The Book of Akbar 384.8

384.8

The details are briefly as follows: As folly and blindness of heart were the confirmed qualities of Adham Khan he intrigued with his mother’s servants who waited in the royal harem, and spirited away from the Shāhinshāh’s enclosures two special beauties from among Bāz Bahādur’s women and who had been recently exhibited to His Majesty. He indulged in the vain thought that as everyone was at this time engrossed with preparations for departure no one would follow up this trail. From this foolish idea he elected to place such a blot on his fortune’s forehead. He became marked with an eternal curse and was disgraced for ever. When this scandalous proceeding came to the royal hearing an order was given to stop the march for this day and to send off swift messengers to search for the lost ones. Able men undertook the service, and by making proper search they caught both of them and brought them back. Maham perceived that if these two women were introduced to His Majesty the veil over her acts would be raised, and her son’s treachery be revealed. She therefore caused these two innocent ones to be put to death for “a severed head makes no sound.” The Khedive of the age overlooked this gross outrage, as the veil was not yet removed from his world-illuminating countenance, and regarded the done as— not done. I laud the ocean-drinking capacity which in its abundant affection and plenitude of wisdom can regard such shocking crimes as uncommitted !