مُقَدِّمَة

And I sought release from this position in which understanding is confused and imagination is excessive.

Mo sì wá ìdásílẹ̀ kúrò nínú ipò yìí níbi tí òye ń ti damu, tí èrò sì ń pọ̀ jù.

Where the depth of intellect is probed and the value of a person in excellence is revealed.

Níbi tí a ti ń wádìí jíjìn laakaye tí a sì ń ṣàfihàn pataki ènìyàn nínú ọgbọ́n.

And its owner is compelled to be like a night woodcutter or a bringer of men and horses.

Tí ẹni tí ó ní i sì ń ní láti jẹ́ bí agégi òru tàbí ẹni tí ń fa ènìyàn àti ẹṣin papo.

And rarely does a talkative person remain safe or his stumble is forgiven.

Ó sì ṣòwọ́n fún alásọ̀tan orọ̀ láti wà láìléwu tàbí kí a dárí jì í nígbà tí ó bá ṣèṣe.

When he did not help with the dismissal nor exempt from the speech,

Nígbà tí kò ràn mí lọ́wọ́ pẹ̀lú ìdásílẹ̀ bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kò dá mi sí kúrò nínú ọ̀rọ̀,

I answered his call with the response of the obedient and exerted in obeying him the effort of the capable.

Mo dahùn ìpè rẹ̀ bí olùgbọ́ràn tí mo sì nawọ́ sí ìgbọ́ràn rẹ̀ pẹ̀lú akitiyan ẹni tí ó lágbára.

And I composed, despite what I suffer from a frozen talent and a dormant intellect,

Mo sì ṣẹ̀dá, bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé mo ń jìyà ọgbọ́n tí ó ti sóró àti òye tí kò ní ìmísí,

And a depleted deliberation and erecting worries,

Àti èrò tí ó ti tán àti àwọn ìbànújẹ́ tí ó dìde,

Fifty Maqamat containing the seriousness of speech and its jest, and the delicate of expression and pureness.

àádọ́ta makama tí ó kun fun ọ̀rọ̀ pataki àti ẹ̀rín, àti gbolohun to fele ati eyi to dara.

And the gems of eloquence and its pearls, and the witticisms of literature and its rarities.

Àti àwọn ohun iyebíye ọ̀rọ̀ dídùn àti alulu iyebíye rẹ̀, àti àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ ẹlẹ́yà ti lítíréṣọ̀ àti àwọn alo rẹ̀.