التاريخ اليميني 19.2

19.2

When the Amīr Nāṣir al-Dīn Sebüktigin set out to engage the king of Hind as he came pressing upon the borders of Islam, as the opening of this book has related, Khalaf ibn Aḥmad seized the opportunity of Bust being bereft of its guards and empty of its garrison, and sent against it by night men who broke open its egg and deflowered its maidenhood, turned the allegiance there away from [its rightful lord], and plunged his hand into its wealth, collecting it and hoarding it up. When God gave Nāṣir al-Dīn victory over the accursed infidel, he turned his reins toward Bust, indignant at Khalaf's treachery and resentful of his bad [109b] faith; and Khalaf ibn Aḥmad's men shielded themselves from him by showing their backs in disgrace, turning tail in flight and abasement. Nāṣir al-Dīn Sebüktigin resolved to rise against him and sought God's guidance about engaging him in battle; whereupon Khalaf sent him someone to explain away that expedition as his concern, in keeping with the bond of loyalty, to protect his province, to guarantee the settlement of what had come into his revenue, and to offer voluntarily an extra sum to stand as compensation for his offence, so as to avert the heavy tread [of Sebüktigin's army] upon his territories and to shield himself from the shame of exposure in fighting him. Nāṣir al-Dīn feigned not to notice the evil of his treachery, restraining the hand of power and contenting himself with the humility of his apology; [his case in this was as Abū Tammām said: