Tarikh-i Iradat Khan 11.5

11.5

Thinking it vain to attempt concealment in Lahore, I wrote the following verses: "I am of the family of 'Alí, * * * of the family of which thou art head: look not on me, but upon our mutual ancestors," and sent them to him by my grandson, who was much in his favour. He invited me to see him, * * * and upon his solemn oath that he meant no injury to me, I went without dread. He received me in his private apartment, to which I was admitted armed as usual, and treated me in everyway with much kindness, more than I had expected; after which he dismissed me with assurances of protection. He the same day asked the Emperor's pardon for me, which was immediately passed; but His Majesty observed, that though he forgave, he would not on any account employ me in his service. The Amiru-l umara, too, made me promise that I would not accept any office in the State otherwise than through his patronage. I complied with this desire without regret, as, independent of the obligations I owed to him, there was no temptation left to court employment in a state which had in fact no head; for the ministry was a collection of petty tyrants and abusers of power. In the height of his power and authority, all at once a report was heard that the Prince Farrukh Siyar, son to the martyred 'Azimu-sh Shan, had marched from Bengal towards Bihar, intending to revenge his father's death and seize the throne. * * * Great numbers of the Imperial servants wished secretly for the success of this rebellion.