Storia do Mogor 60.7.7

60.7.7

Akbar was a great warrior and also a great hunter. When he sought relaxation after any victory, or when awaiting an enemy, his usual diversion was to march hither and thither, enduring great fatigues, in search of something to kill. Since he was very bold, he went into the woods and wastes and mountains without [96] any protection. Once it happened that, with the greatest eagerness, he went into the hills to kill a tiger, having failed in getting a shot at it. Separated from his men and weary, he sat himself down beneath a shady tree. While reflecting on what it was best for him to do, there came towards him a hairy creeping thing of scarlet colour. Akbar took an arrow from his quiver and slew the serpent (verme), the arrow falling on the ground before him. Hardly had the serpent died when a deer passed in front of him. Taking up the same arrow with which he had slain the serpent, he fixed it in his bow and shot at the deer, which forthwith fell dead, without having been wounded in a mortal place. Akbar was amazed at seeing the fallen deer lying quite motionless. He was still considering what could be the reason of such a sudden death when the huntsmen arrived, who were in pursuit of the same deer that the king had killed. On their appearing, he gave orders for the deer to be dragged before him. The huntsmen laid hold of the deer, when it fell to pieces, one portion here, another there, the whole being rotten.