History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v2.c28.32

v2.c28.32

On 5th January the prisoner was placed before his dread uncle in the Hall of Private Audience of the Delhi palace.[†] His youth, extreme beauty, martial fame, and present misery deeply interested the courtiers and even the ladies of the Imperial harem in his fate. The eldest and most favoured grandson of Shah Jahan, he might under happier stars have one day adorned the throne of Delhi and sat on the seat of state in the very hall where he now stood as a captive in chains with a secret and ignominious death before him. "Many of the courtiers shed tears at the sight of this interesting young man....The principal ladies of the court,...concealed behind a lattice-work, were also greatly moved. Aurangzib spoke to him with apparent kindness, to relieve him of the fear of a death-sentence,