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diff --git a/40155-0.txt b/40155-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..96c800b --- /dev/null +++ b/40155-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9079 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40155 *** + + AKBAR. + AN EASTERN ROMANCE. + + + By + + Dr. P. A. S. VAN LIMBURG-BROUWER. + + Translated from the Dutch by + M. M. + + With notes and an introductory life of the Emperor Akbar, + + By + Clements R. Markham. C.B., F.R.S. + + + London: + W. H. Allen & Co., 13 Waterloo Place. + Publishers to the India Office. + + 1879. + + + + + + + +INTRODUCTORY LIFE OF AKBAR. + + +The object of the Romance which is now presented to English readers, +in a translated form, is to convey a generally accurate idea of the +court of Akbar, the greatest and best native ruler that ever held sway +over Hindustan. The author, Dr. Van Limburg-Brouwer, was an oriental +scholar, who strove, by this means, to impart to others the knowledge +he had himself acquired, through the study of contemporary writers, +of the thoughts and habits of the great Emperor, and of the manners +and civilization of those who surrounded him. + +If he has attained any measure of success in this attempt, his labours +will certainly have been useful, and his work deserves translation. For +on Englishmen, more than on any other people, is a knowledge of so +important a period of Indian history incumbent. This romance of Akbar +is, it is true, but a sketch, and is only intended to excite interest +in the subject. But if it has that effect, and leads to further inquiry +and research, it will secure the object with which it was written, +and will have done useful service. + +"Akbar, an Eastern Romance," ("Akbar, een Oostersche Roman,") was +first published in Dutch, at the Hague, in 1872, the year before +the author's death. [1] A German translation appeared at Leipzig in +1877. [2] A native of Holland might not unnaturally undertake such +a work, for the best European contemporary account of the reign of +Akbar was written by a Dutchman, Pieter Van den Broeck. [3] + +Students of Indian history are looking forward to the publication +of the Life of Akbar by Prince Frederick of Schleswig Holstein. A +really good biography of so great a ruler will be a work of the highest +importance, and the Prince's proved literary skill [4] and thoroughness +in research justify the anticipation that his Life of Akbar will be +worthy of the subject. The romance by Van Limburg-Brouwer, in its +English dress, will answer its purpose if it gives rise to a desire +for more full and complete information in a graver form, and thus +serves as an avant courier to the life of Akbar by Prince Frederick. + +The epoch of Akbar is the one of greatest importance to English +students of the history of India, for two reasons. It is the period +when administration under native rule was best and most efficient, +and it is, consequently, the one with which a comparison with British +rule should be made. It is also the period of which the most detailed +and exact accounts have been written and preserved; so that such a +comparison will be reliable and useful. + +A brief introductory notice of the great Emperor's life may, perhaps, +be acceptable to readers of Van Limburg-Brouwer's historical +romance. Akbar was the third Indian sovereign of the House of +Timur. Hindustan had been ruled by Afghans for two centuries and +a half [5] when Baber crossed the Indus and founded the Mughal [6] +Empire in 1525. Baber died in the Charbagh at Agra, on December 26th, +1530, and his son and successor, Humayun, was defeated and driven +out of India by the able and determined Afghan chief, Shir Shah, +in 1540. Shir Shah died on the throne, and was succeeded by a son +and grandson, while Humayun took refuge with Tahmasp, the Shah of +Persia. The restored Afghans kept their power for fifteen years. + +The story of Humayun's flight is told by his faithful ewer bearer, +named Jauhar, who accompanied him in his exile. [7] + +Jauhar tells us that, in October 1542, a little party of seven or +eight horsemen and a few camels was wearily journeying over the sandy +wastes of Sind, worn out with fatigue, and famished with thirst. The +fugitive Prince Humayun, his wife the youthful Hamida, [8] the ewer +bearer Jauhar, an officer named Rushen Beg, and a few others, formed +the party. Extreme misery had destroyed alike the differences of rank +and the power of concealing the true character. When Rushen's horse was +worn out, he insisted upon taking one which he had lent to the Queen, +a young girl of fifteen within a few days of her confinement. Humayun +gave his own horse to his wife, walked some distance, and then got +on a baggage camel. A few hours afterwards the forlorn wanderers +entered the fort of Amarkot, near Tatta, which is surrounded by a +dreary waste of sand-hills. Here, under the shade of an arka tree, +[9] young Hamida gave birth to a prince, who afterwards became the most +enlightened thinker, and the ablest administrator of his age. Akbar was +born on the 14th of October 1542. Jauhar, by Humayun's order, brought +a pod of musk, which the fugitive king broke and distributed among his +followers, saying, "This is all the present I can afford to make you +on the birth of my son, whose fame, I trust, will one day be expanded +all over the world, as the perfume of the musk now fills this room." + +The fugitives then fled up the Bolan Pass, and the little Akbar +remained for some time in the hands of his turbulent uncles at +Kandahar and Kabul, while his parents took refuge at the court of +Persia. Then the wheel of fortune turned. Assisted by Bairam Khan, +a very able general and a native of Badakshan, Humayun fought his way +back into military possession of Lahore and Delhi, and died in 1556, +leaving his inheritance, such as it was, to his young son. + +At the time of his father's death, Akbar was only in his fifteenth +year. He was then in the Punjab, with Bairam Khan, putting down +the last efforts of the Afghan faction. Bairam Khan became Regent, +and remained in power until 1560, when the young King assumed the +sovereignty. + +In order to appreciate the full extent of Akbar's achievements, +it must be considered that he had to conquer his dominions first, +before he could even think of those great administrative improvements +which signalized the latter part of his life and immortalized his +name. In his first year he possessed the Punjab, and the country round +Delhi and Agra; in the third year he acquired Ajmir; in the fourth, +Gwalior and Oudh; and in 1572 he conquered Gujrat, Bengal, and Bihar; +but it took several years before order could be established in those +countries. Orissa was annexed to Akbar's empire in 1578, by Todar +Mall, who made a revenue survey of the province in 1582. In 1581 +Kabul submitted, and was placed under the rule of Akbar's brother, +Mirza Hakim. Kashmir was annexed in 1586, [10] Sind in 1592, and in +1594 Kandahar was recovered from the Persians. In 1595 Akbar commenced +a long war with the Muhammadan Kings of the Dakhin, ending in the +acquisition of Berar. These wars, which were spread over nearly the +whole of Akbar's reign, need not further engage our attention. But in +contemplating the reforms of this admirable prince, it must be borne in +mind that their merit is enhanced by the fact that most of them were +effected during troublous times, and at periods when there must have +been great pressure on his finances. He was a renowned warrior, skilled +in all warlike exercises, and an able and successful general. But +it is not these qualities which raise Akbar so far above the common +herd of rulers. His greatness consists in his enlightened toleration, +in his love of learning, in his justice and magnanimity, and in the +success with which he administered a vast empire. The excellence of +his instruments is one striking proof of his capacity and genius. + +The commencement of Akbar's intellectual revolution dates from the +introduction to him of Faizi and Abú-l Fazl, the illustrious sons +of Mubarak. Their father, Shaikh Mubarak, traced his descent from an +Arabian dervish, of Yemen, who settled in Sind. The Shaikh was a man +of genius and great learning, and, having established himself at Agra, +gave his two sons excellent educations. Faizi, the eldest, was born +in 1545. He first went to court in 1568, at the age of twenty-three, +and soon became the Emperor's constant companion and friend. In 