Storia do Mogor 134.6

134.6

Fida,e Khan, to show what a valiant man he was, after having erected his tents at the place alluded to, sent a message to the king that he might take his ease. For, so long as one soldier was left in the camp, Shah 'Alam should never be allowed to advance; and even if any disaster happened, His Majesty would still have time to retire whenever he pleased. Fida,e Khan was a brave soldier, of whom I shall have something to say farther on (II. 152), but he was guilty of this rhodomontade with the idea of procuring the royal favour. He had already some idea of the real state of the case. Aurangzeb simulated fear in the hope of increasing Shiva Jī's willingness to join the undertaking, and of a truth it was necessary to be very skilful if you were to hit the bull's-eye through all this deception. Having great natural judgment, and by this time great experience, Shiva Jī mocked at the cunning fox, after having attained his own ends by adding to his own wealth and power. For, in place of joining Shah 'Ālam, he wrote him a letter in which he said that, since Aurangzeb had only ten thousand horsemen, while he (Shah 'Ālam) had over one hundred and twenty thousand combatants, he might march by himself on the said enterprise. It was very easy of accomplishment. He would take care that no one should come to seize the Dakhin, and he gave his word that during that time he would not realize for himself any more of the revenue than what Aurangzeb had conceded to him when viceroy of the Dakhin.