Storia do Mogor 39.1.1

39.1.1

THE kingdom of Persia was very well governed, having no rebellions or treasons, neither robbers nor highwaymen on the roads, as there are in some kingdoms, chiefly those of the Turks. For Shah 'Abbas took the greatest care that the land was well governed, and allowed no wrong to be done. This king was much loved and esteemed by his people; not only did they love him, they adored him as a saint. The reason was that his family was descended from 'Ali, who was married to the daughter of Muhammad. The Persians say (though the Turks and the Moguls decline to concede this) that 'Ali succeeded Muhammad as prophet. But this was not the sole cause that he was esteemed and venerated as a holy man; it was also his singular qualities which made him venerable. The king was a man of good stature, well nourished, broad in the shoulders, slender in the waist, a fine horseman, of a bright countenance, strong in his resolves, and a lover of wine. With reference to this, I may recount how he employed a golden vessel called Azarpexa (Hazar-peshah), which means 'a thousand kinds.' It would hold two canadas and a half of wine. When the king wanted to have a joke with anyone, or impose on him a slight punishment, he would force him to drink in his presence the measure of wine contained in the said vessel.