Storia do Mogor 39.3.6

39.3.6

Shah 'Abbas replied : ' Can you tell me how it happened that his own subjects came to behead him, a thing I am unable to believe, seeing that it would be the greatest piece of disloyalty and audacity that could ever enter the heads of reasoning beings ? I trust you will tell me the truth without any concealment.' The gentleman said : ' I will tell your majesty the truth : it took place with great barbarity, in public, upon a staging, a great crowd being assembled to look on at this event ; among them I myself was quite close, and out of the deep affection which I had to my king, I have managed to preserve a handkerchief dipped in his blood.' Hearing these words, the king, Shah 'Abbas, placed both hands on his sides, and, changing colour, exclaimed in an angry voice : ' Oh, traitor ! you were in his service and his subject ; how could you be such a coward as to allow your king to be beheaded, being present yourself at this barbarous deed, without forthwith giving up your life for him ?'