1589 +he was made Poet Laureate, and he was employed on several diplomatic +missions. He was a man of profound learning and original genius. He +was loved by the Emperor, who was thrown into the deepest grief at +his death, which took place at the age of fifty, on October 5th, +1595. "Shaikh Jío," he exclaimed, "I have brought Hakim Ali with me, +will you not speak to me?" Getting no answer, in his grief he threw +his turban on the ground, and wept aloud. + +Shaikh Abú-l Fazl, called Allami, the younger son of Mubarak, was born +on January 14th, 1551, at Agra. He zealously studied under the care +of his father; and in his seventeenth year, towards the end of 1574, +he was presented to the Emperor Akbar by his brother Faizi. + +Owing to the birth of his eldest surviving son Salim, at Sikri, in +1570, Akbar had made that place a royal abode. He built a palace and +other splendid edifices there, and it became one of his favourite +places of residence. It was called Fathpúr Sikri. Thither Akbar +went after his campaign in Bihar in 1574, and there his intimacy +with Abú-l Fazl commenced. It was at this time that the memorable +Thursday evening discussions began. Akbar's resolution was to rule +with even hand men of all creeds in his dominions, and he was annoyed +by the intolerance and casuistry of the Ulamas or learned men of the +predominant religion. He himself said, "I have seen that God bestows +the blessings of His gracious providence upon all His creatures +without distinction. Ill should I discharge the duties of my station +were I to withhold my indulgence from any of those committed to my +charge." But he invited the opinions of others on religious points, +and hence these discussions arose. Akbar caused a building to be +erected in the royal garden of Fathpúr Sikri for the learned men, +consisting of four halls, called aiwán, where he passed one night in +the week in their company. The western hall was set apart for Seyyids, +the south for Ulamas, the north for Shaikhs, and the east for nobles +and others whose tastes were in unison with those of the Emperor. The +building was called Ibadat-Khana, and here discussions were carried +on, upon all kinds of instructive and useful topics. + +Besides Faizi and Abú-l Fazl, there were many learned men in constant +attendance on the Emperor. Their father, Shaikh Mubarak, was a poet, +and a profound scholar. Mulla Abdul Kadir, called El Badauni, was born +at Badaun, in 1540, and studied music, astronomy, and history. He +was employed to translate Arabic and Sanscrit works into Persian; +but he was a fanatical Muhammadan, and in his "Tarikh-i Badauni," +a history brought down to 1595, he always speaks of Faizi and Abú-l +Fazl as heretics, and all references to the speculations of Akbar +and his friends are couched in bitter and sarcastic terms. He, +however, temporized, and did not allow his religion to interfere +with his worldly interests. His history contains much original +matter. He also translated the great Hindu epic "Mahabharata" +in 1582, and the "Ramayana" between 1583 and 1591. Of the former +poem he says, "At its puerile absurdities the eighteen thousand +creations may well be amazed. But such is my fate, to be employed +on such works! Nevertheless, I console myself with the reflection +that what is predestined must come to pass." The Khwaja Nizamu-d din +Ahmad was another historian of Akbar's court. He also was a good, +but not a bitter Musalman. His "Tabakat-i Akbari" is a history of the +Muhammadan Kings of Hindustan from Mahmud of Ghazni to the year 1594, +which was that of his own death. Other historians of the reign were +Shaikh Illahdad Faizi Sirhindi, whose "Akbar-nama" comes down to 1602; +Maulana Ahmad, of Tatta, who compiled the "Tarikh-i Alfi," under the +Emperor's own superintendence, and Asad Beg, who related the murder +of Abú-l Fazl and the death of Akbar, bringing his narrative down +to 1608. The greatest settlement officer and financier of Akbar's +court was Todar Mall. There were also poets, musicians, and authors +of commentaries who were encouraged by the liberality of the Emperor. + +Professors of all creeds were invited to the court of this enlightened +sovereign, and cordially welcomed. Among these were Maulana Muhammad, +of Yazd, a learned Shiah; Nuruddin Tarkhan, of Jam, in Khurasan, +a mathematician and astronomer; Sufi philosophers, fire-worshippers +from Gujrat, Brahmans, and the Christian missionaries Aquaviva, +Monserrato, and Henriquez. + +The Thursday evening meetings at the Ibadat Khana, near the tank +called Anúptalao, in the gardens of Fathpúr Sikri, were commenced in +1574. Akbar was at first annoyed by the intolerance of the Muhammadan +Ulamas, and encouraged the telling of stories against them. Quarrels +were the consequence. On one occasion Akbar said to Badauni, "In future +report to me any one of the assembly whom you find speaking improperly, +and I will have him turned out." Badauni said quietly to his neighbour, +Asaf Khan, "According to this a good many would be expelled." His +Majesty asked what had been said, and when Badauni told him, he was +much amused, and repeated it to those who were near him. Decorum was, +however, enforced after this, and the more bigoted Muhammadans had to +curb their violence. But their feelings were very bitter when they +saw their sovereign gradually adopting opinions which they looked +upon as more and more heretical, and at last embracing a new religion. + +El Badauni says that Akbar, encouraged by his friends Faizi and Abú-l +Fazl, gradually lost faith, and that in a few years not a trace of +Muhammadan feeling was left in his heart. He was led into free thinking +by the large number of learned men of all denominations and sects +that came from various countries to his court. Night and day people +did nothing but inquire and investigate. Profound points of science, +the subtleties of revelation, the curiosities of history, the wonders +of nature, were incessantly discussed. His Majesty collected the +opinions of every one, retaining whatever he approved, and rejecting +what was against his disposition, or ran counter to his wishes. Thus +a faith, based on some elementary principles, fixed itself in his +heart; and, as the result of all the influences that were brought to +bear on him, the conviction gradually established itself in his mind +that there were truths in all religions. If some true knowledge was +everywhere to be found, why, he thought, should truth be confined to +one religion? Thus his speculations became bolder. "Not a day passed," +exclaims El Badauni, "but a new fruit of this loathsome tree ripened +into existence." + +At length Akbar established a new religion, which combined +the principal features of Hinduism with the sun-worship of the +Parsís. [11] The good parts of all religions were recognized, +and perfect toleration was established. The new faith was called +Tauhid-i Ilahi, divine monotheism. A document was prepared and signed +by the Ulamas, the draft of which was in the handwriting of Shaikh +Mubarak. The Emperor, as Imam-i Adil (just leader) and Mujtahid, was +declared to be infallible, and superior to all doctors in matters of +faith. [12] Abú-l Fazl was the chief expounder of the new creed. + +Had Akbar, as a private individual, avowed the opinions which he formed +as an Emperor, his life would not have been worth a day's purchase; +but in his exalted station he was enabled to practise as a ruler the +doctrines which he held as a philosopher. Or, as Abú-l Fazl puts +it: "When a person in private station unravels the warp and woof +of the veil of deception, and discovers the beautiful countenance +of consistency and truth, he keeps silence from the dread of savage +beasts in human form, who would brand him with the epithets of infidel +and blasphemer, and probably deprive him of life. But when the season +arrives for the revelation of truth, a person is endowed with this +degree of knowledge upon whom God bestows the robes of royalty, such +as is the Emperor of our time." The disputations came to an end in +1579, and Akbar held the new creed to the end of his life. + +Meanwhile Akbar's learned men were engaged in compilations and +translations from Arabic and Sanscrit into Persian. The history called +"Tarikh-i Alfi" was to be a narrative of the thousand years of Islam +from the Hijrah to 1592 A.D. Akbar held that Islam would cease +to exist in the latter year, having done its work. The "Tarikh-i +Alfi" was intended to be its epitaph. It was chiefly written by +Maulava Ahmad, of Tatta, but Abú-l Fazl and others assisted. Faizi +translated the Sanscrit mathematical work called "Lilawati"; and, +as has already been said, Badauni, with the aid of others, prepared +translated versions of the two great Hindu epics. + +But the most famous literary work of Akbar's reign was the history +written by Abú-l Fazl, in three volumes, called the "Akbar-namah." The +first volume contains a history of the House of Timur down to the +death of Humayun; the second is a record of the reign of Akbar, +from 1556 to 1602; and the third is the "Ain-i Akbari," the great +Administration Report of Akbar's Empire. + +The first book of the "Ain-i Akbari" treats of the Emperor, and of his +household and court. Here we are introduced to the royal stables, to +the wardrobe, and kitchens, and to the hunting establishment. We are +initiated into all the arrangements connected with the treasury and +the mint, the armoury, [13] and the travelling equipage. In this book, +too, we learn the rules of court etiquette, and also the ceremonies +instituted by Akbar as the spiritual guide of his people. + +The second book gives the details of army administration, the +regulations respecting the feasts, marriage rites, education, +and amusements. This book ends with a list of the Grandees of the +Empire. [14] Their rank is shown by their military commands, as +mansabdars or captains of cavalry. All commands above five thousand +belonged to the Shah-zadahs or Emperor's sons. The total number +of mansabs or military commands was sixty-six. Most of the higher +officers were Persians or Afghans, not Hindustani Muhammadans, and +out of the four hundred and fifteen mansabdars there were fifty-one +Hindus, a large percentage. It was to the policy of Hindu generals +that Akbar owed the permanent annexation of Orissa. [15] + +The third book is devoted to regulations for the judicial and executive +departments, the survey and assessment, and the rent-roll of the great +finance minister. The fourth book treats of the social condition and +literary activity of the Hindus; and the fifth contains the moral +and epigrammatic sentences of the Emperor. + +It is to the third book, containing the details of the revenue +system, that the modern administrator will turn with the deepest +interest. Early in his reign Akbar remitted or reduced a number of +vexatious taxes. [16] His able revenue officers then proceeded to +introduce a reformed settlement based on the indigenous scheme, as +matured by Shir Shah. The greatest among Akbar's fiscal statesmen was +Todar Mall, who settled Gujrat, Bengal, and Bihar, and introduced the +system of keeping revenue accounts in Persian. Next to him was Nizam +Ahmad, the author of the "Tabakat-i Akbari," who spent his life in +the Emperor's service. + +From time immemorial a share in the produce of land has been the +property of the State in all eastern countries. From this source the +main part of the revenue has been raised, and the land tax has always +formed the most just, the most reliable, and the most popular means +of providing for the expenditure of the government. In Muhammadan +countries this land tax is called khiraj, and is of two kinds, +the one mukasimah, when a share of the actual produce was taken, +and the other wazifa, which was due from the land whether there was +any produce or not. + +In Hindu times, and before the reign of Akbar, the khiraj in India +was mukasimah. The Emperor's officers adopted the system of wazifa +for good land, and carried the settlement into effect with great +precision and accuracy in each province of his dominions. Bengal and +part of Bihar, Berar, and part of Gujrat, however, appear to have +been assessed according to the value of the crops, the surveys of the +land not being complete. Akbar took one-third of the estimated value, +and he left the option of payment in kind to the farmers, except in +the case of sugar-cane and other expensive crops. + +The lands were divided into four classes, with different revenue to +be paid by each, namely:-- + +1. Land cultivated every harvest, and never fallow. + +2. Land lying fallow at intervals. + +3. Land lying fallow for four years together. + +4. Land not cultivated for five years and upwards. + +The principle of wazifa was only applied to the two first of +these classes of land, and to the second only when actually under +cultivation. The lands of these two classes were divided into good, +middling, and bad. The produce of a bigah (5/8 of an acre) of each +sort was added together, and a third of that was considered to be the +average produce. One-third was the share of the State, as settled by +Akbar's assessment. Large remissions were allowed on the two inferior +classes of land. The settlements were for ten years. In about 1596 +the land revenue derived from the fifteen subahs or provinces of +Akbar's empire was as follows:-- + + + Rupees. [17] + + 1. Allahabad 53.10.677 + 2. Agra 1.36.56.257 + 3. Oudh 50.43.954 + 4. Ajmír 71.53.449 + 5. Gujrat 1.09.20.057 + + 6. Bihar 55.47.985 + 7. Bengal 1.49.61.482 + 8. Delhi 1.50.40.388 + 9. Kabul 80.71.024 + 10. Lahor 1.39.86.460 + 11. Multán 96.00.764 + 12. Malwah 60.17.376 + 13. Berar 1.73.76.117 + 14. Khandeish 75.63.237 + 15. Tattah 16.56.284 + ------------ + 14.19.05.511 + + +A later return, referred to by Mr. Thomas, gives Akbar's land revenue +at £16,582,440. Under his grandson, Shah Jahan, it increased to +£22,000,000, and Aurangzib's land revenue, in 1707, was upwards of +£30,000,000. [18] + +On an average about a twentieth is deducted for jaghírs, or rent-free +lands, and sayurghals or assignments for charitable purposes. + +The "Ain-i Akbari" of Abú-l Fazl is rendered valuable not only by +the varied information it contains, but also by the trustworthiness +of the author. Mr. Blochmann says that Abú-l Fazl has been too often +accused by European writers of flattery, and of wilful concealment +of facts damaging to the reputation of his master. He bears witness +that a study of the "Akbar-namah" has convinced him that the charge is +absolutely unfounded. Abú-l Fazl's love of truth, and his correctness +of information are apparent on every page of his great work. + +The last years of the reign of Akbar were clouded with sorrow. His +eldest son, Salim, was dissipated, ungrateful, and rebellious, and +bore special hatred against his father's noble minister. The two +younger sons died early from the effects of drink. "Alas," exclaimed +Abú-l Fazl, "that wine should be burdened with suffering, and that +its sweet nectar should be a deadly poison!" [19] + +In 1597 Abú-l Fazl left the court, and went for the first time +on active service in the Dakhin. He had been absent for more than +four years, when the rebellious conduct of Salim, the heir apparent, +induced Akbar to recall his trusty minister. His presence was urgently +needed. Abú-l Fazl hurriedly set out for Agra, only accompanied by +a few men. Salim thought this an excellent opportunity of getting +rid of his father's faithful friend, and bribed Rajah Bir Singh, +a Bundela chief of Urchah, through whose territory he would have to +pass, to waylay him. On the 12th of August 1602, at a distance of a +few miles from Narwar, Bir Singh's men came in sight. The minister +thought it a disgrace to fly, which he might easily have done. He +defended himself bravely, but, pierced by the lance of a trooper, he +fell dead on the ground. The assassin sent the head of Abú-l Fazl to +his employer; and Akbar, with all the diligence of his officers and +troops, was never able to secure and punish the murderer. His own +son was the greater criminal of the two, and in his memoirs Salim +confesses his guilt with unblushing effrontery. [20] + +Mr. Blochmann thus sums up the career of Abú-l Fazl. "As a writer +he is unrivalled. Everywhere in India he is known as the great +Munshi. His letters are studied in all Madrasahs, and are perfect +models. His influence on his age was immense. He led his sovereign +to a true appreciation of his duties, and from the moment that he +entered court the problem of successfully ruling over mixed races +was carefully considered, and the policy of toleration was the result." + +The great Emperor did not long survive his beloved and faithful +minister. Akbar died on November 10th, 1605, in his sixty-third year, +and was buried in the magnificent tomb at Sikundra, near Agra. There +his bones still rest, and his tomb is treated with all honour and +respect by the present rulers of the land. A new cloth to cover the +actual tomb was presented by the Earl of Northbrook, after his visit +to Sikundra in November 1873, when he was Viceroy of India. + +Akbar's wives were Sultana Rajmihal Begum, a daughter of his uncle +Hindal, by whom he had no children; Sultana Sulimah Begum, a daughter +of a daughter of Baber, who was a poetess; Nur Jahan; and the Rajput +Princess Jodh Bai, the mother of Salim. + +His children were Hasan and Husain, who died in infancy; Salim, +his successor; Murad and Danyal, who died of drink in the lifetime +of their father, and three daughters. + +Akbar is described by his son Salim as a very tall man, with the +strength of a lion, which was indicated by the great breadth +of his chest. His complexion was rather fair (color de trigo +is the description of a Spanish missionary who knew him), his +eyes and eyebrows dark, his countenance handsome. His beard was +close-shaved. His bearing was majestic, and "the qualities of his mind +seemed to raise him above the denizens of this lower world." [21] +The Emperor Akbar combined the thoughtful philosophy of Marcus +Aurelius, the toleration of Julian, the enterprise and daring of his +own grandsire Baber, with the administrative genius of a Monro or a +Thomason. We might search through the dynasties of the East and West +for many centuries back, and fail to discover so grand and noble a +character as that of Akbar. No sovereign has come nearer to the ideal +of a father of his people. [22] + +Akbar was the contemporary of Queen Elizabeth. He began to reign two +years before her, and outlived her for two years, but he was nine +years younger than the great Queen. He was succeeded by his son Salim, +under the name of Jahangir, who reigned from 1605 to 1627. + +The native sources whence the story of Akbar's glorious reign are +derived, have already been indicated. To a considerable extent they are +accessible in an English form. The translation of the "Ain-i Akbari," +by Gladwin, was published in 1800, and that of the historian Ferishta, +by General Briggs, in 1829. Elphinstone gives a brief account of +Akbar's reign in his history of India. In 1873 Blochmann's admirable +translation of the two first books of the "Ain-i Akbari" was printed +at Calcutta, for the Asiatic Society of Bengal. The work also contains +many extracts from El Badauni and the "Akbar-namah," and a perfect +mine of accurate and well arranged information from other sources. + +In Volumes V. and VI. of the great work edited by Professor Dowson, +[23] the history of Akbar's reign is very fully supplied by extracts +from the "Tabakat-i Akbari," the "Akbar-namah," the "Tarikh-i Badauni," +the "Tarikh-i Alfi," the work of Shaikh Nurul Hakk, and that of +Asad Beg. Mr. Edward Thomas, F.R.S., has published a most valuable +little book on the revenue system of Akbar and his three immediate +successors. [24] + +The slight notices of Akbar by contemporary or nearly contemporary +Europeans are derived from reports of the Jesuit missionaries, from +those of the Dutch at Surat, and from Hakluyt's Voyages. As early as +1578 the Emperor had received a Christian missionary named Antonio +Cabral, at Fathpúr Sikri, had heard him argue with the Mullas, and +had been induced to write to Goa, requesting that two members of the +Society of Jesus might be sent to him with Christian books. In 1579 +Rudolf Aquaviva [25] and Antonio Monserrat were accordingly despatched, +with Francisco Henriquez as interpreter. They were well received, and +again in 1591 three brethren visited Akbar's court at Lahore. Finally +a detachment of missionaries was sent to Lahore, at Akbar's request, +in 1594, consisting of Geronimo Xavier (a nephew of St. Francis), +Emanuel Pineiro, a Portuguese, mentioned by Captain Hawkins, [26] and +Benedek Goes, [27] the famous traveller, who went with Akbar on his +summer trip to Kashmir. Xavier and Goes also accompanied the Emperor +in his Dakhin campaign; and when Goes set out on his perilous overland +journey to China, that liberal monarch praised his zeal and contributed +to his expenses. This was in 1602. Xavier celebrated Christmas with +great solemnity at Lahore, and wrote a life of Christ in Persian, +which Akbar read with much interest. Accounts of the visits of these +missionaries to Akbar's court, and of their journeys, are to be found +in the Jesuit Histories. [28] + +But the most valuable European account of the reign of Akbar was +written by Pieter van den Broek, the chief of the Dutch factory at +Surat in 1620. It was published, in Latin, by Johan de Laet, and +forms the tenth chapter of his "De Imperio Magni Mogolis" (Leyden, +1631). De Laet calls it "a fragment of Indian history which we have +received from some of our countrymen, and translated from Dutch into +Latin." [29] Mr. Lethbridge has supplied an English version in the +"Calcutta Review" for July 1873. [30] + +Ralph Fitch is the only English traveller who has written an account +of a visit to the court of Akbar. [31] Accompanied by Mr. John Newbery, +a jeweller named William Leedes, and James Story, a painter, he reached +the court at Agra with a letter of introduction from Queen Elizabeth, +in the year 1585. Thence Newbery started to return overland. Leedes +entered the service of Akbar, settling at Fathpúr; and Fitch went on +to Bengal, eventually returning home. + +Abú-l Fazl tells us, casually, that, through the negligence of the +local officers, some of the cities and marts of Gujrat were frequented +by Europeans. Two centuries and a half after his master's death, +these intruders held undisputed sovereignty not only over the whole of +Akbar's empire, but over all India, a vast dominion which had never +before been united under one rule. They approached from the sea, the +base of their operations is their ships, and not, as in the case of +Akbar's grandsire, the mountains of the north-west frontier. + +If the balance of administrative merit is in favour of the English, +and this is not established, it in no way detracts from the glory +of the great Emperor. Yet we may claim that the islanders who now +occupy the place of Akbar are not unworthy to succeed him. The work +that is before us is more prosaic than was the duty of the puissant +sovereign. The charm of one central glory, round which all that was +great and good in India could congregate; the fascination of one ruling +spirit, combining irresistible power with virtue and beneficence; +the pomp and circumstance of a brilliant court--all these are gone +for ever. We have instead the united thought and energy of many sound +heads and brave hearts, working without ostentation, and achieving +objects of a magnitude and endurance such as no single brain of any +despot, how great soever, could even conceive. + + +"The old order changeth, yielding place to new, +And God fulfils Himself in many ways." + + + + + + + +BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR. + + +The author of the romance of Akbar, Dr. P. A. S. van Limburg-Brouwer, +was the son of the Professor of Greek at Groningen. He was born +at Liege in 1832, and was a Doctor of Law, residing chiefly at the +Hague, and devoting himself to eastern and other studies. He held an +appointment in the office of the Royal Archives, and was for a short +time a member of the States General for the district of Trenthe. + +With reference to his eastern studies, we find them bearing fruit +in the periodical literature of Holland during the last ten years +of his life. In 1863 Van Limburg-Brouwer contributed an essay on the +Ramayana, to the "Gids," a magazine published at Amsterdam. [32] In +1866 a historical sketch from his pen, entitled the "Java Reformers," +appeared in the same periodical. [33] In 1867 he contributed three +articles, entitled, "The Adventures of an Indian Nobleman"; "The Book +of Kings: an Essay of Indian History"; and "The Vedanta: an Essay on +Indian Orthodoxy." [34] In 1868 he published articles entitled "Eastern +Atheism," and "A Cure for Beauty." [35] His metaphysical drama, "The +Moon of Knowledge," saw the light in 1869. [36] In the following year +he seems to have given his attention to Arabian lore, and published +two articles entitled "Poetry of the Desert," and the "Kabbala." [37] +Towards the end of his life Van Limburg-Brouwer commenced the study +of Chinese, and among the results of his labours in this field of +research was his article on "The Sage of the Celestial Empire, and +his School." [38] He was a man of extensive and varied learning, +endowed with a rich and fertile imagination, and with