الْمَقَامَةُ الشِّعرية

He said: I am passionate about the types of eloquence, especially paronomasia. I see it as its leader.

Ó sọ pé: Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ sí àwọn oríṣiríṣi ẹ̀wà ìṣàlàyé, pàápàá jùlọ ẹ̀wà gbólóhùn kan pẹlú orísirísi ìtumọ̀. Mo rí i bí olórí rẹ̀.

Now both of you to compose ten verses, weaving them with its beauty.

Bayìí kí ẹ̀yín méjèèjì kọ ẹsẹ mẹ́wàá, tí wọ́n ń hun wọn pọ̀ pẹ̀lú ẹwà rẹ̀.

And adorn them with its ornaments, including explanation of my state.

Àti pé, kí ẹ̀ ṣe wọn lọ́ṣọ́ pẹ̀lú àwọn ohun ẹ̀ṣọ̀, kí ẹ̀ sì kó alààyè ìpò mi sí.

With a companion of exquisite qualities, dark-lipped, graceful in movement.

Pẹ̀lú ọ̀rẹ́ kan tó dára ní ìròyìn, ẹlẹ́nu dúdú, tí ó je alaanu nibi ibasepọ.

Much arrogance and cruelty, infatuated with forgetting promises.

Púpọ̀ nínú ìgbéraga àti ìkà, tí ó nífẹ̀ẹ́ sí gbàgbé ìlérí.

Prolonging estrangement and breaking promises, and I am like a servant to him.

Ìgbékalẹ̀ ìyàtọ̀ àti ìparun ìlérí, èmi sì dàbí ẹrú fún un.

He said: The sheikh appeared, illuminating, followed by the young man like the second in the race.

Ó sọ pé: Alàgbà náà farahàn, tí ó ń tan ìmọ́lẹ̀, tí ọ̀dọ́kùnrin náà tẹ̀lé e, bi ẹ̀ní kejì nínú pápá ìdíje.

And they competed verse by verse in this manner.

Wọ́n sì di je kikọ́ ẹsẹ lórí ẹsẹ ní irú èyí.

Until the composition of the verses was completed and harmonized.

Títí tí àkọsílẹ̀ àwọn ẹsẹ náà fi pé tí ó sì ṣọ̀kan.

The Old Man: "And a dark one captured my affection with the tenderness of her smile".

Baba náà: "Àti ẹni dúdú kan tí ó gba ìfẹ́ mi pẹ̀lú ìfẹ́ rẹ̀."