Storia do Mogor 193.5

193.5

Here even the affronts put upon the wretched King of Gulkandah did not finish ; for that kingdom being very rich by reason of its diamond mines, Aurangzeb sent to ask where his treasures were. The prisoner replied that there were now no treasures in Gulkandah, for he had dissipated them. Aurangzeb was not satisfied with this answer, and once more sent to ask how he had spent them. He might have sent back to say that little by little His Majesty had removed them. But looking on himself not as a captive, but as a king only, he answered that he had expended them as a sovereign, and had no account to render to anyone of what he did when king. This answer was brought to Aurangzeb, who in his pride expected all the world to bow the head before him and speak as captives, and he used this opening to further molest a king, who, entirely through negligence and devotion to women and musicians, had lost a kingdom. He ordered the same question to be put once more, and, should the same answer be returned, the king was to be beaten. Thus it came to pass. For on hearing the old question put on behalf of Aurangzeb, he replied that he had spent the treasures as the absolute master which he then was ; nor was he under obligation to account to anyone for the manner, the cause, the object, or the time of his expending them.