Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 4.13.7

4.13.7

Meanwhile, the report of these dissensions being spread far and near, occasioned such a dearth of all kinds of eatables in the capital that, inhabitants as well as travellers found it difficult to support life, although letters and messages were continually passing and repassing on that subject between the Emperor and the two brothers; and God knows, how far the distresses of the poor had been carried, had not the Empress-mother been so affected by what she heard of their miseries, that she came out of the palace, and went to pay a visit to Abdollah-khan, on whose mind she gained enough to engage him to be reconciled to the Emperor, on condition, that the two brothers, on going to pay him their respects, should have full permission to take, for their own safety, such precautions as they should deem sufficient, after which they should attend at court as heretofore. The treaty having had its full execution, the two brothers appeared before the Emperor, implored his forgiveness for the errors of their past conduct, and bitterly complained of certain suggestions and insinuations that filled his Imperial breast with suspicions, and estranged his Princely mind from them, his zealous and faithful servants. Grown warm with the occasion, they both loosened their sabres from their sides, placed them both at the Emperor's feet; and the eldest went on with this address: "If we be guilty, here are our two heads, and there are two swords;