Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 4.2.9

4.2.9

It is related in the Tuijooma Yemny, that a short time previously to his death, Ameer Nasir-ood-Deen Subooktugeen held a conversation with Sheikh Abool Futteh of Boost. He observed, "In the exertions we make to avert disease with the hopes of recovery, I am forcibly reminded of the condition of sheep and the butcher. In the first instance, the sheep is brought into a strange place, is bound by the feet, and is apprehensive that his end is approaching. After much exertion he submits; and, on being shorn of his fleece, is allowed to get up and be at liberty; this ceremony is more than once renewed during his life; and, lastly, when the moment of death arrives, he permits himself to be quietly bound, and resigns his throat to the knife, while he firmly hopes he is only thrown down to be shorn. So we become, in the course of time, accustomed to the bed of sickness; we have recovered so often, that we have no apprehension of danger, till at last death comes suddenly upon us, and throws his noose round our necks, and we are in an instant throttled." It is said this conversation occurred only about forty days before the King's death.