Storia do Mogor 195.1

195.1

This was the time at which Aurangzeb, seeing Sambha Ji was dead and the princes delivered into his hands, imagined he no longer needed his generals. Therefore he sent for the great Shahab-ud-din Khan, who was away elsewhere on a campaign against Shiva Ji. But this general, who now found himself great, rich, and beloved by all the soldiers and captains, answered that his presence was necessary for the reduction of a fortress called Aduni. Aurangzeb was afraid that this general meant to attempt some plot, and after two or three letters recalling him to court, finding he made excuses, he sent him one more letter directing him to return absolutely. On reading the said letter, this famous general's eyes began to drop blood, whereby he became blind. Nor were the remedies of any avail that were sent him by the selfsame Aurangzeb to be applied to his eyes; for he had found by this time that he wanted him, since Shiva Ji (i.e., the Mahrattahs) had deceived him in the matter of Parnalagarh, which he had reckoned on getting. His repentance was somewhat tardy, for already the general had become blind, remaining so to the end of his life, and he could not, for want of sight, continue his deeds of valour and good judgment.