I added to this study that of all the traditions
collected from the mouth of our Prophet by the great men that were
contemporary with him. I was not satisfied with the knowledge of
all that had any relation to our religion, but made also a
particular search into our histories. I made myself perfect in
polite learning, in the works of poets, and in versification. I
applied myself to geography, chronology, and to speak our Arabic
tongue in its purity. But one thing which I was fond of and
succeeded in to a special degree was to form the characters of our
written language, wherein I surpassed all the writing masters of
our kingdom that had acquired the greatest reputation.
Fame did me more honour than I deserved, for she not only spread
the renown of my talents through all the dominions of the king my
father, but carried it as far as the Indian court, whose potent
monarch, desirous to see me, sent an ambassador with rich presents
to demand me of my father, who was extremely glad of this embassy
for several reasons; he was persuaded that nothing could be more
commendable in a prince of my age than to travel and visit foreign
courts, and he was very glad to gain the friendship of the Indian
sultan.
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