Storia do Mogor 60.2
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 60.2
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60.2.1
The rajah replied to Akbar that he need not trouble himself to come, because rather than give up his wife he would lose a hundred thousand lives, and in case he resolved to come he would encounter a veritable Rajput. Akbar was angered at this answer, believing that there could not be in the world anyone who would dare to resist his demands or risk himself against his valour. He began his march to the fortress. When he heard of this movement, the rajah, who was called Jamel (? Jai Mall), which means 'Well-born,' with his brother called Fata (Fath)—that is to say, 'Victory'—came out against Akbar at the head of his cavalry, all of Hindu race and of the Rajput tribe. There followed many encounters in the open plain. For Akbar was anxious to demonstrate his bravery, his strength, and the wealth he possessed, and at the same time to prove that he was able to punish those who resisted him. He had taken with him a very large army, against which the brothers were unable to hold their own. They were therefore forced to take shelter in their fortress, where they endured an investment of twelve years. Akbar was astonished at such great persistence, and began to understand that there might be found in the world a fortress which could resist his victorious arms.
60.2.2
Seeing that he was able to do nothing against this fortress, he made up his mind to continue his conquests [elsewhere], and leave this fortress in the hands of its owner, or, to speak more correctly, he feigned so to do, in order to acquire by means of treason what he had not been able to take by force of arms. For this end he sent an ambassador to Rajah Jai Mall, informing [78] him of his intention to depart. Before starting, however, he would like to meet him, and give him a feast by way of farewell. His reason was that he wished the pleasure of seeing such a valiant man ; should he not wish to quit the fortress, he (Akbar) would go himself to say farewell, if permission were granted. The rajah, who would not venture to come out for fear of some treachery, and having no idea of what Akbar was about to do, replied with the greatest openness that, should he (Akbar) wish to come into the fortress, he would be thoroughly welcome. If the fortress had been closed against the great hero, it was only because he had tried to enter it as a conqueror ; but when he wanted to enter in a friendly manner, its gates would be thrown open. The only condition was that there should not be more than five hundred persons in his suite. No offence ought to be taken at this condition; for, as a faithful vassal of the Rana, he was under an obligation to take the precautions usual in time of war.
60.2.3
Akbar accepted the proposal. He entered the fortress with his five hundred, where he was well received, and great honours were paid him. The rajah gave him a great feast, and laid before him many presents of valuable jewels. Akbar received all this with signs of friendship, and as a return for this good feeling, he gave to the rajah several elephants and caparisoned horses, also a sword accompanied by a shield ornamented with valuable stones, and other rarities. In the conversation that they had Akbar praised greatly the rajah's courage and that of his officers, but above all displayed his admiration of the fortress, declaring it to be impregnable.
60.2.4
With this talk he succeeded in gaining the affection of the rajah, and taking his leave, said to him that from that day henceforth he would always look on him as a friend. With these demonstrations of friendliness and such-like talk Akbar took his leave, the rajah escorting him as far as the gate. When the false friend and great conqueror Akbar found himself there, he raised his hand to his neck and took off a string of pearls of inestimable value, saying to the rajah : 'I offer you this string of pearls in remembrance of me, and as a mark of how much I like you.' So saying, he put the necklace round the rajah's neck. Then he (Akbar) embraced the rajah with both arms in such a manner that all of a sudden he dragged him out of the fort gateway. The five hundred men in Akbar's retinue placed their hands on their swords, and began to strike out right and left; and men held ready for the purpose ran up and carried off the rajah to the army before his soldiers could come to his assistance.
60.2.5
Great were the astonishment and uproar in the fortress; with equal expedition they closed the gates and stood to arms. They suspected that the enemy by treachery had made himself master of that invincible fortress. All the commanders hastened to their posts. It was only the chief of them all that was wanting—the rajah! Not knowing what to decide upon, they carried the sad news to lovely Padmini. She bravely replied that they should not lose their accustomed courage, that they must consider the rajah as already dead, and that she had assumed his place in the defence of the stronghold. Thus the treacherous Akbar would not be able to triumph through his deceptions, if they on their side resolved not to falter. Inspiring the officers with fresh courage, she forthwith mounted a horse and seized a lance; and thus equipped, followed by all the officers, she went the rounds, giving new orders, saying that not only need they not fear the strength of Akbar, but she was certain and assured in her mind that they were able to resist the armies of the whole world, and she could never lose the fortress while backed up by such troops.
60.2.6
Akbar imagined that, having taken Jai Mall prisoner, the fortress was already in his hands, and that he was already in enjoyment of Padmini's beauty. He therefore wrote a letter to pretty Padmini requesting her to surrender the stronghold, adding that if she did not make it over to him, he would cut off the head of her beloved rajah, Jai Mall. The courageous Amazon replied that so far as she was concerned Rajah Jai Mall was already dead, while to take his place there were within the fort other braver and stronger warriors. They counted this as the day on which the siege had commenced, and were determined to fight on while life endured. Never would they yield.
60.2.7
Akbar, seeing them so resolute, and knowing how stiff-necked the Rajputs are, raised the siege. But he left all the carpets spread in his tents as a sign that he would shortly return, and had not given up the hope of taking the place. He marched away and repaired to the town of Fatepur (Fathpur Sikri), which he had founded in remembrance of a great victory won over the Pathans. Here he placed Rajah Jai Mall in solitary confinement. Meanwhile he still solicited the famous Padmini with a thousand promises, letters, and valuable presents. He sent a message to her that if she would accede to the desires of a renowned king and conqueror, he pledged his word to make of her the greatest queen in his palaces. But Padmini would not consent, neither through messages, nor presents, nor soft words of intermediaries. She remained faithful to her husband.
60.2.8
Still, in order to deceive the deceiver, she pretended to have been won by Akbar's love. After much carrying of messages to and fro, she sent word to him that, overcome by his persistence, she had made up her mind to join him. There was, however, one condition: before she appeared in his presence she wished to say farewell to her husband, in order to be absolved from the oath of fidelity that she had given him. When that was done, she would without hesitation place herself at the king's disposal. King Akbar conceded everything that the lovely Padmini demanded, flattering himself that his pains of martyrdom were on the way to be soon assuaged. She set to work to make the necessary preparations for her journey with great pomp and majesty. She prepared a handsome palanquin, well closed up, collected many eunuchs and foot-runners to surround it, giving them orders not to allow anyone to come close to it. Then, pretending she had relinquished the fortress into the hands of Fath, she caused the closed palanquin to be sent out, accompanied by three thousand Rajput horse, all men of valour; following it were many other well-closed palanquins, as if each held a lady of her suite. The start was so conducted that everybody understood Padmini had gone (all except those who had been charged with carrying out the matter), and lamentation arose at the loss of such a princess.
60.2.9
When this cavalcade set out, a message was despatched to Akbar, saying that the princess was now on her way, full of longing to take up her abode with him; but she sent a warning not to forget the promise that he had given her, to allow her to take leave of her former husband. If the slightest hesitation arose about this promise, she was resolved to kill herself, having brought with her for this purpose a large, well-sharpened poignard. The whole of this story was make-believe, for in the palanquins there was no one, while the horsemen were intended for the rescue of Rajah Jai Mall from prison.