Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.15.3

19.15.3

The gunner did as he was bid, and sent his balls in plenty, killing people at the right and left of Mahmed-c8li-qhan, over whose head some balls passed every moment. One of these passed a very little way above mine, and furrowed the ground for some time. Such an unprofitable bravery being not of my liking, I could not help saying something of it to my father, who was in his palenkin at a small distance from Mahmed-c8li-qhan. "My Lord," said I, "what advantage are we likely to reap by standing like so many marks against these cannon-balls of the enemy's?" To this he answered coldly by these words : You know that I meddle with nothing. "It may be so," replied I ; "but then the matter must be mentioned to the General of the army ; and it must be represented to him, that if an assault is intended, it would answer no purpose at all to stand there mounted on an elephant, and to offer so fair a mark to every cannon-ball from the rampart. I added, that should his amhary chance to be hit, such an accident would be enough to put the whole army in an uproar, and to dishearten the bravest, in which case the whole would take fright, and disperse immediately. If we intend to take the place by assault (an operation after all, which requires more vigour of mind than I see anywhere in this army), it is such a piece of work as cannot be reckoned easy ;