Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.11.2

19.11.2

As soon as it became known at Azim-abad, that the Shah-zada had moved from Banares, Ram-narain was struck with a panic, especially as neither the English made any motion from Calcutta, nor his two masters from Mvrshvd-abad; and meanwhile the enemies' forces, of whose prowess he had heard wonders, as being part of the famous army of Abvl-mansvr-qhan's, were coming down upon him like a storm; and with all the terrors that always precede the Imperial name, were going to pour upon his country like a torrent swelled by heavy rains, or like a calamity that would overwhelm every thing. However, although overcome inwardly by his apprehensions, he thought it incumbent upon him to appoint an hour for putting himself at the head of his army; and he actually came out, and encamped at the garden of Fateh-bagh, close to Variss-qhan's Reservoir. The intent of this ambiguous position was, to turn the motions of the Bengal forces to his advantage, should they make their appearance first; in which case he would ascribe this manoeuvre to his zeal, and to his readiness in serving his masters; and to close with the Shah-zada, should the Navvab abstain from opposing the enemy, and should his English confederates do the same, on observing the backwardness of their ally, in which last case, such a manoeuvre of his would be naturally interpreted as a design of joining the Prince.