Storia do Mogor 63.3
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 63.3
- Language
- English
63.3.1
I beg the reader to believe that it is impossible to set forth completely the flatteries used by the courtiers ; they exaggerate everything excessively in order to find favour with the great. On the other hand, if a great man, on seeing a handsome elephant of great height and well-proportioned body, or a well-made horse, says something depreciatory as to these animals, those present begin at once to express all the ill that can be said of an animal, calling it wretched, miserable, timid, out of condition, of no use. With all this the great men are delighted, for two reasons : first, to see others adopt their opinions out of mere submissiveness ; secondly, because these flatteries divert their minds from the cares they have.
63.3.2
What I have mentioned about animals may equally be said about men. For to have the repute of valour, it suffices that a noble praise a man ; and to be scouted, even if a valiant soldier, it is enough for a great man to say a little word in dispraise. It is the same thing also about women. A woman may be really foul and fetid, but a great man need only say a word in her favour, and she becomes a Venus descended upon earth ; while a woman may be really lovely, and if a noble for his own ends runs her down, all who are there make her out to be so repulsive that never in the world was seen such a coarse creature. This will be enough to put the reader in possession of the extent to which the Moguls are flatterers, each one working for his own ends in every matter. Although this king was of a kind disposition, seeking methods, as I will tell hereafter, of doing good to all except the Mahomedans, there was, in spite of this, a Rajput prince, master of twenty-five thousand horse, who considered himself aggrieved because the king would not give him what he asked. One day he had the temerity to come with his cavalry to the city of Lahor, beating his drums, a thing that no one may do except the king, and posted his army on the bank of the river at a little distance from the royal palace.
63.3.3
Jahangir was amazed at such temerity, and wanted to take vengeance on him for this affront. But he did not judge it in accordance with his own greatness to send out an army against such a petty prince. He decided to send for a cavalry soldier named Mahobet (Mahabat Khan). One day Jahangir had gone out shooting, and getting separated from the rest of his companions, became tired out and hungry. Mahabat was the only man with him. Making some cakes, he got a light by firing his musket ; he then roasted two of them on a little spit, and sprinkling salt and pepper [no] on them, gave them to the king to eat. This made Jehangir anxious to reward this cavalry soldier ; he therefore sent for him and asked him in secret if he would undertake to kill the Rajput prince. Mahabat replied : ' It is for your majesty to order and me to obey.' To carry out the project he requested that he might have a pearl necklace, a jewel ornament for the breast, and a set of robes of honour (sarapa), and, in addition, as his companion, one of the king's scribes who was his special friend, also his majesty's boat with energetic rowers. All this was agreed to by Jehangir.
63.3.4
Mahabat with the above-named preparations left the city at eight o'clock at night. On drawing near to the Rajput camp, the sentinels challenged and asked who he was. He answered that he was an envoy from the king who came to speak to the rajah. Mahabat instructed his companion to remain with the door-keepers, and when these men should be heavily asleep warn him by coughing at intervals. Mahabat went in and accosted the rajah with a most cheerful face, and, full of confidence, said that he had come from the king to inform him how much his majesty loved him and cherished him to a high degree. To show that these were not mere words or inventions, he had sent as marks of the favour he held him in this string of pearls, this jewel, and this rich set of vestments. He was considered at court to be a brave and valiant captain, worthy of the most honourable employments ; thus the king was anxious to employ him in some extensive enterprise, and to reward him as far as was in his power.
63.3.5
The rajah, puffed up at this news and proud of the present the king had sent him, conversed pleasantly with Mahabat. With delusive words the latter said to the rajah softly that the course he had followed was excellent, for if they did not act like that the Rajputs would never be esteemed. With such talk he kept the rajah up till beyond midnight. The Rajputs who were in his company, heavy with sleep and full of opium, of which they are accustomed to take largely, went out a few at a time, and the rajah was left alone intoxicated with praises and flatteries. Seeing that the rajah was now alone, and his companions at the door coughing at intervals, Mahabat decided that it was time to make the coup he had designed. Thus continuing the conversation, he said : 'The king is so well inclined towards you that he enjoined on me to seek every mode of smoothing away your grievance. He is therefore very desirous of favouring you, nor does he wish that you should be any more offended. As a mark of this desire he gave me these orders, whereby you are made viceroy of the kingdom of Bengal.' Saying this, he drew out a bag of gold brocade, and placing it on his two hands, presented it with great deference [in]. Then suddenly he struck the rajah through the heart and down as far as the bowels with a sharpened knife hidden in the bag. He issued from the hall silently, leaving the unfortunate prince dead, and passing through the door, took with him his companion.
63.3.6
They got into the boat and hastened back to court, where the king was waiting for him impatiently to know what had happened. He was so much on the qui vive that he heard the sound of the oars, and with a shout he cried in a loud voice : 'What news, Mahabat ?' The valiant soldier replied : 'My lord, the rajah is already dead.' At this the king was much contented, and made Mahabat a great man in his court, transgressing the rule bequeathed to him by his father that no one should be promoted to great station all at once. He gave the man the title of Mahobet Can (Mahabat Khan)— that is to say, 'great affection.' In this manner this man became in a short time the greatest general at the court of the King Jahangir. He treated the Rajput princes with great friendliness, and succeeded with great skill in attaching them to his interests.
63.3.7
Although the kings of this world hold it as part of their glory to exalt their courtiers, they are not always rejoiced to see them powerful. Often the loyalty of a grandee is in their eyes treason. Thus happened it to Mahabat Khan. Although faithful to his sovereign and grateful for the benefits conferred, and seeking every mode of showing his fidelity, he was nevertheless an object of envy, not only to the other courtiers, whose nature it is to be envious, but to the wazir, Ascef Can (Asaf Khan), the king's father-in-law, and to the queen, who sought for a way to have him assassinated. To this intent they placed ten thousand armed horsemen on the roads, hoping to get him killed. But on learning of this treachery, he (Mahabat Khan) went to the palace and entered, unheeding the protests of the door-keepers. Reaching the king's presence, he advanced closer than allowed by etiquette. The king was amazed at so much boldness, and dreaded his doing some violence. He asked Mahabat Khan what he wanted. The valiant general replied : ' I desire that your majesty do me the honour of coming to my house, for it is most necessary.' Saying these words, he seized the king's hand, who, observing his determined manner, made no resistance, although in great trepidation. He came out of his palace followed by some soldiers who had entered with Mahabat Khan into the royal presence.
63.3.8
No sooner had they reached the gate of the fortress than Mahabat Khan gave orders for the king to mount his elephant, and behind him was placed one of the Khan's Rajput soldiers, blind of one eye, with a drawn sword in his hand. After they had gone a few yards the king complained that the soldier had a foxy smell, and wanted him removed. Mahabat Khan replied: 'It is very obvious that if your majesty had any general as brave as these soldiers of mine, I should not have ventured to carry you off to my house, as I am doing.'