Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 4.12.5

4.12.5

Unfortunately, whilst he was bestowing these offices in virtue of his Commission as well as in virtue of his Vezirial powers, the Emperor was disposing of them in the plains of Ecber-abad, where he gave the superintendence of the Treasury to Chebilram-nagur, and the supreme Sadrship to Afzol-khan, who had once been tutor to his children. Some days after, the Emperor arrived at the capital ; and on his taking cognisance of some offices of state, and of some promotions, and in particular of those two important ones, there ensued a long dialogue between the Prince and the minister. The latter observed that, " if in the very beginning of his administration, " a wound should be given to his authority, he could no more " pretend to execute so important an office with credit to him" self, or advantage to the public ; " and on the other hand, Emir-djemlah inculcated to the Emperor that, " be the powers ever so " full and so illimited which Sovereigns found it sometimes expe" dient to delegate to any of their servants for a time, still it "would never follow, that a servant should therefore forget himself so far as to dispose of such important offices at his own pleasure, and without having previously applied for his lord's consent. He added these two verses from the poet:— "Let a master be ever so profuse in delegating unlimited authority, "Still is the servant never to lose sight of his own distance."