التاريخ اليميني 46.7

46.7

نعم، وامتد الوجيف به بعد إلى قلعة كلچند ، وهو من أعلام الشياطين، وأعيان أولئك الملاعين، يدل على الملوك بعز أقعس، ويرنو إلى القروم بطرف أشوس، قد قضى في الكفر معظم عمره، وغني بهيبة الملك وبسطة الأمر عن تجشيم بيضه وسمره. ولم يقصده أحد إلا ارتد عنه مغلولا، وعاد عقده عنه محلولا. عزة حال، وكثرة مال، وقوة رجال، وعدة أفيال. ووثاقة معاقل وحصون، وملك عن مطامع الأنام ومطامح الوهن والانثلام [221 أ] مصون. فلما رأى السلطان قد قصد قصده، وجرد لمجاهدته جهده، رتب فيوله وخيوله وراء غياض لو رميت بأفراد الإبر، لاتقتها الأرض بأوراق الشوك والشجر، وأغرى السلطان به بعض طلائع جيوشه، فثاروا إليهم يخرقون تلك الآجام خرق الأمشاط منابت الشعور، بل الأشافي مخارز السيور.

After some delay, the Sultan marched against the fort of Kulchand, who was one of the leaders of the accursed Satans, who assumed superiority over other rulers, and was inflated with pride, and who employed his whole life in infidelity, and was confident in the strength of his dominions. Whoever fought with him sustained defeat and flight, and he possessed much power, great wealth, many brave soldiers, large elephants, and strong forts, which were secure from attack and capture. When he saw that the Sultan advanced against him in the endeavour to engage in a holy war, he drew up his army and elephants within a deep forest ready for action.
The Sultán sent his advance guard to attack Kulchand, which, penetrating through the forest like a comb through a head of hair, enabled the Sultan to discover the road which led to the fort. The Musulmáns exclaim, "God is exceeding great," and those of the enemy, who were anxious for death, stood their ground. Swords and spears were used in close conflict. * * * The infidels, when they found all their attempts fail, deserted the fort, and tried to cross the foaming river which flowed on the other side of the fort, thinking that beyond it they would be in security; but many of them were slain, taken, or drowned in the attempt, and went to the fire of hell. Nearly fifty thousand men were killed and drowned, and became the prey of beasts and crocodiles. Kulchand, taking his dagger, slew his wife, and then drove it into his own body. The Sultan obtained by this victory one hundred and eighty-five powerful elephants, besides other booty.