Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.4.6

19.4.6

and he actually wore six or seven bracelets at his wrist, every one of a different species of gems; and he had also hanging from his neck, over his breast, three or four chapelets of pearls, every one of inestimable value. Such was his dress that day, and Shems-ed-din looking earnestly at it, said: My Lord-Navvab, the stones you wear at your arms, are of so inestimable a value, that they can be of no use to any one but yourself; but yet they must be pretty heavy, and could you but give me a slap in the face, with that hand of yours, so loaded, it would ease my heart of much of its grief. But the sarcasm he cracked on the Navvab on another occasion, proved much more severe. The Mirza having accompanied him to Azim-abad saw his character traduced by some jealous, who reported that some of his soldiers of his corps had quarreled with Colonel Clive's people; and that there had happened a fray between them. It chanced that Shems-ed-din himself made his appearance at that very moment; it was in full Derbar, and in the hall of audience. The Navvab fixed his eyes upon him, and spoke a few words that seemed to border upon reprimand. "Sir," said he, "your people have had a fray with the Colonel's people. Is your honour to know, who is that Colonel Clive, and in what station Heaven has seated him?" My Lord-Navvab, answered the Mirza, in getting up instantly, and standing bolt-upright before him; Me, to quarrel with the Colonel! Me!