Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.12.5

2.12.5

When the day arrived for the departure of the army, Morad-Bakche's particular friends, and chief among them the eunuch Chah-Abas, employed every argument to induce him to remain with his own troops in the neighbourhood of Agra and Dehli. An excess of respect, and too smooth a tongue denoted, they said, a treacherous heart. They represented to him that being King, and universally acknowledged as such, even by Aureng-Zebe himself, it was his wisest policy not to remove from the neighbourhood of Agra or Dehli, but to let his brother go alone in pursuit of Dara. Had he been swayed by this prudent counsel, Aureng-Zebe would indeed have felt greatly embarrassed; but it made no impression upon his mind, and he continued to repose unreserved confidence in his brother's solemn promises, and in the oaths which they had mutually and repeatedly sworn on the Koran. The two brothers quitted Agra together, and took the road to Dehli.