The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.255

v3.c20.255

Fīrūz, though aware of this treasonable talk, at first paid no heed to it, but at one drinking bout many nobles swore allegiance to Tāj-ud-dīn Kūchī, a survivor of the Forty, and boasted of how they would slay Fīrūz. He sent for the drinkers and, after upbraiding them, threw a sword towards them and challenged any one of them to attack him. They stood abashed until the tension was relieved by the effrontery of his secretary, Nusrat Sabbāh, who, though he had boasted as loudly as any, now told Fīrūz that the maunderings of drunkards were beneath his notice, that they were not likely to kill him, for they knew that they would never again find so indulgent a master, and that he was not likely to kill them, for he knew, in spite of their foolish talk, that he would nowhere find servants so faithful. Fīrūz called for a cup of wine and handed it to the impudent apologist, but the boasters were dismissed from court for a year and were warned that if they offended again they should be delivered to the tender mercies of Arkalī Khān, who was fettered by none of his father’s scruples.