الْمَقَامَةُ الرقطاء

He said:

Ó sọ pé:

Do not hope for delay or the hoarding of gold.

Má ṣe retí ìdádúró tàbí ìkójọpọ̀ wúrà.

By your right, you will not see paths of salvation or show me the ingots of deliverance!

Nípà ẹ̀tọ́ rẹ, ìwọ kò ní rí àwọn ọ̀nà ìgbàlà tàbí fi àwọn ìdí ìgbàlà hàn mí!

When I saw his stubbornness and that there was no escape from his hand.

Nígbà tí mo rí ìwà ìdúró rẹ̀ àti pé kò sí ìbálẹ̀ láti ọwọ́ rẹ̀.

I quarreled with him, then I subdued him.

Mo bá a jà, lẹ́yìn náà mo lù u.

To take me to the governor of crimes, not to the judge of injustices.

Láti mú mi lọ sí gomina àwọn ẹ̀ṣẹ̀, kì í ṣe sí adájọ́ àwọn àbòsí.

Because I had heard of the governor's generosity and virtue, and the judge's strictness and stinginess.

Nítorí mo ti gbọ́ nípa ìfẹ́ àti ìwà rere Gomina, àti ìwà ile koko àti ahún Adájọ́ náà.

When we arrived at the gate of the Emir of Tus, I felt no fear or distress.

Nígbà tí a dé ẹnu-ọ̀nà Ọba Tusi, mo kò ní ìbẹ̀rù tàbí ìbànújẹ́.

I called for ink and paper, and wrote a speckled letter.

Mo bèèrè fún inki (Tàdáwà) àti ìwé, mo sì kọ lẹ́tà tí alúfábẹ́ẹ̀tì rẹ tó ní àmì-ìdámọ̀ yóò tẹle èyí tí kò ní àmì-ìdámọ̀.

It read: Our master's manners are beloved, and at his dooryard people stayed.

Ó kà pé: Ìwà Aṣíwájú wa jẹ́ ìfẹ́, àgbàlá rẹ ibùdó àwọn èèyàn