الْمَقَامَةُ الصُّورِيَّةُ

It was said: As for the people, they are witnesses. And as for the destination, it is a celebrated marriage.

Wọ́n sọ pé: àwọn ènìyàn náà jẹ́ ẹlẹ́rìí. Àti pé ibi tí wọn ń lọ jẹ́ ìgbéyàwó tí a ń ṣe ayẹyẹ rẹ̀ ní.

The vigor of youth urged me to travel with the foragers, to gain the sweetness of the gathering and the delights of the feast.

Ìdùnnú ìjọmọde mú mi láti rìn pẹ̀lú àgbẹ̀ náà, láti rí ìdùn ìpàdé àti àdùn àṣéyẹ.

After enduring hardship, we arrived at a house of lofty construction and spacious courtyard, testifying to the wealth and glory of its builder.

Lẹ́yìn tí a fara da ìrora, a dé ilé tí ó ga àti àgbàlá tó gbooro, tí ó ń jẹ́rìí sí ọlá àti ògo olùdá rẹ̀.

When we dismounted from the horses and stepped forward to enter.

Nígbà tí a sọ̀kalẹ̀ kúrò lórí ẹṣin, tí a sì tẹ̀ síwájú láti wọlé.

I saw its hallway adorned with tattered rags and decorated with hanging patches.

Mo rí ẹnu-ọ̀nà rẹ̀ tí ó kún fún aṣọ àkísà, tí wọn kẹwà sí pẹ̀lú àwọn àjákù igi tí wọ́n fi kọ́.

And there was a person on a velvet cushion, atop a delicate platform.

Ní ọ̀ọ́kan ní mori ẹnìkan tí o wà lórí àpótí aṣọ olówù, lórí pátákó tí ó rọrùn.

The title of the document and the sight of this novelty puzzled me.

Àkọlé ìwé náà àti riri ẹ̀wà ọrọ tuntun yìí ṣe mí ní iyemeji.

And the omen of those misfortunes prompted me to approach that person.

Àti pé àpèjúwe àwọn ìbànújẹ́ wọ̀nyí mú mi láti sún mọ́ ẹni náà.

So I resolved by the decree of fate to ask him who is the lord of this house.

Nítorí náà, mo pinnu nípa ìpinnu ayé láti béèrè lọ́wọ́ rẹ̀ nípa ẹni tí ó jẹ́ olúwa ilé yìí.

He said: It has no specific owner, nor a clear master.

Ó sọ pé: Kò sí olùní tí wọn dá ṣa lẹ́ṣà fún un, tàbí olúwa tí ó fojú hàn.