Jawamiʿ al-hikayat wa lawamiʿ al-riwayat 25: Anecdote of Mahmud.

25

[I. xi. 46.]
One night Sultan Mahmud was drinking wine, while his sons, Muhammad and Mas'ud, were present. Abu Nasr Mishkán says that, when some time had passed in this manner, the conversation happened to turn upon Amir Subuktigin, when the Sultán offered up prayers for his father, and his eyes were filled with tears. He said, "My father (may God's mercy be on him!) had established very good rules for the management of the country, and took great pains in enforcing them. I thought that when he should be no more, I should enjoy the exercise of my power in peace and security, and eat and enjoy myself. I also considered that after his demise I should become a great king. But the truth was revealed to me when he died and his shadow was removed from my head, for since his departure I have not had one day's happiness. You think I drink this wine for pleasure, but this is a great mistake. I take it merely as a device to gain a few days' peace, and relieve the people from all annoyance from me. These my sons entertain similar ideas to those which I did in my youth; but when the kingdom devolves upon them, they will find out the truth."
His sons made their obeisances and said, "May such thoughts never enter our minds. We both desire to sacrifice our lives at your Majesty's feet." The king commended them and bade them to sit down, which they did, but they soon afterwards departed. He then (says Abu Nasr) called me to him, and making me sit down, he stretched his legs towards my lap, and I shampooed them for a short time. He asked me what I thought of his sons, I kissed the ground and answered, "What can I say, how can tongue describe the excellencies of those two suns of grandeur, and those two moons of the heaven of prosperity! Thank God, they possess such qualities as are beyond all expression." He said, "The excellence you ascribe to them does not mean much." (I said) "Fathers know best the character of their sons." He then enquired whether I had a son. I replied, "Yes, I have one, his Majesty's slave." He said, "Tell me by my soul and head, is he like you, and as worthy as you!" I answered, "My lord, you know all, but my son is young, and not old enough to have shown what his real disposition is." On this the king observed, "Let him grow up and then you will see that he will not be worth your finger; if he is he will be one of the marvels and wonders of the time. Mas'ud," he continued, "is a proud fellow and thinks there is nobody better than himself, Muhammad is stout of heart, generous, and fearless, and if Mas'ud indulges in pleasure, wine, and the like, Muhammad outdoes him. He has no control over himself, has no apprehension of Mas'ud, and is heedless of the important concerns of life. I fear I find but little satisfaction in the thought of Muhammad succeeding me; for woe to him at the hands of Mas'ud, who will devour him, and woe also to the generals of my army, for Mas'ud is a very covetous man and has great love of money. If he should hear of any officer possessing a little property, he will be sure to destroy him in a few days, and appoint some worthless fellow in his place. It will thus come to pass that in this great kingdom every one will strive to benefit himself and you may imagine the pass to which matters will come." I replied, "My lord, may you ever enjoy sovereignty! dominion in this kingdom will for ever remain in this family!" The conversation was continued for some time in this strain, and when the Sultan went to sleep, I returned. Eventually what the king had said came to pass in every particular. The history of Muhammad and Mas'ud is well known, and will be related in this book in its proper place.