Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 14.12.13

14.12.13

and who yet made no other return for so many benefits, than that of suffering those forlorn captives to become a prey to every distress and every misery imaginable. So infamous a behaviour rendered those miscreants in their life-time, the scope of the arrows of every one's satire and reproach; and after their death, their memory has ever been held in horror and detestation. But it was not with any view to himself that Aaly-verdy-qhan had sent for those Afghan ladies. It was, said he, to rescue their honour from the consequences of a sudden revolution, or a precipitate flight; for to all the sweetness of good manners and good breeding, he joined a great knowledge of mankind, and a very keen sighted prudence; and he was heard to say, more than once, that he had no business at all with any man's honour or women, although he should prove his bitterest enemy. Business with his women, would he say, I never had, nor will ever have; and if I have sent for these veiled ones, it is to shew the world, and even to Shimshir-qhan's departed soul, what difference there is between himself and me. That man had made me no proper return, by using so shamelessly ill my children and grand-children. Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan himself had offered him no injury; and I am not conscious of having done that Afghan anything but much good. And even supposing that he did harbour some secret discontent against my son-in-law, still he revenged himself by treating him as no man ought to be treated by another.