The Book of Akbar 347.3

347.3

In this fortunate year, which was the ornamental border of the book of fortune, the world-conquering genius ordained that a proper army should be appointed to the eastern districts to take Lucknow and the territories appertaining thereto from ‘Ali Quli Khan, and to awaken him from his neglectful sleep. “If he betook himself to ways of auspiciousness, and made loyalty his travelling-gear, and sent that camel-driver’s son, who was the ground-work of his arrogance and negligence, to Court, or drove him away from his presence, and made obedience and submission to the lord of the world and of mortals the ground-work of his own fortune, he would certainly have been compassed with royal favours, and should march with the army of fortune of the sublime dynasty to Jaunpūr and chastise the Afghans, who still carried in their brains the vapours of sedition, and make a place for himself there, his former good service would be approved of and his present follies would be passed over and he would receive help and support.” An order was issued that the victorious troops should proceed to their fiefs and make their preparations and assist ‘Ali Quli Khan. ‘Should that ill-fated and intoxicated man not recognise the amount of favour that was shown to him, then to punish him and to put him down would be regarded as the ground-work of the administration of the world, and the ornament of the worship of the Creator.