The Book of Akbar 357.5

357.5

In reality too he was restrained by the “Stand back” (dar bash) emanating from the daily-increasing fortune of H.M. the Shahinshah. His arrogant mind too did not admit the idea that the administration of India could go on without him. Consequently it seemed better that he should act hostility under the guise of friendship, so that the writing of eternal infamy should not be inscribed in his record. He did not see the world-adorning, intrinsic beauty of H.M., nor was he aware of the guardian courtiers who were adorning the territories of India. For these reasons he did not throw off the veil from his actions. He saw from men’s faces that they were going, and so proceeded to give them leave to depart. He had thoughts of a fine snare. Sometimes it occurred to him that as he had sent Bahādur Khan to conquer Malwah, and he had not yet arrived there, he would go with his followers and join Bahādur Khan, conquer that country and there take his repose and get leisure for his designs. Sometimes he thought that he would leave Agra and join ‘Ali Quli Khan by way of Sambal and come into the country of the Afghans, and collect a force there. Sometimes he spoke of asceticism, and would say that a wish for abandonment and seclusion had seized him by the collar, in order that he might spend the remainder of his life in holy places. Now that H.M.