الْمَقَامَةُ الشِّعرية

And how can Suhail and Al-Suha meet?

Ṣé Suhail àti Al-Suha lè pàdé bí?

When I arrived at the governor's place and his council was empty.

Nígbà tí mo dé ibi ìjọba, tí ìgbìmọ̀ rẹ̀ sì ṣófo.

And his frown disappeared.

Ìbínú rẹ̀ sì tán.

He began to describe Abu Zayd and his virtues.

Ó bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí í ṣàpèjúwe Abu Zayd àti àwọn ànfààní rẹ̀.

And he cursed time for him.

Ó sì bú àkókò fún un.

Then he said: I implore you by God, are you not the one who lent him the throne?

Lẹ́yìn náà, ó ní: Mo bẹ̀ ọ́ ní orúkọ Ọlọ́run, ṣé ìwọ ni tó fún un ní ìtẹ́ náà?

I said: No, by the One who placed you on this throne, I am not the owner of that throne. Rather, you are the one who completed the throne.

Mo ní: Rárá, ní orúkọ Ẹni tó gbé ọ́ sórí ìtẹ́ yìí, èmi kì í ṣe oní ìtẹ́ yẹn. Dájúdájú, ìwọ ni tó parí ìtẹ́ náà.

His eyes turned away, and his cheeks turned red.

Ojú rẹ̀ yí padà, ẹ̀rẹ̀kẹ́ rẹ̀ sì di pupa.

He said: By God, I have never been unable to expose a suspect or reveal a flaw.

Ó ní: Ní orúkọ Ọlọ́run, mi ò tíì ṣàìrí láti ṣí ìwà àbùkù tàbí láti ṣí àbùkù.

But I have never heard of an elder who deceived after he had been exposed and humiliated.

Ṣùgbọ́n mi ò tíì gbọ́ pé àgbàlagbà kan ti tan láti ìgbà tí wọ́n ti ṣí i àti tí wọ́n ti fi í ṣe ètì.