Storia do Mogor 338.21.7

338.21.7

[217] Before this time the inquiring reader will have seen my four volumes, and learnt the hope in which I sent them. It is impossible for the inquiring reader to avoid remarking on the variety and inequality to be seen in the said work. The reason was that time permitted nothing else; I went on writing in the order that things happened. I continued thus, and the inquiring reader must be content to accept that work as it is. If God gives me longer life I shall go on with a fifth volume. I am already sixty-eight years of age, and am in fear that my labours will come to an end without ever appearing before the world; and this fear was my reason for sending the volumes off. In addition, I am aware that Death gives warning to no one, nor waits for the affairs of those who have anything left unfinished, but takes a man quite against his will. Therefore, foreseeing that this must happen to me, I leave not my writings under the control of attorneys, being warned by the experience that I have had. I have seen a great number of such executors disregard the orders of the testator. Thus what I can finish in my lifetime I decline to abandon to the pleasure of such people. For this reason I send the manuscript by this opportunity. Subsequently we will discuss the end, which must soon arrive, to the reign and the life of the present king, Aurangzeb, who is already eighty-nine years of age; and I will take measures to have this conclusion sent off.