وَيَبْرُزُ طَوْرًا فِي شِعَارِ الشُّعَرَاءِ، وَيَلْبَسُ حِينًا كِبْرَ الْكُبَرَاءِ
Sometimes he appeared in the guise of poets; at other times he wore the grandeur of the great.
The same figure appears now with a poet’s bearing, now with the confidence of a dignitary. Changes in dress and demeanour influence how different audiences assess him. They are part of the method by which he enters a scene, not merely decorative description.
Recognition is deliberately delayed. The reader must distinguish the person who persists across episodes from the temporary role presented to each gathering. Costume alone does not explain his success: verbal command, timing, and knowledge of the audience complete the performance.