Storia do Mogor 211.3.6

211.3.6

Aurangzeb had more confidence in Shah 'Alam than in any of the others, for he knew him down to the ground, and had tested his not having enough boldness to try rebellion. When this prince was very young, he was performing the offices of nature, when a young rat passed in front of him. He was so frightened that he came out shouting, holding up his drawers with his hands. The eunuchs present thought at first that he had been bitten by a snake. His father, on being told what had happened, exclaimed that it was an astonishing thing that in the race of Taimur-i-lang should be born a prince who was such a poltroon. He added that the courage in which he was lacking was in excess in his brother, Sultan Muhammad. In spite of all this, however, as Aurangzeb himself counterfeited the bigot, he imagined that Shah 'Alam was counterfeiting the coward. With the idea of putting him to the proof, he said to him when he was somewhat older that the astrologers predicted that he would rebel. At those words the prince, all in a tremble, drew his sword and flung it at his father's feet, saying he would rather have his head cut off than that he should ever do such a thing. Having noticed his emotion at hearing such a remark, his father embraced him, restored his sword, and bound it on him, saying that he never expected any such action on his part.