مُقَدِّمَة

English: And I sought release from this position in which understanding is confused and imagination is excessive.

Yoruba: Mo sì wá ìdásílẹ̀ kúrò nínú ipò yìí níbi tí òye ń ti damu, tí èrò sì ń pọ̀ jù.

English: Where the depth of intellect is probed and the value of a person in excellence is revealed.

Yoruba: Níbi tí a ti ń wádìí jíjìn laakaye tí a sì ń ṣàfihàn pataki ènìyàn nínú ọgbọ́n.

English: And its owner is compelled to be like a night woodcutter or a bringer of men and horses.

Yoruba: Tí ẹni tí ó ní i sì ń ní láti jẹ́ bí agégi òru tàbí ẹni tí ń fa ènìyàn àti ẹṣin papo.

English: And rarely does a talkative person remain safe or his stumble is forgiven.

Yoruba: Ó sì ṣòwọ́n fún alásọ̀tan orọ̀ láti wà láìléwu tàbí kí a dárí jì í nígbà tí ó bá ṣèṣe.

English: When he did not help with the dismissal nor exempt from the speech,

Yoruba: Nígbà tí kò ràn mí lọ́wọ́ pẹ̀lú ìdásílẹ̀ bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kò dá mi sí kúrò nínú ọ̀rọ̀,

English: I answered his call with the response of the obedient and exerted in obeying him the effort of the capable.

Yoruba: Mo dahùn ìpè rẹ̀ bí olùgbọ́ràn tí mo sì nawọ́ sí ìgbọ́ràn rẹ̀ pẹ̀lú akitiyan ẹni tí ó lágbára.

English: And I composed, despite what I suffer from a frozen talent and a dormant intellect,

Yoruba: Mo sì ṣẹ̀dá, bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé mo ń jìyà ọgbọ́n tí ó ti sóró àti òye tí kò ní ìmísí,

English: And a depleted deliberation and erecting worries,

Yoruba: Àti èrò tí ó ti tán àti àwọn ìbànújẹ́ tí ó dìde,

English: Fifty Maqamat containing the seriousness of speech and its jest, and the delicate of expression and pureness.

Yoruba: àádọ́ta makama tí ó kun fun ọ̀rọ̀ pataki àti ẹ̀rín, àti gbolohun to fele ati eyi to dara.

English: And the gems of eloquence and its pearls, and the witticisms of literature and its rarities.

Yoruba: Àti àwọn ohun iyebíye ọ̀rọ̀ dídùn àti alulu iyebíye rẹ̀, àti àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ ẹlẹ́yà ti lítíréṣọ̀ àti àwọn alo rẹ̀.