Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 10.4.6

10.4.6

Mir-hassen-qhan and Shiö-sing, who had more courage than either experience or prudence, advanced farther, although Emir-qhan who was endowed with both, repeatedly sent them word to stop, and to observe that to fight the Marhattas at this particular time, so as to part from their main, was a step utterly improper. He thought it better that they should keep together with the others. But this advice made no effect on those two imprudent men; they would not hear it, and continued advancing. The Marhattas at first appeared at a distance by one or a few at a time, until they had drawn them farther and farther into the plain, and then they all at once fell upon them, and with their short spears and long swords commenced such a terrible execution as threw the whole into the utmost dismay. A man wounded found means to escape, and running up to Emir-qhan, he had the boldness to reproach him with backwardness and neglect. "What are you doing here," said he, "whilst a Seyd and an Imam is cutting down?" Emir-qhan who was a man fertile in bon-mots, and of such a turn of mind that for any thing in the world he would have not missed an opportunity of giving way to his vein for raillery, heard the message with a smile, and even at such a moment he had the sangfroid to answer: "Friend, we are perfectly satisfied with twelve Imams;