cook the roaster and the pastry chef. yet despite all this you do not see him as an enemy to grieve him nor as a friend to please him nor as an ignorant person to get to know him nor as a visitor to honor him nor as a thankful person to confirm him. and you know when he steps aside from you and disappears from your sight. he has become a divided distributed and consumed spoil. so if you brought him someone whose gratitude is beneficial whose gratitude remains whose memory endures for days who entertains you with conversation and listening who extends your food and shortens your life that would be more appropriate for you and more similar to what your hand has provided.
عليك النفقة، وتكر منه؛ وإنك لتغالي ١ بالخباز والطباخ والشواء والخباص، ثم أنت مع هذا كله لا تشهده عدوا لتغمه ٢ ، ولا وليا فتسره، ولا جاهلا لتعرفه، ولا زائرا لتعظمه، ولا شاكرا لتثبته. وأنت تعلم حين يتنحى من بين يديك، ويغيب عن عينيك. فقد صار نهبا مقسما، ومتوزعا مستهلكا. فلو أحضرته من ينفع شكره، ويبقى شكره، ويبقى على الأيام ذكره، ومن يمتعك بالحديث والإستماع، ومن يمتد به الأكل، ويقصر به الدهر، لكان ذلك أولى بك، وأشبه بالذي قدمته يدك.