1869.] Translations from tlie Tdrikh i Firuz Shahi. 197 



'Alaulmulk praised him highly ; and having summoned all the great 

 Khans and Maliks into his presence, he made the following speech to 

 the assembled throng. 



" You are all well aware, that 'Alaulmulk is both a ' wazir' and 

 " the son of a ' wazir', as well as a true and loyal servant to me, 

 " and that from the first days of my assuming the government up to 

 " the present time, he has been in the habit of giving me the benefit 

 " of his advices ; and that it was only his obesity which caused me 

 (l to appoint him Kotwal ; for otherwise he was entitled to the office 

 li of wazir. At this juncture he has expressed some sound opinions, 

 " and brought forward arguments to induce me to refrain from 

 " engaging the Mughuls, and now I purpose giving him my reply in 

 " the presence of all of you, who are the pillars of my State, so that 

 " you may all hear it." 



The Sultan then turned towards 'Alaulmulk alone in that assem- 

 bly and said : 



" 'Alaulmulk, thou art my confidential servant and ancient sup- 

 " porter, and hast claims to the office of wazir, and to a large stock 

 <' of wisdom ; hear now from me these clear and distinct truths. 

 r Long before both you and I (were born), this proverb was in vogue, 

 44 ' It is nonsense crouching down (to hide yourself from detection) when 

 r stealing a camel (as the animal's tall body must necessarily be visible);' 

 p and in like manner to hold the sovereignty of Delhi and yet hide behind 

 f Khal Sitari's [a camel's] back as you suggest ; and to assume a menac- 

 " ing attitude towards the Mughuls^ and yet refrain from an engagement 

 " with them, is altogether impossible ; nor is it feasible to prevent a 

 te contest with the Mughuls by the vain and idle talking of poltroons. 

 f Were I to shelter myself in the way you propose, my cotemporaries 

 f and those men who shall be born after my time will laugh at my beard, 

 r and will tax me with cowardice ; more especially my foes and advers- 

 {< aries, who may have travelled some 2000 kos from their own land, and 

 c ' have come under the minarets of Delhi to offer battle. What say you ? 

 " Shall I under these circumstances be guilty of backwardness and co- 

 ' wardice,and send Khal Sitari to the front[hide behind the camel'sback], 

 11 whilst I remain inert like a goose or a hen seated on her eggs, and en- 

 « £ deavour to repel them by diplomacy and negociation. And if I should 

 t l do as you say, to whom could I shew this countenance, or how could I 



