ولكل رجل من الملوك، أو ذي هيئة من السوقة، أليف وأنيس، قد عرف روحه، واطلع على قلبه, فليست عليه مؤونة في تبذل يتبذله1 عنده، أو رأي يستبين منه، أو سر يفشيه إليه، غير أن تلك الأنسة2، وذلك الإلف، يستخرج من كل واحد منهما ما لم يكن ليظهر منه عند الانقباض والتشدد، ولو التمس ملتمس مثل ذلك عند من يستأنف ملاطفته، ومؤانسته، ومناسمته3، وإن كان ذا فضل في الرأي وبسطة في العلم، لم يجد عنده مثل ما هو منتفع به، ممن هو دون ذلك في الرأي، ممن قد كفي مؤانسته، ووقع على طباعه.
For every man among kings, or one of high status among the common people, has a familiar companion and intimate friend, one who has known his spirit and become acquainted with his heart, so that he has no difficulty in showing him a certain openness, or a view that becomes clear from him, or a secret he divulges to him. However, that intimacy and that familiarity draw out from each of them what would not have appeared from him in a state of reserve and severity. Even if a seeker were to seek the like of that from someone with whom he is beginning to be gentle, friendly, and agreeable, even if that person were possessed of excellence in judgment and breadth in knowledge, he would not find with him the like of what he benefits from someone who is inferior to him in judgment, someone whose companionship has been secured and who has come to know his nature.
لأن الأنسة روح4 للقلوب، وأن الوحشة روع عليها، ولا يلتاط6 بالقلوب إلا ما لان عليها، ومن استقبل الأنس بالوحشة استقبل أمرا ذا مؤونة.
Because intimacy is a spirit for hearts, and estrangement is a terror upon them, and nothing clings to hearts except what is gentle with them. Whoever meets intimacy with estrangement meets a matter that entails hardship.
فإذا كلفتك نفسك السمو إلى منزلة من وصفت لك، فاقدعها7 عن ذلك بمعرفة فضل الأليف والأنيس، وإذا حدثتك نفسك أو غيرك، ممن لعله أن يكون عنده فضل في مروءة،
So if your soul urges you to rise to a station of those I have described to you, then restrain it from that by recognizing the merit of the familiar companion and intimate friend. And if your soul or someone else speaks to you, someone who perhaps has excellence in manliness,