great powers +of expression. In his romance of Akbar, his most carefully drawn +character, and that on which he seems to have bestowed most thought, +is the Hindu girl Iravati. In her he endeavoured to portray his +conception of the class of devoted loving women of whom Damayanti is +the type; and Siddha Rama is evidently intended to be the Nala of a +later age. But he has bestowed equal care on his treatment of the more +difficult part of his subject, and has brought considerable ability +and much study and research to the task of presenting to his readers +a vivid and at the same time a life-like picture of that remarkable +prince round whom the action of the story centres, and of the two +brothers who were his devoted friends. + +Akbar is the work on which Van Limburg-Brouwer's literary fame +will mainly rest. It was only published in 1872, the year before +the author's death. He died at the Hague, in his forty-first year, +on the 13th of February 1873. [39] + + + + + + + +THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. + + +The grand figure of the Emperor Akbar, the ruler of India during +the last half of the sixteenth century (1556-1605), for many reasons +appeared to me to be of such importance that I could not resist the +temptation of making him the chief person in a romantic sketch which +I now venture to offer to public notice. + +Some readers may desire to be able to distinguish accurately between +what is, and what is not historical. For their benefit I give the +following explanation. To real history, besides Akbar himself, belong +his son Salim, the Wazir Abú-l Fazl, and his brother Faizi, Abdul +Kadir Badaoni, Rudolf Aquaviva the Jesuit, and a few others of less +note. Parviz belongs to history, but he bore another name. Nandigupta +is not a historical personage, but rather the type of a character often +met with in the history of India, and especially of Kashmir. Gorakh +and his Thugs are also types. Iravati was not a real person, but +the image of a Hindu woman as she is often met with in the ancient +dramas and legends of India. Many of the sayings and speeches placed +in the mouths of the characters in the romance are historical. For +reasons which may be easily understood, the events in the narrative +are made to deviate slightly from historical truth. In the days of +Akbar, for instance, Kashmir was no longer ruled by Hindu Princes, +although the people were entirely Indian. Again; the attempt of Salim, +concerning which many particulars are given, was not made during an +expedition against Kashmir, but against the Dakhin. Faizi was older +than Abú-l Fazl, and died before his brother's murder. Fathpúr lies +at a greater distance from Agra than would appear in the following +pages. In the characters and acts of the people there are also some +slight and unimportant deviations from historical fact. + +The attempt has been made to follow the oriental forms, especially +in the conversations, so far as was possible without slavish +imitation. The poems, which are here and there woven into the +narrative, have been translated by me from the originals. + +It is scarcely necessary to give here an exact list of the sources +which have aided in the composition of this work; nor is there much +to impart, on this subject, that would be new to the historian. He +knows well that the principal authorities for the life of Akbar, +for his institutions and ideas, are the writings of Abú-l Fazl and +Abdul Kadir, whence eastern as well as western writers have drawn +their information. The reports of the Jesuits of that period, though +often prejudiced, yet in many points supplement and illustrate the +works of native historians. It is also necessary to add that various +modern histories and books of travel have been used. + +For what is purely Indian in this romance, Sanscrit literature, with +its many legends, dramas, and romances, has been made use of. For +the philosophical ideas of Akbar the best authority is his principal +opponent, Abdul Kadir. The Vedas, from which the Emperor borrowed +many of his ideas, have also been consulted. + +One source of information merits special mention, as it is but +little known. That is, the reports on the country and people made by +merchants of our East India Company, who, shortly after Akbar's reign, +were established at Surat and Agra. Their letters are still preserved +in our colonial archives. + +How accurate soever one may strive to be, yet in an attempt of this +kind there must always be the possibility of errors, especially in +the descriptions of places. If here and there mistakes have crept +into the text, the writer asks pardon in anticipation, and will be +grateful for any corrections. + + + The Hague, + October, 1872. + + + + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + + Page + + Introductory Life of Akbar v + Biographical Notice of the Author xxxix + The Author's Preface xliii + Chapter I.--The Hermit 1 + Chapter II.--Iravati 22 + Chapter III.--Agra 45 + Chapter IV.--Akbar 70 + Chapter V.--A New and an Old Acquaintance 95 + Chapter VI.--Salim 116 + Chapter VII.--Secret Meetings 139 + Chapter VIII.--A Tempter 161 + Chapter IX.--The Weighing of the Emperor 187 + Chapter X.--Surprises 209 + Chapter XI.--"Tauhid-i-Ilahi" 230 + Chapter XII.--Assassination 250 + Chapter XIII.--Parting 265 + Chapter XIV.--The Discovery 286 + Chapter XV.--Amendment 305 + Chapter XVI.--Faizi's Curse 322 + Chapter XVII.--The Tomb 337 + + + + + + + +AKBAR. + +CHAPTER I. + +THE HERMIT. + + +The last rays of the setting sun shot through the sky in crimson +light, and were reflected back by the snows of Badari-natha [40] +and the sharp peaks of the Himálaya, while a soft south wind wafted +to the mountain tops the perfume of trees and flowers which all day +had hung over the valleys. For centuries and centuries had the rays +of the same sun lit up the same heights, and the perfume of flowers +had risen to the mountains, with no change and no disturbance; while +far in the distance men fought and struggled, mighty kingdoms rose +and fell, and thoughtful minds vainly sought the aim and reason of +the existence of the universe. + +Towards the end of the sixteenth century of our era, when +Jelalu-dín-Muhammad, surnamed Akbar the Great, had raised the empire +of the Moghuls to the highest point of power and glory, the lofty +Himálaya, once the scarcely accessible abode of the Devas, [41] still +remained wild and inhospitable. These solitudes were scarcely ever +trodden by human foot, and seldom even did the cry of some passing +bird of prey, or the hum of dancing insects, break the intense and +almost audible silence. + +Still the place was not so entirely deserted as a careless observer +might imagine. Nearly hidden in the long grass a tiger lay stretched +out, his coat flecked with black, dreaming in philosophical rest, +sometimes gazing upwards at the snow-crowned peaks, and then half +closing his eyes before the still vivid light. He looked down on the +lovely green valleys far below, stretching away until they met other +mountains rising into the clear sky, losing themselves and seeming +to melt and blend into the brilliant colours of the horizon. Of what +did he think? sometimes gazing upwards, sometimes looking down into +the depths below, perhaps in misty remembrance of the times when, +in another form, he reigned--a mighty rajah over luxurious Kashmir, +with vassals bowing before him and lovely women vieing with one another +for the honour of his notice. Or was, indeed, the royal beast nothing +more than a gigantic cat? a monster of the jungle? and not the lost +soul of some former proud and haughty ruler. He was now, in truth, +the king of the wilderness, where no rival dared to challenge his +rights. That he well knew his power, could be seen in the proud glance +he cast around him. But, suddenly waking from these day-dreams, he +sprang to his feet and listened. A noise, the sound of men's voices, +had fallen on his quick ear. + +Though still at some little distance, a group of riders was descending +by the only accessible path in the mountains towards the valley. A +young and handsome man, whose proud carriage and rich clothing showed +that he was of noble birth, accompanied by another, older in years and +more gravely clad, and followed by two servants, formed the party. The +youth was mounted on a white Arab, small but powerfully built, and +of great speed. The older man rode a larger horse of dark colour, +while the servants bestrode rough but strong mountain ponies. The +youth wore a blue silk jacket ornamented with golden buttons, wide +trousers and red shoes, and a light cap with a long feather fastened by +a diamond. A short sabre hung at his side, and a jewelled dagger was +stuck into his richly ornamented girdle. In his right hand he held a +long spear. He was tall and well formed, and his complexion was fair, +being scarcely tanned by the sun's rays. His eyes and hair were dark, +and a brown moustache betokened, unmistakeably, that he sprang from +the Aryan race. His companion was a powerful, broad-shouldered man +of dark complexion, yet showing by his finely cut features that Aryan +blood also flowed through his veins. A thick curling beard nearly hid +his face, which was shaded by a white turban. His person was enveloped +in a long robe of dark but fine material, which reached nearly to his +feet, and was secured round his waist by a golden belt. He, also, +was armed with sabre and spear, and from his shoulder hung a small +round shield. The only clothing of the servants was a cloak thrown +round their dusky limbs, and many bright copper rings on their wrists +and ancles clanked against each other as they rode along. Short spears +and small shields were their only weapons. + +It was easy to discover from their conversation who these travellers +were, whence they came, and the reason of their journey. The young +nobleman, Siddha [42] Rama [43], was the son of the First Minister +of Kashmir, entrusted by his father with important letters to the +court of the Emperor Akbar at Agra, where he was to take command of +a division of Rajput cavalry belonging to the imperial army. He was +accompanied by Kulluka, [44] his tutor, a Brahman of high descent, +a man of learning and a warrior, one who knew as well how to instruct +his pupil in the arts of war and martial exercises, as in the sacred +language with its classic and holy writings. + +But before reaching Agra they had to visit a hermit in the mountains, +and then to make their way to Allahabad, where Siddha's uncle, in the +Emperor's name, commanded the fort at the junction of the Ganges and +Jamuna. There too was Iravati, his daughter, and the betrothed of +Siddha, counting the days to their coming and the meeting with her +future husband. + +"But, honoured Kulluka," said Siddha, after having ridden for a time +silently by the side of his tutor, "you, who know the way, tell me +that we are close to the abode of Gurupada. [45] It may be so, but I +can see nothing that is at all like a cell. Is it possible that the +holy man has departed?" + +"A little more patience," answered the Brahman, "and we shall soon +come to the turning, whence you will see the little wood in the valley +where Gurupada has built his solitary dwelling. But it seems to me +you might speak with more respect of one so venerable. You will, +however, learn that when you meet him." + +"I intended no harm and no disrespect," rejoined Siddha. "But what +is that?" cried he, suddenly pointing with his spear towards the tall +grass on the mountain side, which was waving gently, though unstirred +by the wind. + +Before his calmer companion could restrain him, the impatient hunter +had turned his horse into the long grass, and was hurrying towards +the spot where the movement had been seen. But before either Kulluka +or the servants could hasten after him, they saw him draw rein and +remain motionless, gazing before him. + +All movement in the grass had ceased, not one blade stirred, and +not a sound was to be heard. Then again the grass moved and bent, +but much farther off, betraying the presence of a large glossy tiger +bounding away. + +Siddha put spurs to his horse, and the next moment lay full length +on the ground. A hole, thickly covered with vegetation, had thrown +horse and rider. But both instantly recovered their footing. + +"It is nothing, Vatsa," [46] he said to his servant, who had flung +himself from his pony and hurried to his master. "I have fallen softly +enough; nor, it is to be hoped, has any harm come to my horse." + +On examination they found that the noble grey was as uninjured as +his headlong rider; but no sign of the tiger was any longer visible. + +There was nothing left to be done but to spring into the saddle and +continue the interrupted journey. + +Siddha rode silently by the side of his guru, not a little ashamed +of his foolish adventure, but the latter broke the silence by saying, +"That was but a childish trick, dear lad." + +"Yes," replied Siddha, in a shamefaced tone, "I must have indeed +appeared ridiculous, rolling over in such a way." + +"But," continued Kulluka, "that you could not help." + +"No one can see concealed holes." + +"What I mean is something quite different." + +"What then?" + +"That you will soon learn, if what I suspect is the case." + +The smile that played round Kulluka's mouth at these words only +increased Siddha's curiosity; but his questions were interrupted +by their reaching a turn in the road where, spread out before them, +bathed in golden sunshine, lay another part of the valley. + +"See there," said Kulluka, pointing with his lance to a thick clump of +trees below them, near which, like a silver thread, flowed a little +stream; "there lives Gurupada!" And, without more words, the riders +descended a steep declivity, following a path partly formed by nature +and partly by the labour of men, that led towards the plain. + +Under the dense shade of trees stood a low building roofed with reeds, +and built with slight bamboos overgrown with creepers, more like some +resort of pleasure than the poor cell of a holy man passing his life +in penance. Behind was the dark jungle, in front an emerald lake, +reflecting back a hundred different tints, and bordered by blue and +white lotus flowers. The clear silver stream entered at one end and, +flowing out at the other side, continued its course to the lower +valleys just seen in the haze of the distance. Far away the ranges +of mountains rose like rocky giants to the heavens, their summits +never trodden by the foot of man. + +For a moment our travellers remained still, lost in admiration of a +view at once so magnificent and so lovely. But quickly remembering +that they had reached the end of their journey, they dismounted and +entrusted the horses to their servants, while Kulluka advanced to +the dwelling, meaning to give notice of their arrival. But he might +have saved himself the trouble, for he had scarcely reached the door +when the hermit appeared in the threshold, followed by a servant who, +at a sign from his master, took charge of the visitors' horses. + +Extraordinary was the impression which the sight of this recluse +made on Siddha. In his own country, among his mountains and forests, +he had seen penitents, self-denying holy men, wandering mendicants, +in numbers and of all kinds--some in foul and sordid rags, with long +bamboo staves in their hands and rosaries at their sides, some with +a cloth made of the bark of trees, others with no clothing, shaven, +and covered with ashes, their foreheads and breasts smeared with white +chalk: all supported by the strength of a boundless fanaticism. No +wonder that the young man, used to the most polished civilisation, +should have looked with the deepest contempt on such people; and in +spite of his respect for his tutor, who had always named the hermit +of Badrinath with veneration, he had expected but little from the +man who now stood ready at his door to receive them. All the greater +was the impression now made upon him by the tall and stately figure +advancing to them, with dignity but at the same time with an air of +friendly welcome. + +He was an old man, in a dazzling white garment, with a few fine +locks on the otherwise bald head, and a heavy silvery beard, but +not in the least bent by the weight of years. His friendly though +proud expression showed plainly that he had been accustomed to give, +rather than to receive and obey, commands. + +"You are welcome friends," he said, taking his two visitors by the +hand, who bent respectfully before him. "Welcome to my solitude. It +is indeed a pleasure to hear again of"--here he seemed to hesitate, +but proceeded in a firm voice, "of you and my country and people." + +Before either Kulluka and Siddha could reply, their attention was +drawn to a low growl close to them, and in another instant, from +behind the building, a magnificent tiger appeared with slow and +stately tread, and drew near the three men, waving its heavy tail +from side to side. Instantly Siddha