The Book of Akbar 372.2

372.2

When the rumour of the approach of the victorious standards reached Bairam Khan he came to think of his latter end and placed the head of justice in the collar of shame and repentance. He sent Jamal Khan, a trusted servant, with a request for pardon of his offences, and made excuses, viz., that on account of various occurrences which were the result of compulsion and not of his free will, the sweat of shame was on his brow, and the countenance of penitence on the earth; if H.M. would complete the skirt of fortune by affixing thereto the hem of forgiveness and would raise from the dust him who had fallen on the road of wretchedness, his was the head of supplication and here was the dust of the threshold. Jamal Khan arrived at the Shahinshah’s tent and delivered the petition. He also stated vivâ voce the purport of Bairām’s desires. H.M. the Shahinshah on account of his general benevolence, and special kindness, and in gratitude for so great a blessing, listened to his unheard of excuses, and, because his noble nature relishes forgiveness, he with an open brow and an expanding heart drew the line of pardon over all his offences. In order to assure him, he sent Maulana ‘Abdullah of Sultānpūr with some of his intimates along with Jamal Khan, in order that they might comfort Bairām Khan with the good news of pardon and favour and bring him to kiss the threshold. The deputies performed their office; but Bairam Khan’s mind was not consoled.