abdullah said i had come to him and one of his servants had blocked me. he swore solemn oaths that he would pluck out the eye of whoever blocked me. then he said boy there shall not remain a boy in the house or anyone who comes to us except that you bring him to me! he said so he brought his servants who were about three hundred and said point to whomever you wish among them. then thamamah nudged me and i said may i be your ransom i do not recognize the boy himself. he said i have never had a guard nor have i blocked myself and that is because i had said something before because i was in rayy and my father had died and left me estates there so i needed to meet the men and the ruler regarding what we had. so i would look at the people entering and praying and i would be blocked and kept away and my soul would shrink to me.
قال عبد الله وقد كنت أتيته فحجبني بعض غلمانه، فحلف بالأيمان المغلظة أن يقلع عينا من حجبني، ثم قال يا غلام، لا يبق في الدار غلام ولا منقطع إلينا إلا أحضرتمونيه! قال فأتى بغلمانه وهم نحو من ثلثمائة، فقال أشر إلى من شئت فيهم. فغمزني ثمامة فقلت جعلت فداك لا أعرف الغلام بعينه. فقال ما كان لي حاجب قط، ولا احتجبت، وذلك لأنه سبق مني قول، لأني كنت وأنا بالري وقد مات أبي وخلف لي بها ضياعا فاحتجت إلى ملاقاة الرجال والسلطان فيما كان لنا، فكنت أنظر إلى الناس يدخلون ويصلون وأحجب أنا وأقصى، فتتقاصر إلي نفسي،