Storia do Mogor 39.2
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 39.2
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39.2.1
Among other things, the king reflected that the bag had been in the hands of Muhammad Riza, that he could have cut it open and then closed it. Therefore he decided to put his suspicions to the test. Thus do princes act who desire to have justice done in their realms! He resolved to burn a piece of the carpet on which he sat, a piece of rich stuff excellently woven, and so much prized that he seldom used it to sit upon. Secretly he burnt a hole in the said carpet, and said nothing about it. The employe who had charge of it, discovering the burn, was in great fear lest the king might order his hand to be cut off, or otherwise punish him for taking so little care of such a precious article. Taking possession of the carpet, he removed it in secret to his own house, and diligently searched for a workman who could darn it so perfectly that no one could see that it had been repaired. Through it so happened that he got hold of the workman who had sewn up the bag. After some days the king asked where his favourite carpet was. When they had brought it and spread it out, the king took his seat upon it, and, without attracting attention, searched for anything in the nature of a darn. In spite of its having been repaired, he could not find the place. Thereupon the king ordered the employe to produce in his presence the workman who had darned the burnt place. The man, being frightened by this sudden question, could not deny, and went off to bring the workman.
39.2.2
Both returned to the king's presence, when he asked with a serious look, as if he already knew, 'How much did you get for mending this bag?' showing him the one that he had sewn up. The workman replied that they had given him had a hole, which (as they said) had been gnawed by the rats. It was of great importance to his good name, the owner said, that it should be darned at once and with skill. The king asked if he knew the man who gave him the job, and he answered 'Yes.' At once orders were given that a number of officials and servants should attend in the presence, with Mirza Isma'il and Muhammad Riza in their midst. When they had all arrived, the king asked the workman which was the man that had given him the bag to be darned. Then the workman pointed out Muhammad Riza, adding that he had done the work in his house and in his presence, stating the day, the hour, the house, and the place in the house where he had carried out the work. These statements having been verified, the king ordained that Muhammad Riza should be cut into four pieces, which, being attached to the tails of four camels, should be dragged through the city, preceded by a drummer and a man shouting: 'This is the justice that the king has ordered to be done.' The house of this Muhammad Riza was cleared of its contents, and the whole given to Mirza Isma'il. Thus was justice done, and impostors were kept in order;
39.2.3
thus should act all princes if they would not be instruments of oppression, if they are desirous of cutting short the career of knavery. The story I am now to tell will prove that Shah 'Abbas loved to do justice. He who related it to me told me how the king allowed no Christian to be ill-treated. Nevertheless, the Armenians are not held in much esteem in Persia, this very king having several times taken from them their wives and daughters, picking from among them the best-looking. All the same, he would not permit them to be oppressed by anyone else. It happened that a Persian soldier, considered brave but very arrogant, a tall man with huge moustachios, went daily and seated himself at the shop of an Armenian trader who sold all sorts of drugs. This trader had a daughter eighteen years of age who looked after the shop. The soldier passed his day in conversation with this girl, whence it came to pass that the Armenian was unable to sell his goods. The customers were frightened at the terrible appearance of the soldier, and would not venture to approach the shop.
39.2.4
Thus the frightened trader was obliged, after much hesitation, to say to the soldier most humbly that he would feel obliged by his doing him the favour of not coming so often to his shop, seeing that no one dared while he was seated there to come up to it to buy anything ; that thus he suffered greatly in his business. He must beg to be excused for making this petition, but it was necessity alone that compelled him to make the request ; for if things went on as they were, he would be unable to exist himself or maintain his family. Hardly had the Armenian finished his humble speech than the soldier seized his sword, and with one blow severed the man's head from his body, and, jumping on his horse, rode off to hide in a place set aside by the king as a sanctuary for offenders, whence not even the law itself could withdraw him. The Armenians were informed of this deed. Assembling themselves, they proceeded to lay their complaint before Mirza Cuchuc (Mirza Kuchak), which means ' Little Noble,' who was the chief justice. This man was so inimical to the Christians, that when he had succeeded in catching the murderer, the sentence he passed was that a small wound should be inflicted on the little finger of the man's left hand, from which only three drops of blood flowed, and that he should pay in cash a fine of ten patacas. This sentence showed that he valued the Armenians as worthless and people of no account.
39.2.5
The Armenians, upon the issue of this unjust sentence, made all possible haste to inform the king of the circumstances. He admitted them to an audience, and verified their account of what had happened. He told them to be patient, that he would not forget the case, and justice should be done to them. After the lapse of some days, Mirza Kuchak appeared before the king to report to him on various matters, but made no mention of the Armenian's death. The king dissembled. After a little conversation, he asked what would be the necessary sentence on a Christian who had slain a Mahomedan [29]. Mirza Kuchak replied that first of all he must be forced to pay three thousand patacas, and after many tortures his head must be cut off, as punishment for his great audacity in raising his hand upon one of the faithful friends of God and a follower of 'Alī. All this he delivered in a loud voice, as if he were pronouncing an admirable decision. The king pretended he approved the answer, but this was a mere subterfuge; and he went on to ask him, If by chance a Mahomedan wrongfully killed a Christian, what would have to be done?
39.2.6
Mīrzā Kuchak, who supposed that his first reply had been pleasing to the king, and glorying so much the more in exalting Mahomedans as he depressed Christians, answered that the Mahomedan murderer must receive a small wound in the little finger of the left hand, from which three drops of blood could flow, and not more, paying, in addition, ten patacas to the relations of the deceased. Thereupon the king said: 'Why make such a difference between Mahomedans and Christians? It does not appear fair to favour the Mahomedans so greatly and show such harshness to the Christians.' Mīrzā Kuchak began to give the rein to his eloquence, exalting the Mahomedans and depreciating the Christians. Among other arguments, he said that the Mahomedans of Persia were faithful to God, that they adored the great 'Alī, that there was a great difference between Mahomedans and Christians, both in this world and in the next, for Christians could never get to heaven, being infidels. To preach sound doctrine and afford a good example in this world, it was necessary to decide cases as he had stated, nor were Christians worthy of anything better.
39.2.7
Shah 'Abbās changed colour, and with an angry voice told him to be silent. He declined to hear such arguments; he had only to look into the books of Moses and see the rightful verdict: 'Who slays shall himself be slain.' If he (the chief justice) had not been a descendant of Muhammad, he should have been forced to order him to be torn in pieces by lions, on account of the unjust sentence that he had given in the case where a soldier slew an Armenian. The king ordered him never to appear in his presence again, and the false accusers were expelled from the court.