Storia do Mogor 211.7.7

211.7.7

This prince (Shah 'Alam) is naturally affable and benign ; and since I know him well, I am of opinion that, should he become king, he would do no harm to anyone. There is much difference between his temperament and that of his father. One day when he was out hunting in the country of Kabul, he was forced to take shelter in a shepherd's hut, owing to the rain. While there a very pretty girl appeared before him ; it was the shepherd's daughter. To amuse himself, he asked if she was willing to marry him. The young person, without knowing to whom she spoke, answered that there was no scarcity of fair men whom she could marry, rather than take him, who was dark. He laughed heartily at the answer ; but the eunuchs present wanted to beat her, which he strenuously forbade [49]. Then he asked her if she would be content to espouse a fair young man then present, one of the prince's slaves. She assented cordially. This marriage gave her access to the palace, and she was much liked by the prince.