Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 3.7.2

3.7.2

Lastly, the Persians gave out that their countryman, being pressed by Chah-Jehan to tell him candidly how he estimated the relative power of the Kings of Hindoustan and Persia, observed that he likened the Kings of the Indies to a full moon fifteen or sixteen days old, and those of Persia to a young moon of two or three days. This ingenious answer was at first very flattering to the Great Mogol's pride, but became a source of deep mortification when he had rightly interpreted the ambassador's meaning; which was, that the kingdom of Hindoustan is now on the decline, and that of Persia advancing, like the crescent moon, in splendour and magnitude.