The Book of Akbar 333.5

333.5

Before he could carry out these plans, he passed forth from the defiles of existence. In fine, when the news came of Sikandar’s flight and of his having taken refuge in the fortress, inasmuch as the imperial intentions followed the orders of God, H.M. the Shahinshah did not, in his right-thinking mind regard his own discomfort, but looked upon the ease of all mankind as the motive for exertion, and proceeded to besiege the fort, in order that he might remove the mischief-making of that sedition-monger from the heads of all, and that dominion might be established. An order was issued that the Bakhshis of the army should distribute the redoubts, and the army drew lines of circumvallation round the fort. Everything was managed according to the rules of sieges, and with courage and self-devotion. Adham Khan, whose star of lofty fortune placed him near the Shahinshah, proceeded on the first day to the foot of the fort and displayed great valour. The brief account of this is that when the victorious forces arrived at the foot of the fortress, a large number of distinguished and courageous Afghans, who used to unfurl the flags of valour on the battlement of Mars, placed the arch of assertion on the portico of pride and came out of the fort. They held up their blood-dropping scimitars as standards in the place by the gate and moved about with arrogant steps. Adham Khan showed singular intrepidity and with lion-hearted courage entered alone among that band.