الْمَقَامَةُ الْوَاسِطِيَّةُ

Until he left what his trap had discarded, like a bone from which the marrow has been extracted.

Títí tí ó fi fi ohun tí àpá rẹ̀ ti kọ sílẹ̀, bí egungun tí wọ́n ti yọ t'inu rẹ̀ jáde.

When he gathered what he had chosen and packed it, and rolled up his sleeves and girded himself.

Nígbà tí ó kó ohun tí ó ti yàn àti tí ó ti pèsè, ó sì gbé àwọn apá rẹ̀ sókè Ó sì dé ìjánu rẹ̀.

He approached me like one who wore rudeness and discarded friendship.

Ó sún mọ́ mi bí ẹni tí ó wọ ìbájẹ́ àti tí ó kọ́ ọ̀rẹ́.

And he said: Would you like to accompany me to the marsh to marry you to another beautiful one?

Ó sọ pé: Ṣé o fẹ́ bá mi lọ sí ibi tí ó rọ̀ ní omi láti fi ọ́ ṣègbéyàwó fún ẹ̀lòmíràn tí ó lẹ́wà?

I swore to him by the One who made him blessed wherever he was, and did not make him among those who betray in inns.

Mo búra fún un nípa Ẹni tí ó ṣe é ní ìbùkún níbi gbogbo tí ó wà, àti tí kò ṣe é lára àwọn tí ó dálẹ níbi àwọn ilé ìtura.

That I have no capacity for marrying two free women and living with two co-wives.

Wí pé mi ò lè ṣe ìgbéyàwó pẹ̀lú àwọn obìnrin méjì àti gbé pẹ̀lú àwọn aya méjì.

Then I said to him, as one accustomed to his nature, who measures him by his own measure: The first was enough for me as pride.

Lẹ́hìn náà, mo sọ fún un, bí ẹni tó ti mọ́ ìwà rẹ̀, tó ń wò ó ní ìwọn rẹ̀: Ẹ̀kọ́ àkọ́kọ́ náà tó mi gẹ́gẹ́ bí ìwúrí.

So seek another for the other lady

Nítorí náà, wá ẹlòmíràn fún obìnrin míràn yẹ́n.

He smiled at my words and moved towards my commitment.

Ó rẹ́rìn-ín sí ọ̀rọ̀ mi, ó sì wá láti wá pẹlú mi.

So I turned away from him and showed him my aversion.

Nítorí náà, mo yí padà kúrò lọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀, mo sì fi ìkórìíra mi hàn án.