الْمَقَامَةُ الْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ

Saruj is my home where I was born, and my lineage is Ghassan when I trace my ancestry.

Saruj ni ilé mi níbi tí a bí mi sí, ẹ̀yà Ghassan sì ni mo jẹ́ nígbà tí mo bá ń ṣe ìtàn ìdílé mi.

My occupation is study and delving deep into knowledge; this is my quest, and how excellent a pursuit it is!

Iṣẹ́ mi ni ẹ̀kọ́ àti wíwà jìnlẹ̀ nínú ìmọ̀; èyí ni àfojúsùn mi, ó sì dára púpọ̀ láti máa lépa rẹ̀!

My capital is the magic of words, from which poetry and speeches are crafted.

Ohun ìní mi ni ọgbọ́n ọ̀rọ̀, èyí tí a fi ń ṣe ewì àti ọ̀rọ̀ àsọyé.

I dive into the depths of eloquence, selecting and choosing its pearls.

Mo jindo sínú ọ̀gbun ọ̀rọ̀ dídùn, mo ń yan àwọn ohun iyebíye nínú rẹ̀.

I pluck the ripe, fresh fruit of speech, while others gather mere twigs.

Mo ń ka èso dídùn àti tútù ti ọ̀rọ̀, nígbà tí àwọn mìíràn ń kó igi gbígbẹ.

I take words as silver, and when I craft them, they're said to be gold.

Mo mú ọ̀rọ̀ bí fàdákà, nígbà tí mo bá sì ṣe é tán, wọ́n a máa pè é ní wúrà.

I used to gain wealth through my acquired literature, and milk it for sustenance.

Mo ti ń rí ọrọ̀ gbà nípasẹ̀ lítíréṣọ̀ tí mo kọ́, mo sì ń lo ó fún ìgbésí ayé mi.

My feet would mount, for its excellence, ranks above which there are no ranks.

Ẹsẹ̀ mi yóò gun, nítorí ọlá rẹ̀, àwọn ipò tí kò sí ipò kan tó ga jù wọ́n lọ.

How often gifts were brought to my abode, yet I was not satisfied with every giver.

Ọ̀pọ̀ ìgbà ni a ti mú ẹ̀bùn wá sí ilé mi, síbẹ̀ inú mi kò dùn sí gbogbo ẹni tó fún mi ní ẹ̀bùn.

Today, he to whom hope clings, finds literature the most stagnant thing in his market.

Lónìí, ẹni tí ìrètí dì mọ́, ó rí lítíréṣọ̀ bí ohun tó jẹ́ aláìlọ́wọ́ jù ní ọjà rẹ̀.