The Prince, aghast at his boldness, called one of his officers, and in a tongue generally unknown commanded him to eject the intruder.
The philosopher, however, promptly made answer in the same tongue: 'Oh, Lord, he who acts hastily is liable to hasty repentance.' The Prince was equally astounded to find himself understood by the stranger as by the manner in which the reply was given.

Anxious to know more of his guest he began to question him, and soon discovered that he was acquainted with seventy languages.

Problems for discussion were then propounded to the philosophers, who had witnessed the discourteous intrusion with considerable indignation and disgust, but Alfarabi disputed with so much eloquence and vivacity that he reduced all the doctors to silence, and they began writing down his discourse.

The Sultan then ordered his musicians to perform for the diversion of the company.

When they struck up, the philosopher accompanied them on a lute with such infinite grace and tenderness that he elicited the unmeasured admiration of the whole distinguished assembly.