Storia do Mogor 238.6.7

238.6.7

The king Jahangir sent an ambassador to the King of Persia, Shah Xaxefi (Shah Safi). His name was Cancana (Khan Khanan), a man liberal-minded and of good judgment. This man was much esteemed by the King of Persia for his good conversation and the generous actions he beheld him do. The envoy fancied he could play well this game of chess ; on his part, the King of Persia thought the same. The two played together on the condition that the loser should bray like an ass. The game lasted three days, and in the end the ambassador lost it, and he was obliged to carry out his engagement. This he did with such vigour that the whole court was greatly satisfied. He began in this way : ' I left the court of my emperor at such and such a time, and I was four months on the journey, until I arrived on the frontier of Your Majesty's kingdom, and descending from the mountains of Qandahar, I came to a plain where there was nothing but one ass grazing. My servant ran to him, and as a joke said to him that the asinine race was extinct. Overcome at such sad news, he began to lift his head, and wailing, said in a loud voice : " Ay, ay, ay." The servant, taking compassion upon him, said that one she-ass was left for him. Thereby consoled, he said in a low voice three times : " Bom, bom, bom." ' Thus did he carry out his promise, and many present while he was talking supposed that he was telling some anecdote.