The Book of Akbar 192.2

192.2

"Let the ingrates be left to God's vengeance, and let his Majesty follow his own course." On hearing this representation his Majesty, attended by a few devoted followers, took the road of the desert. He gave up the idea of Qandahār and Kābul and proceeded towards Persia ('Irāq) with the intention of going to the Hijāz (Mecca, &c.), and as a desert-traverser, entered on the path of separation (firāq). Khwāja Mu'azzam, Nadīm Kokaltāsh, Mīr Ghaznavī, and Khwāja 'Ambar Nāzir were directed that his Majesty, the king of kings, was in the cradle of guardianship and under the protection of the Divine love, and that affliction's dust could not reach his fortune’s skirt, but that they should by every possible means bring her Majesty Maryam-makani to the king. Those right-minded ones made haste and performed acceptable service. After going a little way, night came on darker than the hearts of unacknowledging ingrates. Bairam Khan represented that his Majesty was aware of Mirza ‘Askari’s lust for gold and property; that at this time the Mirza would be secure and at ease, and be sitting in a tent with two or three clerks, and looking at the list of the goods and chattels in his Majesty’s camp. The proper thing for them was to rely upon the Divine favour, and to come suddenly on that tent, and settle his business. That though the Mirza had become alienated, all his servants had been brought up on his Majesty’s salt, and that they would inevitably come forward and serve him.