الْمَقَامَةُ الْمَكِّيَّةُ

We said to him: Your verses have declared your poverty and the damage to your camel.

Àwa sọ fún un pé: Àwọn ẹsẹ̀ rẹ ti sọ ìyà rẹ̀ àti ìbàjẹ́ kẹ̀tẹkẹtẹ́ rẹ.

We will provide you with what will take you to your land. What is your son's need?

Àwa yóò fún ọ ní ohun tí yóò gbé ọ lọ sí ilẹ̀ rẹ. Kí ni bùkátà ọmọ rẹ?

He said to him: Stand up, my son, as your father stood. Speak what is in your heart, may your mouth never be broken.

Ó sọ fún un pé: Dìde, ọmọ mi, bí bàbá rẹ̀ ṣe dìde. Sọ ohun tí ó wà nínú ọkàn rẹ, kí ẹnu rẹ̀ má bàjẹ́.

He rose like a hero to the challenge, and wielded his tongue like a sharp sword.

Ó dìde bí akíkanjú sí ìpè, ó sì pọn ahọ́n rẹ bí idà tó mú

And he began to say: O masters in high places, who have lofty buildings.

Ó bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí sọ pé: Ẹ̀yin olórí ní ibi gíga, tí wọ́n ní ilé gíga.

And those who, when a calamity strikes, rise to thwart the plot.

Àti àwọn tí, nígbà tí ìjàmbá bá ṣẹlẹ̀, ń dìde láti dá ète rẹ dúró.

And those for whom it is easy to give ancient treasures.

Àti àwọn tí ó rọrùn fún wọn láti fún ní àwọn ìṣúra àtijọ́.

I want from you roasted meat, bread, and pudding

Mo fẹ́ láti ọ̀dọ̀ yín ẹran àsún, burẹ́dì, àti àkàrà òyìnbó.

If that is too much, then thin bread kept in it piece of a roasted lamb.

Tí èyí bá pọ̀ jù, nígbà náà burẹ́dì tinrin tí a fi asun pamọ́ sí láàrin

Or if neither, then a fill of porridge.

Tabi tí kò bá sí èyí tàbí èyí, nígbà náà ẹkùn igbá àsáró kan