الْمَقَامَةُ الْبَرْقَعِيدِيَّةُ

She said: "Indeed, the old man is from the people of Saruj."

Ó sọ pé: "Lóòótọ́, àgbàlagbà náà wá láti ọ̀dọ̀ àwọn ènìyàn Saruj."

He is the one who embroidered the woven poetry.

Òun ni ẹni tí ó ṣe ìṣẹ́ abẹ́rẹ́ àṣà lórí ewì àṣà tí a hun.

Then she snatched the dirham like a swooping hawk,

Lẹ́yìn náà ó já owó náà bí àwọn ẹyẹ idì tí ń ṣọ́ ẹran,

And darted away like a piercing arrow.

Ó sì sáré lọ bí ọfà tí a ta jáde.

My heart stirred with the thought that Abu Zayd was the one being referred to,

Ọkàn mi dún pé Abu Seidu ni wọ́n ń sọ̀rọ̀ rẹ̀,

And my distress flared up for his affliction in his eyes.

Inú mi sì bàjẹ́ fún ìpọ́njú tí ó ń bá ojú rẹ̀ pàdé.

I chose to surprise him and converse with him,

Mo yan láti yà á lẹ́nu àti bá a sọ̀rọ̀,

To test the accuracy of my intuition about him.

Láti dán òye ìmọ̀ inú mi wò nípa rẹ̀.

I could not reach him except by stepping over the necks of the crowd,

Kò sí ọ̀nà tí mo lè gbà dé ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ̀ àyàfi kí n gún orí àwọn ènìyàn kọjá,

Which is forbidden in the law.

Èyí tí òfin kò gbà láàyè.