A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c17.s3.3

c17.s3.3

"Some days after his arrival, as he was reposing in his tent, he heard one of the courtiers without the skreens reciting this verse:—‘Rise and fill the golden goblet with the wine of mirth before the cup itself shall be laid in dust.’ The sultan, inspired by the verse, called his favourites before him, and spreading the carpet of pleasure, amused himself with music and wine. When the banquet had lasted longer than was reasonable, and the fumes of the wine had exercised their power, a fancy seized the sultan to pass the river and attack the enemy. . . . Warm with wine he resolved to cross immediately, and mounting his elephant, without making his intentions known, proceeded to the river, as if to reconnoitre, but suddenly gave orders for as many of his troops as could go upon the rafts, and others to follow him on elephants through the river. The officers represented the folly and danger of precipitation; but the sultan, without reply, plunged his own elephant into the stream, and was followed involuntarily by the amras and their followers, on about 250 elephants.