The Book of Akbar 166.4

166.4

they are part of his nature and of the essence of his holy soul, and in the meting out of punishment he practises a consideration and hesitation such as no other king has been adorned with from the cycle of Adam until now. In this book a few instances will be given out of many. May God Almighty increase daily this family and may He, in reward of this generous nature bestow plenteous blessings on his Majesty’s life and dominion! In short when Sher Khan was apprized of the uprearing of the victorious standards, he left his son Qutb Khan and many others in Cunar, and after strengthening the fort, departed to Bengal. He conquered that country in war and obtained much booty. When the world-conquering army of his Majesty Jahanbani Jannat-ashiyani encamped near Cunar, he applied himself to the taking of the fortress. Rumi Khan who was the paragon of the age for overcoming grand forts and sky-high castles, and who had left Sultan Bahadur after the victory of Mandasor, and been enrolled as one of his Majesty’s servants, and exalted by the office of Mir Atash (Director of Ordnance) constructed a covered way (sabat) upon boats and arranged such a roof (satha) with strong partitions (?) on the top of a platform of planks that the ingenious and skilful bit the finger of astonishment in admiration of the workmanship. And he carried such mines under the walls that when they were fired, Time and the Terrene (zamin u zaman) were shaken.