179l« MELA-f, A TALE. fl 



far fuperifir to thofe of tfie rebels; and the next engagement 

 promiled to be decifive. 



As I was inflamed with rage, and Ebn Mahmud with 

 love, our armies w ere not long of being brought to aftion. 

 The right wing, which I led, was already victorious, andjthe 

 left was commanded by Mir Narkuii, an olhcer .illuArious 

 for his military achievements, whom my father had once 

 reluftantly fentenced to death, and who had obtaijied his 

 pardon at mv interceflion. ^\^^om could I have trufted 

 with more conndence, than a man who was indebted to me 

 for his life ; and yet he betrayed me. In the heat of the 

 engagement, he went over to the enemv, accompanied by 

 the greateft part of his troops. The vh± of that divifion 

 naturally tied •, my victorious band fell into diibraer, and I 

 was thrown, in the fpace o/ a fe^v minutes, from power and 

 greatnels, down to mifery and flight. 



I flew in diitraclion to the tent of Gulmanac. and intreat- 

 ed her to fct herfelf upon the fwifteil of my horfes, 

 and follow me immediately to the next fortrefs. " I know, 

 faid I, that captivity and death muft be our fate ; but let 

 us at leaft die as we have lived." The traitrefs advifed me 

 to fubmit to the conqueror, promifcd, hcvfelf, to fupplicate 

 his mercy j promifed, — but why ihould I repeat what flie 

 promifed ? it is enough that I cleaily faw her infidelity. 

 And now my rage could no longer be reitrained. I dre%¥ 

 forth my dagger, and would have pierced her to the heart, 

 but her ftirieks brought fome of my othcers to her afTiftance, 

 and I faw for the firif time, that I was no longer the mo- 

 narch, before whom all was obedience and fubmilTion. He 

 who the day before had incurred my ciifpleafure, and againft 

 whom I had raifed my arm, would have received hi', fate 

 from ten daggers at once •, but now my hand was felled and 

 the weapon forced fiom it, while the infamous wonian ef- 

 caped with impunity. All was indeed concealed under the 

 ma(k of perfuafion j every thing Vv'ore as yet the appearance 

 of ful^jeflion ; but I faw too clearly through the tlaa dlfguife, 

 and confided iio longer in any one arciund me. 



MeiTenger after rnefienger arrived to inferm me of the 

 complete flight of my army, and of Elm Mahniud'x ap- 

 proach. I threw myftlf immedintely upon the fwifteft of 

 fijr borfes, and coi:;«nandcd thofe who I'.IU iuvcd iv.(. to lol- 



