228 
LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
thing most prized by him in this world, declared his 
determination to devote it in the way suggested. 
The nobles unanimously protested against such an 
act of paternal tenderness, and proposed that he should 
give the diamond taken at the surrender of Agra, 
which would be accepted as a sufficient redemp- 
tion ; pronouncing the purport of the declaration of 
that noble who had suggested the measure, in which 
the wise amyr himself at once concurred, to be that the 
most precious of a monarch’s worldly possessions would 
be a more acceptable oblation upon such an occasion 
than the sacrifice of his life. Baber would not con- 
sent to what he conceived to be a false interpretation of 
a sacred law laid down by the ancient sages, solemnly 
affirming that as nothing in this world could be so preci- 
ous as human life, he was determined to relinquish it in 
order to secure the restoration of his son. His nobles 
endeavoured to dissuade him from his resolution, as- 
suring him that he had put an erroneous construction 
upon what had been said, and declaring that accord- 
ing to the well-known maxim of the primitive syeds, 
the most valuable worldly possession would be held 
upon this occasion an effectual offering. The em- 
peror was deaf to the anxious remonstrances of 
his friends, who again proposed that he should offer 
the beautiful diamond taken at Agra, the finest 
gem among the imperial treasures. “ No gem, of 
whatever value,” said Baber in reply, “ can be put 
in competition with human life : I am therefore 
determined to offer mine for the restoration of my 
son.” Having come to this final determination, he 
entered the prince’s chamber, and walked thrice round 
