Storia do Mogor 281.2
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 281.2
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281.2.1
Thus have I ever beheld with great astonishment that this prince, from the very beginning of his reign, has never promoted any traitor to his former country, whatever might be the services he had rendered to him. It is true that he has not acted in that way to the children, grand-children, relations, or descendants of such traitors. On the contrary, these he has ever advanced, just like any other of his subjects, according to their merits. In short, this has been all his life long one of his political maxims, to put the fathers, grandfathers, and uncles to death for being traitors to their country, in order not to suffer himself afterwards from similar perfidy; while he has promoted their descendants in the hope of gaining their friendship and affection. He knows, as says Machiavel, that he who desires to obliterate injuries past and done cannot resort to a more effective medicine than the prescribing of silver. Still, some of the first-named men, seeing that their misery and their affliction were increasing day by day, have frequently quitted him and offered their services to Shiva Ji, hoping thereby to improve their lot. In this course they have been imitated by a number of Mahomedans, who daily adopt the same expedient, and subsequently live on nothing but the pillage and brigandage of which they are guilty in the lands of their liege lord and king.
281.2.2
[Here the digression about pay, inserted on the two interpolated pages, comes to an end, and the narrative as to the revolt of Shah 'Alam's troops in Kabul is resumed.] [3] The prince rose forthwith. As his head was still troubled by the fumes of several bottles of Kabul wine that he had lately drunk, he fell at once into a fury and ordered his cavalry to lose not a moment in massacring 'Aziz Khan and his men. Measures were taken immediately to carry out this barbarous order ; but the men composing the attacking force met with more resistance than they had bargained for, and they were forced into fighting at close quarters. The contest was not a happy one for 'Aziz Khan ; he lost his life, while his five hundred men were cut to pieces. It is true that almost an equal number perished on the other side in executing the prince's order. He had given the order in anger while heated with wine, and did not fail to repent of it as soon as both those incentives had evaporated.
281.2.3
In this same month [? February, 1701] died in that province (Kabul) the well-beloved wife of Shah 'Alam, mother of the Prince Rafi'-ul-qadr. Her name was Nurnicham Begom (Nur-un-nissa Begam) ; she was in every way a most accomplished princess. Thus, her death was a great affliction to both father and son. All the courtiers offered their condolences ; but on this occasion King Aurangzeb took the principal part. He reminded the two mourners that no affliction fell upon man without Divine permission and express decree of Providence, to chastise him for his sins and bring him back to his duty. History afforded many examples of this truth, while our experience taught us the same thing every day. 'Who knows' (as he sent word to Shah 'Alam) 'whether what you are at present suffering has not befallen you in return for the ruin you have brought upon several families, reducing them to misery by killing your captain, 'Aziz Khan, and his troopers, whose throats were cut without mercy in obedience to your orders?' With regard to Shiva Ji, no sooner had Aurangzeb heard of the rout of the general Zu,lfiqar Khan, and the sad state to which he had been reduced by that rajah, than he made a start in person to succour him. He intended to besiege the fortress, the investment of which the above captain had been obliged to abandon, since the enemy never ceased their attacks on him nor their sorties. In the month of March of this same year (?
281.2.4
1701) an accident happened to this aged monarch, which displays how he still preserves great discretion, and shows exactly the same character I have before described. While engaged in the siege of this fortress of Parnala-garh, he was returning one day from relieving nature when his strength gave way, so that he fell down and dislocated his right knee. From this accident he has become lame, and can only walk with great difficulty, owing to his hurt having been badly attended to. But to conceal his infirmity as far as ever he can, before he appears on the throne to hold audience, he causes a curtain to be hung up in front, which is not withdrawn until he has taken his seat. The same practice is followed in the Ghusl-khanah, the place where the second audience is held, as I have already stated (III. 77). His passion for reigning is so great, as also his desire that his reign should be long-continued, that he betrays signs of this feeling on all occasions. He displays much firmness and strength of mind. It was with this idea that he said one day publicly that, strictly speaking, kings wanted nothing but sight and speech; God in his mercy had preserved to him both, although eighty-six years of age, 'without counting' (as he added) 'the thirty sound teeth that I still possess.' He wished to insinuate by these words that he had still the same eyes as before to observe everything, the same tongue to issue orders and commands;
281.2.5
lastly, thirty teeth to bite with, and punish those guilty of any fault or disobedience to his orders. He added: 'So much is this the case that I think of calling myself from this day "the second Taimur-i-lang."' That very same day Prince Kam Bakhsh came to announce to the monarch that a son had been born to him, supplicating him in humble terms to confer on it a name and title, as is the custom. The king replied that he was at liberty to name the child himself; and his (Aurangzeb's) command was that when the son of this infant should be born into the world, he undertook to give it a name. By this he wished them to understand that he looked forward to still living many years—nay, that in a measure he was sure of it. Nor is he the only one holding the opinion that this will come to pass, for they have the simpleness to believe him to be a saint. At this the worthy Nestor is far from displeased; on the contrary, he can hardly contain himself for joy when he hears it said that he is so styled, and that they believe him to be such. Thus he does all that in him lies to persuade men that he is such in reality; and he still displays a patience, proof against the roughest political disturbances, such as he has always exercised.
281.2.6
A few years ago Shah 'Alam, when seated with the king, happened, probably unintentionally, to place his hand on his beard and contemplate it. The king, having noticed this gesture, and being aware of his secret wishes, said to his son that he need not be in such a hurry to look at his beard: his day for reigning was still in the distant future. At these words poor Shah 'Alam sank his head in shame and withdrew. It can be easily understood that such speeches were hardly pleasing to the princes his sons. For each longs to be king, there being in this world nothing sweeter than to be set in authority over others; and it is already sufficient vexation to them to find he has lived so long, without his beginning to boast that he has still a long life before him. I should never have done were I to recount all the frauds and hypocrisies of this king. But, after all, since I have undertaken to give some stories, as much to entertain my reader as to inform him of the frailties and virtues of mankind, the life of this monarch of Hindustan furnishes me with ample store. Everywhere are seen in it lively pictures of the excesses to which men can be driven by a passion for rule. This is why I shall choose the principal events in it, those that I consider the most appropriate to my design.
281.2.7
We have already seen to what lengths this prince carries the passion for rule. However, feeling himself greatly weakened by age, and consequently unable longer to see to everything himself, he issued an order that Prince Kam Baklish should sign on his behalf all papers and dispatches issued by the State. This order was given at a time when several [Hindu] princes seemed to be meditating rebellion, were disobedient to orders, and refused to pay their tribute. They had gone so far in their audacity as to attack his generals and pursue them in divers places. These acts caused much chagrin and disgust to the aged monarch, yet he did not fail to put in force his old precepts, and prescribed to his commanders and generals the methods to be followed for overcoming these enemies and rebels, and misleading the Hindu princes.