Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 4.6.7

4.6.7

The Emperor, who owed the highest obligations to the Generalissimo, now his Vezir, commanded his attendance, and in a mild tone of voice, recommended Qhoshall-khan's affair to him, adding, that the strange kind of fees he had asked, was doubtless by way of joking. "No joke at all," answered the Minister, in serious tone; "no pleasantry in the matter—please your Majesty, I was in earnest. For, as the nobility, your servants, are, from father to son, in possession of serving the crown in Viceroyalties, Governments, and such other employments; and the custom of your Imperial ancestors has been only to amuse themselves with dancers and singers, whose merits it was customary to reward only by pensions and bounties; so soon as these last shall aspire to dignities and Governments, and shall contrive to take possession of them, there shall remain then no other party for your nobility but that of betaking themselves to the profession just forsaken by the dancers and singers. For, after all, they must have, as well as these, some calling, by which they may support life. When, therefore, I have asked from this gentleman so many thousand guitarres, with as many timbrels, it was with a view to distribute them to your dispossessed Governors and Generals, who certainly have a right to earn their bread as well as any others." This answer struck the Emperor dumb. He hung his head; but said not a word. The new Viceroy lost his promotion.