الْمَقَامَةُ الدِّمَشْقِيَّةُ

When my companions prepared and the agreement was settled.

Nígbà tí àwọn èèyàn mi ṣe tán ìmúra, tí ìṣọ̀kan tí múlẹ̀.

We hastened the journey without taking a guide.

A bẹrẹ ìrìn-àjò náà láìsí àtọnà

We asked him from every tribe, and employed a thousand tricks to find him.

A béèrè fún ní gbogbo ìdílé, a sì ló gbogbo ọgbọ́n láti wá a.

But he was hard to find among the tribe, until we thought he was not among the living.

Síbẹ̀síbẹ̀ o ṣòro láti rí nínú àwọn ìran náà, títí a fi rò pé kò sí nínú àwọn alààyè mọ

The travelers were bewildered by his absence, and they sought advice at the gate of Jeroun.

Àwọn ọkan àwọn arìnrìn-àjò ṣe ìyàlẹ́nu nípa àìrí rẹ̀, wọn sì lọ ẹnu-ọ̀nà ilẹ̀ Jeroni làti gbá ìmọ̀ràn,

They continued between tying and untying, between plaiting and twining, until their whispering ceased and the hopeful despaired.

Wọ́n ń gbìyànjú láàárín dídì àti títú, láàárín lilọ àti siso, títí tí itakurọsọ dópin, tí oníreti sì jákàn .

And opposite them, was a person with an appearance of a youth, dressed like a monk, holding a woman’s rosary.

Ní iwájú wọn ni ẹnikan pẹ̀lú ìrísí ọdọ , wọ àṣò wòlíì, o sì mú tẹsùbà obìnrin lọwọ,

And in his eyes was the translation of intoxication.

Nínú ojú rẹ̀ ni ìtumọ̀ ìhun rírà ẹmi wà.

He had centered his gaze on the group

Ó di ojú rẹ̀ mọ àwọn èèyàn náà

And sharpened his ear to eavesdrop.

Ó sì dẹ etí rẹ̀ láti ji gbọ́ àwọn ọrọ wọn