Storia do Mogor 294.3
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 294.3
- Language
- English
294.3.1
The king sent at once and requested him, if he had any pieces of this kind, to be good enough to send him the three of which he was in want. The noble was overjoyed at the chance of showing his eagerness to contribute to his majesty's gratification. However, giving no manifestation of his feelings, he sent for his first chamberlain, and ordered him to see if there were any similar pieces of stuff in his wardrobe. The man, having searched, came back and reported to him that there were close on one thousand pieces. 'Let there be sent,' answered he, 'one hundred to his majesty;' but the words were said with such a liberal and satisfied air, that the joy he felt in adding to the gratification of his king was evident in his eyes and countenance. But these were not the only good qualities with which this noble was endowed. It can be said that if those I have just recorded made him loved and respected by man, there were others that would have recommended him highly in the sight of God had he been a faithful Christian. In particular, he was extremely charitable, and his whole life was full of actions instigated by this virtue.
294.3.2
The trick he played upon his wife, wishing to test her, forms a most remarkable anecdote. One night he was coming back from the court and was about to enter his house, when near his door he met a poor Persian, who asked alms of him in humble tones. 'Draw nearer to the door,' replied he, 'and wait a moment for me; I will be sure and come back to you at once.' Then he entered and went straight to his wife's room, and asked her to be good enough to lend him ten thousand rupees. The lady answered somewhat coldly that she had no money by her. He said nothing. She was already in bed, so he thrust his foot quietly under the bedstead without being perceived by her or any of those present in the room, and got hold of one of her slippers, which he carried off and sent out to the beggar. This was a most extraordinary piece of almsgiving, for it was worth more than fifty thousand rupees. However, the princess, on awaking, wanted to get up but could not find her slipper. She began an unheard-of outcry, scolded one woman and had another beaten, but without finding what she was searching for.
294.3.3
While this hullabaloo was going on, Ja'far Khan came in, and put her partially out of pain by telling her that it was no use her looking any more for her slipper, for he had taken it and given it in alms to a beggar, she having no money to lend to him for the purpose. The princess was much grieved at the loss of her slipper. However, she did not lose her head, but forthwith sent for the beggar, having first obtained her husband's permission. The condition he imposed was that she should give the man ten thousand rupees before taking back what had been given to him. This plan was carried out. The beggar was found, and he gave back the slipper in return for a payment of ten thousand rupees — an alms which savoured of extravagance, even for a man as rich as Ja'far Khan possibly was. This fact the princess told the beggar pretty plainly, but she had to obey, as it was the general's wish. [Omitted, a story of the King of Babylon, a merchant, and a jewel, it being neither Indian nor historical (fols. 110-113).] [Omitted, for the same reason, another story of an Indian merchant who takes jewels for sale to Babylon (fols. 113-116).]
294.3.4
[116] Although Aurangzeb had lost six thousand mansabdars (officers) in besieging the fort of Khelna, he still persisted. Finding that by force his designs were not advanced, he had recourse to the metal that possesses so much power over man, and by its means he won over the officer holding the gates. This man, like a coward, allowed the imperialists to enter, and they became masters of the place during the night of June 28 [1702]. This campaign was carried through by the care and exertions of the grand wazir, Asad Khan. The king was so well pleased that he accorded him the right of seating himself in the hall of audience during the sovereign's administration of justice. This distinction and mark of honour is so great that no king for many a year had granted it to any subject. The prince Shah 'Alam has also greatly distinguished himself in the wars, and has greatly contributed by his valour and conduct to the success of his father the emperor's arms. He has thereby acquired renown in the army and among the people. This result has not slightly inquieted the old man; however, he always has his wits about him, and whatever affair arises never fails to obviate anything likely to produce a diminution of his own power, or be prejudicial to his own acquired fame. He therefore decided to write a letter to the prince, his son, full of every mark of tenderness and love that a good father could show to a passionately adored child. The letter ran something in this way: 'My dear Son,
294.3.5
'You can believe that I could have no greater joy than learning all the happy results gained by my arms under your orders. Renown trumpets everywhere the glory that you are continually adding to. Be assured that the interest I take in this is as great as if I had myself done all these fine things. Nor am I wrong in so doing, for what greater pleasure is there for an old man like me, whose only thought must be his departure from this world, than to have a son worthy of taking his place and ascending the throne of Taimur-i-lang. I am confident also that you have for me not only the feelings that Nature inspires, but in addition those that a great prince ought to have towards his king. For, in spite of some rumours being spread abroad that you contemplate assuming power as King of the World, for which you possess the qualifications, I have always considered it was your enemies who published such assertions with a view to harming you. Since I am aware of your moderation, I believe you will never dream of exercising such a power, except after the death of him to whom you owe your days. Meanwhile, until it please Heaven to withdraw me, I press you to accept the title of Merasha (Miran Shah), which is [117] that, as you know, given by Taimur-i-lang to his son. Furthermore, I pray you to remember me after my death.
294.3.6
As a token of the memory that you would wish to perpetuate of a good father, and that your people may have ever before their eyes the acts of Aurangzeb, I ask you to make use after my death of the following inscriptions upon the money you will order to be coined: ' " I stamp my coin on the seven planets; I sound my drums up to the clear moon; I, Miran Shah, king all-powerful, without rival." In addition I wish you every kind of happiness, and am, etc.' This is the manner in which this old man expressed himself, adding several phrases common in their language, intimating that all things belonged to him (Shah 'Alam), and that, properly speaking, all the fruit he (Aurangzeb) would reap for his labour and trouble would be the thought of leaving after his death a wise and understanding son to occupy his place. It was upon August 14 in the same year (1702) that Da,ud Khan, deputy governor of the Karnatik, made himself master of the fortress of Velours (Vellore, Vellūr). The same means were used as already indicated in the case of Khelna, money being the great moving force employed by these gentry to carry out their designs. In fine, by one method or another, they have hunted the Shiva Jī (i.e., the Mahrattahs) out of the Karnatik, where he now possesses no single post, small or great.
294.3.7
After the fall of this fortress the deputy governor [Dā,ūd Khan] wrote a fine letter to the Mogul and sent him the keys of the place made in gold. In the letter he said how great was his joy in contributing to the glory of so great a monarch. He knew very well, it is true, that nothing in his person or efforts could possibly augment in the slightest degree what Renown had already proclaimed in his majesty's honour. But he felt some secret pleasure in seeing that what he had accomplished contributed to his majesty's satisfaction by bringing new places of strength into subjection under him. 'Thus I am persuaded,' added he, ' that your majesty will hear this news with pleasure, and will receive with the same feeling the golden keys of Vellūr which I herewith send. In conclusion, I wish to your exalted person a perfect state of health and many happy and prosperous days.'