«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.
Shiʿār denotes a recognizable manner or outward sign. “Wearing the grandeur of the great” describes manner and self-presentation; it does not establish that he held an actual office.
The narrator moves from claims of lineage to changes in outward bearing. Abū Zayd influences the audience through appearance as well as speech.