Chapter 2

الْمَقَامَةُ الْحُلْوَانِيَّةُ

91

أَيْنَ أَنْتَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ النَّدْرِ.


English

Where are you from the rare verse,

Yoruba

Níbo ni o wà sí ẹsẹ ewì tí ó ṣe àìwọ́pọ̀,

92

الْجَامِعِ مُشَبَّهَاتِ الثَّغْرِ؟


English

that gathers the similes of the mouth?

Yoruba

tí ó kó gbogbo àwọn àfiwé ẹnu jọ?

93

وَأَنْشَدَ:


English

And he recited:

Yoruba

Ó sì kà jáde:

94

نَفْسِي الْفِدَاءُ لِثَغْرٍ رَاقَ مَبْسِمُهُ.


English

My soul be ransom for a mouth whose smile enchanted,

Yoruba

Ẹ̀mí mi ni ìràpadà fún ẹnu tí ẹ̀rín rẹ̀ jẹ́ adùn,

95

وَزَانَهُ شَنَبٌ نَاهِيكَ مِنْ شَنَبِ.


English

adorned by coolness, sufficient is such coolness.

Yoruba

tí a ṣe lọ́ṣọ́ pẹ̀lú tútù, ó tó bẹ́ẹ̀ fún irú tútù bẹ́ẹ̀.

96

يَفْتَرُّ عَنْ لُؤْلُؤٍ رَطْبٍ. وَعَنْ بَرَدٍ


English

It parts to reveal moist pearls, and hailstones,

Yoruba

Ó là láti fi iyùn tútù hàn, àti yìnyín òjò,

97

وَعَنْ أَقَاحٍ وَعَنْ طَلْعٍ وَعَنْ حَبَبِ.


English

and camomile, and palm blossoms, and bubbles.

Yoruba

àti ewé funfun, àti ìtànnà ọpẹ, àti efefó omi.

98

فَاسْتَجَادَهُ مَنْ حَضَرَ وَاسْتَحْلَاهُ.


English

Those present found it excellent and sweet.

Yoruba

Àwọn tí ó wà níbẹ̀ rí i bí ohun tí ó dára jù ló àti ohun tí ó dùn.

99

وَاسْتَعَادَهُ مِنْهُ وَاسْتَمْلَاهُ.


English

They asked him to repeat it and dictate it.

Yoruba

Wọ́n bẹ̀ ẹ́ láti tún un sọ àti láti kọ ọ́ sílẹ̀.

100

وَسُئِلَ: لِمَنْ هَذَا الْبَيْتُ.


English

He was asked: To whom does this verse belong?

Yoruba

Wọn bi í léèrè: Ti ta ni ẹsẹ ewì yìí?

© , Qatru