Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 12.6.6

12.6.6

He enlarged upon the many inconveniencies that would attend the expedition, or necessarily result from it, and made it a request that a full pardon should be granted them, and that they might be reinstated in their principalities. The request was not of a nature to be suddenly granted, the more so, as meanwhile letters and messages were perpetually passing and repassing between the Zemindars and him. But independently of that, his requests were urged with so much forwardness, and uttered with such a tone of voice, as could not but give offence to a young man naturally haughty and imperious, both from actual possession of power, and from a consciousness of adequate abilities. His displeasure becoming the more sensible, as the representations became more importunate, his sense of them was soon perceived by some others who took care to envenom matters. One day the dialogue between the Viceroy and the Afghan becoming much warmer than usual, the Afghan who looked only on the Viceroy's years, without stretching his apprehension further, made use of such expressions as the other neither could nor would bear. The man, accustomed to live in the country, had the rustic boldness to express himself in these very terms : You are yet a child, and have not seen the world ; nor have you any idea of the revolutions so common in it ; nor do you yet know of all the difference between day and night. Believe me, listen to my requests to-day ;