128 GARDENS OF THE PLAINS— LAHORE 



as he undoubtedly was of his father, he never 

 forgave him for thus thwarting his boyish wish. 

 Long after, when he came to the throne, one 

 of his first actions was an attempt to recover 

 the Lady of the Doves. But her husband, Sher 

 Aikan, was an honest gentleman, not to be bribed 

 by any Emperor. So a quarrel was forced on 

 him, he was treacherously murdered, and his wife 

 carried off to the Court. Here Jahangir was 

 baulked again, defeated by just that very quality 

 which appealed so irresistibly to his weak, self- 

 indulgent nature. He had killed her husband 

 and Nur-Jahan would have none of him. Not 

 the least curious part of the story is the fact that 

 Jahangir, who must have really loved her, after 

 trying to soothe and win her by all means in his 

 power, finally accepted the situation ; and Nur- 

 Jahan, supporting herself by her artistic skiU in 

 painting and embroidery, remained at Court in 

 attendance on Jahangir 's Rajput mother. 



Then after six long years she relented, perhaps 

 moved with pity for the man who had lost all 

 control over himself, and was fast losing his 

 Empire as well. Who shall say ? Few women 

 could resist a constancy like his. Nur-Jahan 

 was thirty-seven when at last she consented to 



