Storia do Mogor 118.5

118.5

At the same time he gave him [99] a portrait of Aurangzeb painted on paper. He was depicted on horseback, and there was an angel in the air presenting to him a sword. Shah 'Abbas returned the coins to the ambassador, directing him to read aloud the words stamped on the coins. Beforehand he had told the torch-holder to approach the ambassador, so that he might be able to see; then, when he had finished reading, he was to make a pretence of stumbling, and in so doing set fire to the ambassador's beard. This was done. Meanwhile Shah 'Abbas kept calling out: 'It is nothing! it is nothing! there are plenty of barbers to repair the damage.' Then, gazing at Aurangzeb's portrait, he began to utter against it much abuse, going through the life and the chief doings of such a king; then, spitting on the picture, threw it on the ground. He ordered his slaves to shoe-beat the face, which deserved no less. This was done, and all observing silence, he said that on the coins there should not appear such words, but these: 'Secazad bacurs penir Orangzeb beradercox paderguir' (Sikkah zad ba qurs-i-panir, Aurangzeb, baradar-kush-i-pidar gir). That is 'Struck coin upon a round of cheese, Aurangzeb, brother-slayer, father-seizer.'