الْمَقَامَةُ الشِّعرية

The boy said: I have renounced literature and its followers. I have joined those who oppose it and demolish its structures.

Ọmọkùnrin náà sọ pé: Mo ti kọ́ ìwé àti àwọn ọmọlẹ́yìn rẹ̀ sílẹ̀. Mo ti darapọ̀ mọ́ àwọn tí ó ń kọ́ ọ́ sílẹ̀ àti tí ó ń wó àwọn ilé rẹ̀.

If its verses reached my knowledge before I composed my own.

Tí àwọn ẹsẹ̀ rẹ̀ bá ti dé ìmọ̀ mi ṣáájú kí n tó kọ́ ti èmi.

It was merely a coincidence of thoughts, as one hoof may fall upon another.

Ó jẹ́ ìbámu èrò lasán, bí ẹsẹ̀ kan bá lórí ẹsẹ̀ mìíràn.

He said: It seemed the governor accepted the truth of his claim and regretted his hasty reproach.

Ó sọ pé: Ó dàbí pé gómìnà gbà pé òótọ́ ni ẹ̀sùn rẹ̀ ó sì bínú sí ìyára rẹ̀ láti fi ẹ̀sùn kàn án.

So he continued to ponder what would reveal the truths to him and distinguish the superior from the inferior.

Nítorí náà, ó tẹ̀síwájú láti rò nípa ohun tí yóò ṣí òtítọ́ fún un àti láti yà àtọ́kànwá kúrò nínú àìtọ́kànwá.

He saw nothing but their engagement in a contest and their pairing in a duel.

Ó rí kankan bí kò ṣe ìdíje wọn àti ìjà wọn nínú ìjà.

He said to them: If you want to expose the idle and clarify the truth from falsehood.

Ó sọ fún wọn pé: Bí ẹ bá fẹ́ ṣí ìdílé aláìníṣẹ́ àti láti ṣàlàyé òtítọ́ kúrò nínú èké.

Then compete in poetry and challenge each other. Engage in the arena of eloquence and trade words.

Ẹ máa ṣàwárí nínú ẹ̀dá àti láti ṣàwárí ara yín. Ẹ máa kópa nínú pápá ìṣàlàyé àti láti ṣòwò ọ̀rọ̀.

So that he who perishes may perish with clear evidence, and he who lives may live with clear evidence.

Kí ẹni tí ó bá kú lè kú pẹ̀lú ẹ̀rí kedere, àti kí ẹni tí ó bá yè lè yè pẹ̀lú ẹ̀rí kedere.

They said with one voice and a unanimous answer: We are satisfied with your test. Command us as you wish.

Wọ́n sọ pẹ̀lú ohùn kan àti ìdáhùn kan: A ti fara mọ́ ìdánwò rẹ. Pàṣẹ fún wa bí o ṣe fẹ́.