drew back a step, and laid his +hand on the dagger in his belt. + +"Leave that plaything in its place," said Gurupada, laughing. "Do +not injure Hara." [47] Then, turning to the tiger, he called him in a +commanding tone, and instantly the powerful animal laid himself down +at his master's feet. + +"Did I not tell you?" said Kulluka to Siddha, pointing to the +tiger. "Do you now understand why it was a foolish trick you played?" + +"Pardon, honoured lord, pardon!" said Siddha, turning with clasped +hands to Gurupada, understanding that it was the tiger of the hermit +that he had given chase to. "Indeed I did not know." + +"I understand," interrupted Gurupada, "you have been hunting Hara. That +has happened before, but has not always ended so well for the hunter +as for my four-footed friend here. For he can become angry, though he +has never harmed those who leave him alone. I have had him, as Kulluka +knows, ever since he was a small cub, and we are now well accustomed +to each other. Is it not so, Hara?" he said, bending towards the +tiger, that, half raising itself up, rubbed its broad head against +its master's hand. "And my friends," continued he, "are also his. See +now!" And Siddha, drawing near, laid his hand gently on its shoulder, +on which the tiger, looking alternately at both, laid down at Siddha's +feet, and leant its head against his hand. This time the young man did +not step back, but stroked the animal's head; nor was he startled when, +yawning, it opened its mighty jaws, showing rows of white sharp teeth. + +"That is right," said Gurupada, as Hara returned to him. "I have +seen many older than you who would not have remained so calm. But +now let us think of other things. Travellers, after so long a journey +through a wilderness where there is not much to be found, must need +refreshment. Follow me." And, going before them, the hermit entered +his dwelling. + +The interior contained nothing beyond necessaries, but all in most +perfect order, and arranged with elegance. + +After the guests had rested themselves with him, on fine mats spread on +the floor, the servant, who had taken charge of the horses, brought +in some dishes of food. + +The simple and easy tone in which the otherwise dignified hermit spoke, +showed that he was a man of the world, and soon gave confidence to +the Minister's son. Siddha answered Gurupada's questions respecting +his father, his betrothed Iravati, and his life in Kashmir, with +frankness mingled with respect. To his astonishment the hermit +appeared to know all that had happened in earlier days in Kashmir, +and showed himself acquainted with circumstances that must have been +a secret to all excepting those who had access to the most private +parts of the royal palace. Without doubt, in earlier years, Gurupada +must have been a trusted councillor of one of the princes. But +Siddha dared venture no indiscreet questions touching the hermit's +former rank. He remarked that Gurupada's conversation was cheerful, +and that he appeared perfectly content with his present station. Yet +at times, in talking over political events in the north, a dark cloud +momentarily crossed his noble countenance, as though the strong will of +the philosopher could not hinder a passing emotion from being visible. + +It had become late, and night was drawing on, the moon throwing +her silvery light over the landscape which was visible through the +open bamboos. + +"Now," said Gurupada, rising, "pardon me, noble Siddha, if with your +tutor and my friend I withdraw from the pleasure of your company. I +have much to say to him which for the present must be a secret, and +in which you probably would have but little interest. If you wish +to refresh yourself there is the lake, and to a bath in the open air +you are doubtless well accustomed." + +The two elder men left the room together, and for long after Siddha saw +them arm-in-arm, walking up and down, deep in earnest converse. When +they returned it was time to go to rest, and the travellers were well +pleased to stretch their weary limbs on the sleeping-places prepared +for them. + +Early the next morning, after a fresh bath and hearty breakfast, +our travellers were ready to continue their journey. While the horses +were being saddled, Gurupada drew Siddha on one side, out of hearing +of Kulluka, and said-- + +"Holy hermits, when young men visit them, are not accustomed to let +them depart without some instruction and advice. You expect, perhaps, +the same from me; but you are mistaken. I can add nothing to what +Kulluka, your wise and learned guru has doubtless already taught +you. The world you are going to seek, and life itself, must teach you +what remains. Still, one word, to which I will add a request. Do not +fear, when you enter the luxurious and magnificent court at Agra, to +take your part in all lawful diversions and amusements; and thus you +will learn to distinguish the real from the unreal. Think always of +what doubtless your tutor has often taught you, keep your conscience +pure, and take good care that no deed of yours shall ever give cause +of shame either to others or to yourself. But should it happen that, +in spite of your earnest striving to keep these precepts, the repose +of your conscience should be disturbed, and you wish for some friend +to whom you could open your heart, think then of an old friend of your +father and your tutor, and come to the Hermit of Badrinath. Will you +promise me this?" + +"I promise it," answered Siddha, simply, but with manly earnestness, +as he folded his arms respectfully on his breast. With greater +friendliness than before, Gurupada took him by both hands, and pressed +them heartily. + +The horses were soon brought forward, and the riders, after taking +leave of the hermit, sprang into their saddles, and, followed by the +servants, took their way from the jungle to the mountain path. + +More than once Siddha looked back, casting a glance to where the figure +of the wise man was still visible between the trunks of the tall trees, +standing at the threshold of his dwelling, with the tiger by his side, +and then rode silently by his companion, buried in thought. + +Suddenly, as though waking from a day-dream, he drew in his horse +with such force as almost to throw it upon its haunches. + +"Kulluka," he exclaimed, "I never saw such a man as Gurupada." But at +the same time he coloured to the ears, thinking, but too late, that +this exclamation might not be very pleasing to his friend and teacher. + +But he had needlessly alarmed himself. Kulluka's countenance expressed +unfeigned pleasure at the admiration of his pupil for his old friend. + +"Indeed," he said, "it gives me great pleasure that you should so +think of him, and it speaks well for you." + +"But," Siddha said, after a moment of silence, "who then is Gurupada?" + +"Well," was the answer, "that you have seen for yourself--a hermit +of the Himálaya." + +"Yes," replied Siddha, impatiently, "that I know well; but what was +he first, before he came here and tamed tigers?" + +"He attempted to tame men," answered Kulluka, "but in that he did +not always succeed. But why did you not ask him yourself who he was?" + +"Would that have been discreet,--should you have approved of that?" + +"Certainly not, and you acted rightly in not violating the rights +of hospitality by indiscreet curiosity, even if it arose from real +interest and for that you deserve that your curiosity should be set +at rest. Gurupada gave me permission to recount his former life and +tell you his name. So listen! + +"He was once a king." + +"How now," said Siddha, a little disturbed, "are you going to tell +me a tale from Somadeva, [48] like those I heard so often from you +when I was a little boy?" + +"Listen or not, as you will, to my tale," answered Kulluka, calmly. "He +was, I say, once a king, who, supported by good councillors, governed +his kingdom with wisdom and prudence. He had no children, only a +younger brother, a young man of great ability, to whom he was warmly +attached, and whom he had chosen as his successor when death should +take him, or when the weight of affairs of state should become too +heavy for him to bear. But the brother was ambitious, and, in spite of +some good qualities, he had not patience to wait his time. He allowed +himself to be led away by parties in the state inimical to the existing +government. First he intrigued secretly, and in the end he took up +arms against his brother and lawful prince. But he and his followers +were defeated, and