Storia do Mogor 354.2
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 354.2
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354.2.1
There was at the court of the prince Shãh 'Alam a European blood-letter who, when he entered the service, was granted two rupees a day, and after some years was raised in salary up to seven rupees a day. This was done by the influence of the chief physician, Muhammad Muqim, of whom I failed not to speak on other occasions (III. 43, V. 185). The blood-letter, finding the prince had a good opinion of him, and having by this time acquired a little money, made a most unreasonable demand from the prince to the detriment of the said physician. He said to the prince that Muhammad Muqim had an annual salary [104] of over one hundred thousand rupees, besides the other great profits that he received. But Muqim was not any wiser than he, the European, was, and therefore he, too, was worth quite as much pay. The prince upon hearing this preposterous claim was much put out, but concealed the fact, and gave not a word of reply. The physician, Muhammad Muqim, heard of the affair by means of his friends. He was much annoyed, but made no sign, and did not betray his feelings in the least.
354.2.2
I had already been known in the empire for many years when I reached the court after the heavy loss of money in Portuguese territory of which I have already spoken (II. 178). I was then much in need of money for my support. As soon as my arrival was heard of, I was at once invited by the prince and several of his princesses to accept service with him. The message was conveyed to me through a eunuch of some standing named Meccaian (? Miskln). To this proposal I replied that I would be really glad to accept the honour done to me by his Highness, but I must decline to accept his service unless the physician, Muhammad Muqlm, conducted the negotiations with me. Thereupon it was at once ordered that he should present me to the prince, as is the custom. At this time Shāh 'Alam was making his preparations for starting to take charge of the Dakhin. The physician, Muhammad Muqlm, remembering what the European blood-letter had done to him, feared the same conduct from me also. He farther reflected that I had cured several persons of quality whom he had given up as beyond hope, whence he was afraid he might lose his reputation and be ejected from the service. Thus, in spite of his promises, he took no steps to push my interests.
354.2.3
The leading princess, as a sign of her affection for me, sent me food daily, and made me presents of different kinds of fruit. Seeing that the date of departure was close at hand, she asked my permission to deal herself with the prince on my behalf, since the physician had done nothing. Before this I had requested her not to speak on the subject. My reply to her now was that I begged as a favour she would not speak to the prince on the subject, as I had left it to the discretion of the physician. This I said in spite of my being in great straits from the want of money, and my sufferings from the persecutions of my adversaries, the aforesaid [European] blood-letter [of the prince] and the [European] surgeon of the king, of whom I have spoken above (V. 75-85). I stood strong and firm in my decision, in order to prove to the physician, Muhammad Muqlm, and those others the vast difference there is between one person and another, and that he might see my upright modes of action.
354.2.4
I held my tongue for several days, looking out for some movement on the physician's part. Finally, seeing that he was not forwarding my interests, in spite of his making a great show of wishing me well, I left the court, gave up my house, and took refuge in the house of a friend named Luis Gonzalves, intending subsequently to remove to the city of Lãhor, where I had lived for a number of years. On the day that I disappeared the princess as usual sent me some gifts of food. When it was reported to her that I had gone, and it was not known where (the news reached her rather late), she was much grieved. She shut herself up in her room, and would not go to the garden to join the prince, as was her custom. He passed his time there listening to music and in other pastimes. The prince noticed the absence of the princess. Not aware of the cause, he sent to invite her, letting her know that he was waiting in the garden most impatiently, for without her there could be no joy. The princess, aware of the great love the prince bore to her, sent back to say that she had been kept awake and troubled by a slight ailment ; would he, therefore, excuse her for that day ? Hardly had the news reached the prince's ear than he quitted the entertainment, and with all possible haste [107] made for her apartments. He saw she had nothing the matter beyond being in low spirits, so he pressed her to tell him the cause of her melancholy.
354.2.5
But the princess in a graceful way made excuses, just exactly as ladies know how to do when they are intent on having their own way. Finally, being forced into consenting to explain her ill-humour, she said it all sprang from the thought that his Highness did not love her to the extent he asserted ; because, if his love were really such, he would not have neglected to entertain at court, and take into his service, the physician Manuchi, a man who knew her constitution, and had nursed her as a little child in his arms. Taking her by the hand, to these words the prince replied that when morning came he would send in search of me, and pledged his word of honour that he would do so. Women can do much, and demand a good deal as soon as they perceive that they are held in estimation. On this occasion that was how the princess acted ; therefore she replied to the prince that that very moment he must write an order to the principal eunuch, Nãzir Daulat, directing him to send off a troop of soldiers, who at the time were on guard, to trace me [108] out. Prince Shãh 'Alam gave way to the wishes of the princess, and the soldiers, rushing about all the night, made a fruitless search for me.
354.2.6
However, they came in the end to know that if I were in any place in the suburbs of the city, I should not be found anywhere else than at the King's artillery park, in the house of my great friend, Luis Gonzalves. In fact, when it was already full daylight, being seated in the garden, I observed one of the prince's guard thrusting his head in at the door, but as soon as he saw me he withdrew it at once. Having seen this man, I was a little reassured, guessing what it might be for, when in a minute or two there entered twelve troopers in the highest glee. They treated me most ceremoniously, and in a few words conveyed to me that the prince was waiting for me, and I must start quickly. At these words I pretended to turn a little uneasy, as if they had need of me for some case of illness. They assured me that everybody was in good health, and I was sent for solely with a view to do me honour. The men urged me to start, and, to tell the truth, I was extremely eager myself, yet concealed [109] it, and gave signs of the exact contrary to what I desired. I told them to let me go to sleep, during which time they, too, could sit down and rest. To sum up, we began our journey about nine o'clock in the morning.
354.2.7
Meanwhile, let us look at what was going on about me at the court. By this time the princess had given up hoping for my return, and carried her lamentations to the prince. Shãh 'Alam went forth to hold audience, and asked his chief minister and counsellor, Casmir (Qãzl Mir), where Manucci had gone to. The Qãzl, knowing nothing about my disappearance, replied that I was in the city. Shãh 'Alam then ordered him to include me among the servants of his Highness. Upon receipt of this order Qãzí Mīr suggested that Manucci had heavy expenses; it was therefore necessary to give him an honourable rate of pay. The prince thought over this for a little, and then instructed him that he should give me seven rupees a day, the sum that his blood-letter had received. My friend Qãzí Mīr put on a dejected air, and made this suggestion: 'Your Highness ought to know that the father of your blood-letter was barber to the father of Manucci; thus he will never accept that rate of pay.'