The Book of Akbar 166.3

166.3

Hindal saluted by putting his hand on his head. They brought the Mirza with respect to the camp and that day the Mirza, in accordance with the king’s command, was conveyed to his own tent. Next day he was brought to the lofty pavilion and having done homage, was treated with royal favours. Twice was he exalted in one assemblage by a special khil'at, a belt, a sword and a horse. Bravo! At the gate of God’s elect, sins are requited (lit. bought) by benefits, and wickednesses are reckoned as virtues. There is such plenty in the store-house of divine grace that His peculiar mercies are co-ordinate with offenders; in proportion as they increase their crimes and sins do they obtain increase of grace and forgiveness. This attribute is the more appropriate to princes in that they are the shadows of God, so that by passing over offences no harm is done to the breadth of their mercy and the amplitude of their power; and the wretch who is ashamed of his evil deeds, obtains an order of release from the pit of torture. In short his Majesty Jahanbani Jannat Ashyani, in spite of rebellion so great that (even) to pardon it were improper, became an expounder of the Divine ethics and returned good for evil. God be praised! His Majesty, the Shahinshah of the Age, (Akbar) hath these noble qualities and weighty ethics;