الْمَقَامَةُ الشِّعرية

He had collared a youth, fresh in his prime but with a worn-out robe.

Ó ti di ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin kan lọ́rùn, tuntun nínú àgbà rẹ̀ ṣùgbọ́n pẹ̀lú aṣọ tó ti gbó.

So I ran after the spectators until we reached the gate of the emirate.

Nítorí náà mo sáré tẹ̀lé àwọn tó ń wò títí a fi dé ẹnu-ọ̀nà ààfin ọba.

And there was the aid official, sitting cross-legged on his dais, intimidating in his demeanor.

Níbẹ̀ ni alákòóso ìrànlọ́wọ́ wà, ó jókòó ní àjàpá lórí àga rẹ̀, ó sì ń ba ni lẹ́rù pẹ̀lú ìwà rẹ̀.

The elder said to him: "May Allah strengthen the governor and elevate his status."

Àgbàlagbà náà sọ fún un pé: "Kí Ọlọ́hun fún gómìnà ní agbára kí ó sì gbé ipò rẹ̀ ga."

"I took charge of this boy when he was weaned and raised him as an orphan."

"Mo gba ọmọkùnrin yìí sábẹ́ ìtọ́jú nígbà tí wọ́n yọ ọ́mú oju rẹ, mo sì tọ́ ọ dàgbà gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọmọ òrukàn."

"Then I spared no effort in educating him."

"Lẹ́yìn náà, n kò ṣe àìkọ́ ọ ní ẹ̀kọ́."

"But when he became skilled and excelled, he drew the sword of enmity and brandished it."

"Ṣùgbọ́n nígbà tó di òǹkọ̀wé tó sì ga ju, ó fa idà ọ̀tá yọ ó sì fi hàn gbangba."

"I never thought he would turn against me and become insolent, after he had drunk deeply from my knowledge and been enriched by it."

"N kò rò pé yóò yípadà sí mi tí yóò sì di alágídí, lẹ́yìn tó ti mu ọgbọ́n mi jinlẹ̀ tó sì ti di òní mímọ tó pọ̀ nípa rẹ̀."

The youth said to him: "What fault have you found in me that you spread this shame about me?"

Ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin náà sọ fún un pé: "Àṣìṣe wo ni o rí lára mi tí o fi ń tan ẹ̀sín yìí ká nípa mi?"

"By Allah, I have not concealed the face of your kindness, nor have I torn the veil of your protection."

"Mo fi Ọlọ́hun búra, n kò fi ojú inú rere rẹ pamọ́, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni n kò ya aṣọ ààbò rẹ."