The Book of Akbar 316.5

316.5

the Shāhinshāh a perfect revelation of his own ample compassion, he snapped the thread of counsel in the hands of well-wishers, and, granting life to this inexperienced young man, sent him to prison, so that in the beginning of the universe-adorning sovereignty there might be nothing which had the appearance of tyranny. Though to endeavour to annihilate the wicked is benevolence to all mankind, yet, as it is a benevolence which in semblance is tyranny, it should not appear at such a new-year-season of fortune. They put this mad sedition-monger in chains and sent him to Lahore, where those charged with the business put him in charge of Pahlwan Gulgaz (the rose eyed?) the Chief-Constable, (‘asas) of Lahore. That foolish man, either from carelessness or from an evil design, did not exercise proper caution in guarding that wicked intriguer, and so the latter escaped from jail. M. Shah and the other officers in Lahore imprisoned Pahlwan Gulgaz, and he from fear of disgrace took poison, and so freed himself from the prison of his body. Mun‘im Khan, to whom Kabulistan was entrusted, was pleased on hearing the news (of Abu-l-M‘aali’s imprisonment), and by stratagem sent for Mir Hashim, Abu-l-M‘aali’s brother, who held in jagir Kahmard, Ghorband, Zuhhaq, etc., and imprisoned him. This too was a good proceeding.