Storia do Mogor 36: CHAPTER XII · REPLY OF 'AZAMAT-UD-DAULAH TO THE AMBASSADOR ON THE PART OF THE KING
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 36
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CHAPTER XII · REPLY OF 'AZAMAT-UD-DAULAH TO THE AMBASSADOR ON THE PART OF THE KING
36.1
THE ambassador, although somewhat doubtful of obtaining an answer such as he desired, never desisted from importuning 'Azamat-ud-daulah, reminding him that it was close upon a year that he had been in Isfahan without making the smallest advance in the negotiations, for which he had come so far. 'Azamat-ud-daulah put him off from day to day. At length, tired out by so many remonstrances, he made up his mind to give an answer. With this view he sent a message to the ambassador, requesting him to be good enough to come to his house, as he wanted to speak to him.
36.2
We repaired to the house of 'Azamat-ud-daulah, who received the ambassador with many gracious words and much politeness. Seating themselves, they began a long conversation to the following effect: 'Azamat-ud-daulah began a very long way off by remarking that the King of Persia was a great friend of the King of England, and cherished for him the same amity that he had felt towards the former kings, his ancestors; he greatly desired to assist that king, chiefly owing to the great necessity of the case. This was the reason that he had postponed his reply, while he searched for and considered ways in which he could give assistance. But he could find no manner of so doing. The Persian cavalry and the rest of their troops could not be sent, by reason of the great distance, by the land route. On the road were many kingdoms through which they must pass. Thus it was impossible to be of any use by sending an armed force. Then he had sought for some means of helping him by way of the sea; but to send a great fleet he saw was extremely difficult. In Persia they had no ships, and, should they attempt to construct them, they had not sufficient materials for the purpose.
36.3
Another reason for the long delay in giving an answer was this: They had used the interval to find out from the nations of Europe — the Portuguese, the Dutch, and even the English themselves — whether they could purchase any ships in which to send reinforcements to the king. But, in spite of all the offers they had made, they could not obtain what they wanted. The ambassador knew well that this was all a pretence, but he kept his temper, although showing signs of impatience at all this long-winded and superfluous talk. When 'Azamat-ud-daulah had finished this long speech, the ambassador began as follows: First of all, he expressed his thanks for the great efforts that the King of Persia and 'Azamat-ut-daulah had taken to assist the King of England. Then, half making fun of 'Azamat-ud-daulah's many words, he said to him that he himself had a much easier method of remedying all this, without giving trouble to the Persian monarch, and without fatiguing the Persian soldiers, so famous throughout Europe. His plan was that the King of Persia should pay, cash down, the money due on the bill owing to the King of England. He had not come all that long journey in search of cavalry, nor a fleet, nor ships, but of a debt in arrears. If he would excuse him, he would say a word or two frankly. To this 'Azamat-ud-daulah replied that he might speak as freely as he liked.
36.4
Upon this the ambassador continued that all that had been said by him showed that his king had no intention of paying the debt. 'Azamat-ud-daulah, in a deceptive manner and smiling, said that his king wished to pay, but, seeing that the amount demanded was very large, it would require a great number of beasts of burden, that it would be necessary to pass through other kingdoms, that possibly he might be robbed on his way. Nor was the difficulty met by saying that he could carry the amount by sea, for all the world knew what risks were run at sea, both of being attacked and of being wrecked, whereby the whole amount would be lost. The ambassador's answer was that, if they gave him the money, he knew quite well how to take care of it and remove it in safety. If they paid over to him a sufficient sum, the King of England, his master, would have no other demand to make. He would hold himself satisfied, according to the orders he had received, as set forth in the letters that he had presented. This he said with a certain show of emotion, for by this time he saw that their object was to pay him in words.
36.5
'Azamat-ud-daulah hung his head down and affected a mild expression of countenance, then said in a low voice: 'Necessity is not the most perfect of judges.' He added that, as to banishing from the Persian realm the English traders, that could not be. For the king had allowed them willingly to enter his territory — the land of Persia was free to all — and the king declined to turn out anyone unless he had been guilty of an offence. All the same, they would grant him (Bellomont) leave to eject them from the kingdom himself by his own forces. The king would back up neither one side nor the other. Finally, being wearied out, the ambassador said, with a certain amount of passion, that he had not looked for such an answer from a king of such fame in the world, especially after the Persian kingdom had received aid from the King of England, at great cost to the latter. 'Azamat-ud-daulah did not change countenance, but endeavoured to pacify the ambassador, saying that such events were sent from above, that never was all that we asked of God granted us, that in due time God would bring to mind his king. Encouraging him and consoling him with kind and soft words, he added that if he were in any difficulty for expenses, he could send to his interpreter, who would help him.
36.6
Hearing this, the ambassador said not a single word, but rose hastily, came forth, and returned home. When he had arrived there, he by-and-by gave an order for the sale of some pieces of cloth and some carpets which still remained to provide for our road expenses. The above conversation was in Turkish, which I could already speak and understand sufficiently. Listening to everything with the greatest attention, I admired the way in which 'Azamat-ud-daulah was able to evade the aggressive answers of the ambassador without betraying any sign of ill-humour.