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بود لقمان بنده شکلی خواجهای ** بندگی بر ظاهرش دیباجهای
- Luqmán was a slave in appearance, a master (in reality): servitude was (only) a frontispiece on his outside.
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چون رود خواجه به جای ناشناس ** در غلام خویش پوشاند لباس 1485
- When the master goes to a place where he is not known, he puts (his own) clothes on his slave.
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او بپوشد جامههای آن غلام ** مر غلام خویش را سازد امام
- He (himself) puts on the slave's clothes and makes his slave the leader.
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در پیش چون بندگان در ره شود ** تا نباید زو کسی آگه شود
- He goes behind him on the road, as slaves do, lest any one should recognise him (as the master).
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گوید ای بنده تو رو بر صدر شین ** من بگیرم کفش چون بندهی کهین
- “O slave,” says he, “go you and sit in the place of honour: I will take (your) shoes, like the meanest slave.
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تو درشتی کن مرا دشنام ده ** مر مرا تو هیچ توقیری منه
- Treat (me) roughly and revile me; do not bestow any respect on me.
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ترک خدمت خدمت تو داشتم ** تا به غربت تخم حیلت کاشتم 1490
- I hold neglect of service to be your (proper) service, since I have sown the seed of contrivance by dwelling in a foreign land.”
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خواجگان این بندگیها کردهاند ** تا گمان آید که ایشان بردهاند
- Masters have performed these slavish offices in order that it might be thought that they were slaves.
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چشم پر بودند و سیر از خواجگی ** کارها را کردهاند آمادگی
- They saw their fill of masterdom and were sated (with it): (hence) they have made ready for (doing) the work (of slaves).
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وین غلامان هوا بر عکس آن ** خویشتن بنموده خواجهی عقل و جان
- On the contrary, these slaves of sensuality have represented themselves as masters of intellect and spirit.