Sultan Cuserou,
The Eldest Son, Is Highly Beloved And Honoured Of All Men, And Almost
Adored, For His Excellent Parts And Noble Dispositions, With Which The
King Is Well Acquainted, And Even Loves Him Dearly.
But he conceives
that the liberty of this son would diminish his own glory, and does not
see that the ambition of Churrum greatly more tarnishes his own fame
than would the virtuous character and noble actions of the other.
Thus
the king fosters division and emulation among his sons, putting so much
power into the hands of the younger, which he believes he can undo at
his pleasure, that the wisest here foresee much fatal division in this
mighty empire when the present king shall pay the debt of nature,
expecting that it will then be rent in pieces by civil wars.
The history of this country, for the variety of its incidents, and the
many crooked practices of the present king during the reign of his
father, Akbar Shah, and these latter troubles, were well worthy of being
committed to writing. But, as the country is so remote, many would
despise such information, and as the people are esteemed barbarous, few
persons would give it credit. I content myself, therefore, with
privately contemplating the singular history of this nation, although I
could narrate so many singular and amusing state intrigues, subtle
evasions, policies, answers, and adages, as could not be easily equalled
in the history of one age or country. One incident, however, that
occurred lately, I cannot omit relating, as it evinces the wisdom and
patience of the emperor, the incorruptible fidelity of a servant, the
detestable falsehood of a brother, and the impudent boldness of a
faction, ready to dare every infamous action, when permitted by the
supreme ruler to exercise an authority beyond the limits of their
condition, and contrary to the dictates of reason and true policy.
The favourite Prince Sultan Churrum, together with the favourite Queen
Nourmahal, aunt to his wife, Asaph Khan father-in-law to Churrum, and
brother of Nourmahal, and Etiman Dowlet, father of Asaph Khan and
Nourmahal, being the faction that now governed the emperor, and who
believed their bad influence in danger of being overthrown if the prince
Cuserou were allowed to live, determined to use every effort for his
destruction, and to endeavour to get him into their power, that they
might end his days by poison, for they knew that he was universally
beloved among the nobles, and that his remaining in life and restoration
to liberty must some day overthrow and punish their ambitious projects.
To attain their infamous purposes, Nourmahal was instructed to practise
upon the king's weakness, by false tears and bewitching blandishments,
to insinuate that Sultan Cuserou was not in sufficiently safe custody,
and that he still meditated aspiring projects, contrary to the authority
and safety of the emperor, who listened to all her insinuations, yet
refused to understand her, as she did not plainly speak out her meaning.
As this plan failed, the prince, with Etiman Dowlet and Asaph Khan, took
the opportunity of the emperor being drunk, to persuade him, as if for
the greater safety and honour of Sultan Cuserou, that it were fitter he
should be in the company of his brother Churrum, who would be more
regardful of his safety and happiness than could be expected from an
idolatrous rajput, to whose custody he had been committed by the
emperor. They therefore humbly implored his majesty that Prince Cuserou
might be confided to the care of his dear brother Churrum. This was
granted by the intoxicated monarch, who immediately fell asleep.
They now deemed their project successful, as having the royal authority;
and, considering their own greatness, they believed no one would dare to
dispute the warrant, or to refuse delivering the prince into their
hands. Accordingly, Asaph Khan went that same night with a guard to the
house of Anna-Rah, a rajput Rajah, or prince, to demand from, him, in
the king's name and authority, the person of Sultan Cuserou, who had
been confided to his custody by the king. Anna-Rah declared that he was
the most humble slave of Prince Churrum, whose name Asaph Khan used upon
this occasion; but having received charge of Prince Cuserou directly
from the hands of the emperor, he would deliver him up to no other
person. He therefore entreated that Prince Churrum would have patience
till next morning, when he would discharge his duty to the king, whose
pleasure, once known, he would implicitly obey. This answer overturned
the whole contrivance. In the morning Anna-Rah went to the king, to whom
he communicated the demand made upon him in the name of Prince Churrum,
saying. That his majesty had given his son Cuserou to his charge,
together with the command of 4000 horse, with all of whom he was ready
to die at the imperial gate, rather than resign the prince into the
hands of his enemies: But, if his majesty required, he was ready at all
times to obey his commands. To this the king replied, "You have done
honestly and faithfully, and have answered discretely. Continue your
purpose, and take no notice of any orders. I will not seem to know any
thing of this, neither do you speak of it any farther. Preserve your
fidelity, and let us see how far they will prosecute this affair."
Next day, finding the king silent on the subject, the prince and his
faction took no notice of any thing, hoping the king might forget what
had passed in his cups over night. I have communicated this incident,
that you may beware of scattering your goods in this country, or of
engaging your servants and stock too deeply; for the time will come when
the whole of this empire will be in commotion, and it is not a few years
war that will put a period to the inveterate enmity accumulated on all
hands against a day of vengeance.
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