الْمَقَامَةُ الْفرضية

Over the loss of those who have passed?

Nítorí ìsọnù àwọn tí ó ti kọjá?

He brought out a piece of paper from his sleeve.

Ó mú ìwé kan jáde láti inú àṣọ rẹ̀.

And swore by his father and mother.

Ó sì búra ní orúkọ bàbá àti ìyá rẹ̀.

He had laid it before the scholars of the schools.

Ó ti tẹ sílẹ̀ sí àwọn ọlọ́gbọ́n àwọn ilé-ẹ̀kọ́.

But they did not differentiate the worn-out marks.

Ṣùgbọ́n wọ́n kò lè ṣe iyàtọ̀ láàárín àwọn àmì ọ̀rọ̀ tí ó ti ń pàrẹ.

He consulted the scholars of the inkpots.

Ó bá àwọn òǹkọ̀wé àwọn àpótí ìnkì sọ̀rọ̀.

They were silent, beyond the silence of the grave dwellers.

Wọ́n dákẹ́, tayọ si ìdákẹ́ àwọn tí ó wà nínú ibojì.

So I said: Show it to me. Perhaps I can answer it.

Nítorí náà, mo sọ pé: Fíhàn mí. Bóyá mo lè mú ìtumọ̀ bá a.

He said: You have not strayed far in your aim.

Ó sọ pé: Ìwọ kò ti sọnù nínú àfojúsùn rẹ

For many a shot hits the mark without an archer.

Nítorí pé ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ọfà ń dé ibi tó yẹ láìsí tafàtafà