and similar things, Ali was weakened and became unable to resist those arrayed against him.

The point here is that the criticism they level against Talha and Zubayr turns back against them in a way (1) that is even more serious with respect to Ali. If they respond that Ali exercised independent judgment in what he did and was more in the right than Talha and Zubayr, the reply is:

Yes, but Talha (2) and Zubayr likewise exercised independent judgment. Although Ali was superior to them, what they did with Aisha—may Allah be pleased with her—did not go as far as Ali’s actions did. Ali (3) was of higher standing than the two of them; yet if Talha and Zubayr’s conduct toward her was a sin, Ali’s conduct was a graver sin. His higher standing and the greater gravity of the sin therefore counterbalanced one another (4).

If they say:

“They forced Ali to resort to that (5), because it was they who brought her there. What Ali did is therefore attributable to them, not to Ali,”

the reply is:

The same applies to Muāwiya. When he was told, “Ammār has been killed (6), and the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, ‘The rebellious faction will kill you’” (7), he replied, “Was it we who killed him? He was killed only by those who brought him and placed him beneath our swords.” If this argument is rejected, then so too is the argument of anyone who contends that Talha and Zubayr were themselves (8) responsible for what befell Aisha