brought prisoners to the capital. However, this +did not put an end to the insurrection. Disturbances still continued, +and the only means that remained to the king to suppress them was +by the death of his ambitious and dangerous brother, however dearly +he loved him, and by subjecting his followers to the same fate. But +by so doing his throne would be founded on the blood of his brother +and others; which might call endless feuds into life, to which there +could be no other end but the utter exhaustion of the kingdom. Yet +hardly anyone doubted that the king would, in the end, have recourse +to this now unavoidable measure. Suddenly, a rumour spread that he +had disappeared from the palace, and in all probability, though +not certainly, had fallen a victim to treachery. Since that time +he has never been heard of, and his brother, released from prison, +ascended the throne as the lawful heir, and has reigned ever since, +wisely retaining his brother's councillors at his side. Though not +ruling with equal wisdom, yet his reign has been fortunate, and peace +has been restored to his country." + +Here, for a moment, Kulluka broke off his tale to look at his +companion and pupil, but his countenance showed neither astonishment +nor special interest. + +"What you tell me," he said, "is simply the history of our present +king and his predecessor and elder brother Nandigupta, [49] which is +known to all, to me as well as to every other Kashmiri." + +"Certainly," replied Kulluka, "the history of which I remind you is +well known. What is not known to every one, only to a few, is that +King Nandigupta did not fall through treachery, is not dead, nor was +he driven away. Of his own accord, and without the knowledge of his +brother, nor of any but a few most trusty friends, he took refuge +in a distant retreat, where by spreading a report that he had been +slain, he saved his brother from a shameful death and his country +from probable destruction." + +"And so Nandigupta still lives," cried Siddha, "and he is----" + +"As you doubtless have already guessed," answered Kulluka, "the hermit +we have just left; but you must hold his secret sacred. The secret +of his kingdom and his race is entrusted to your honour. The son of +his most faithful servant and friend should know it, and will know +well how to guard it." + +"Why," asked Siddha, half dissatisfied, "did you not tell me this while +we were still there? I might then have thanked the prince for all the +benefits which, in the days of his greatness, my father and all our +race received at his hands. But, it is true, you had no right to speak +as long as he himself did not do so. But I still have an opportunity; +for Gurupada, if he will be so called, made me promise to seek him +if ever I should find myself in circumstances of difficulty and need +good advice." + +"And you have done well in giving your promise," said Kulluka. "Keep +your word. Gurupada is better and wiser than any of us." + +But Siddha scarcely heard. He was again immersed in thought. The +meeting with the hermit, and the discovery of his secret, made a deep +impression on him: that in the beginning of his journey he should have +met with a princely philosopher, who, possessing almost unlimited +power, and living in luxury, had willingly sacrificed all for love +of his brother and his country; and who, happy in the consciousness +of having done well, showed himself cheerful and contented with +his simple life in the wilderness, with no other companions than +a faithful servant and a beast of prey. Now he was on his road to +the court of the fortunate and far-famed ruler of a great empire, +who ruled his people more by wisdom than by the power of the sword; +who had at his disposal enormous revenues; and who might call himself +the ally of mighty princes in most distant countries, and protector +of all known religions in the world. + +The good Siddha, who had been accustomed to pride himself somewhat +on his nobility and consequence, suddenly felt how small he was in +comparison with two such men. It was indeed difficult to decide which +was the greater of the two, and he wisely determined to suspend his +judgment until he should have seen the Emperor Akbar himself. + +This decision brought him back to the next goal of their journey, +a visit to Allahabad, where his dearly loved bride--the beautiful +Iravati--awaited his coming. His countenance, which for some minutes +had been grave and earnest, brightened up, and striking spurs into +his horse, as a long flat piece of country stretched out before them, +he cried, joyfully, "Come, now for a gallop!" and darting forward, +Kulluka saw brandishing his light spear, and shouting the name that +carried off the victory in his thoughts--"Iravati!" + +"Forward! forward, then!" muttered the Brahman to himself, setting his +horse to a gallop, "until the end is reached; for me it is almost done, +but for him the journey of life is only beginning. Oh that he may +always find it smooth as this! but he also must meet with rocks and +slippery precipices, and perhaps also--abysses. But may they only," +he added, smiling to himself, as he thought of the adventure of the +preceding evening, "be harmless precipices." + + + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +IRAVATI. + + +A young girl was seated on a balcony, all overgrown with trees and +plants, in the great castle of Allahabad--palace and fortress in +one. Her head rested on her hand as, musing, she gazed on the landscape +stretched out before her on both sides of the two rivers that met +here, and were now glittering in the light of an unclouded morning +sun. To the left the rocky heights and sandy shores of the Jamuna; +to the right the valley of the Granges; everywhere thick masses of +mango-trees, in which numberless parrots and other bright-plumaged +birds made their homes. Here and there small islands raised themselves +above the surface of the water, and in the background there were rocky +hills crowned with pagodas. Judging only by her dress, it would not +have been supposed that the girl, sunk in a day-dream, was of exalted +rank. She wore a simple white robe, with a narrow border of dark red, +clasped by a golden girdle; a golden band held back her thick black +locks, in which a single flower formed her only ornament, and that +was all. But what need had the slight graceful figure, the fine-cut +face, with its great dark eyes shaded by long silken lashes, for other +ornament than that given by nature, and by Rama the god of love? And +assuredly no offshoot of degenerate stem, no daughter of low degree, +could have arrayed herself with so much elegance, and at the same +time with such simplicity. + +But the longing eyes did not, as of yore, rest with delight on the +magnificent scene around. To-day, as yesterday and many days before, +she gazed on the far-off mountains, in the direction from which the +long-expected one must come; but long had she watched in vain. Where +did he tarry? What could keep him? And did he think of her, or was +it only occasionally that his thoughts wandered to her, who for days +and months had devoted every thought to him and to him alone? + +Then a heavy step was heard behind, in the room which opened on the +verandah, and, preceded by a servant who flung back the curtain hanging +before the door, a short, thick-set man of middle age approached, +in a close-fitting garment that came down to his feet. A short sword +with a richly ornamented hilt, stuck in his belt, was the only token +of his rank. + +"Noble lady," said the servant, respectfully waking his mistress from +her day-dream, "Salhana the governor, your father, comes to visit you." + +"He is welcome," answered the girl, accustomed from infancy to be +addressed with respect; and rising, she advanced to meet her father. + +"Iravati," [50] said he, looking at her with his black, penetrating +eyes, which gave the only expression to his pale countenance, +"some time ago I told you that I expected Siddha Rama, from Kashmir, +your cousin and betrothed, with Kulluka his tutor. They have just +arrived, and are now in the neighbouring gallery. We will go there +to receive them." + +On hearing these tidings, for one moment Iravati seemed to forget all +the calm reserve to which she had schooled herself, and would have +hurried past her father to welcome him whom she had so long waited for; +but Salhana delayed her by a slight motion of his hand. + +"First one word," he said. "It is known to me that the professors of +Islam, under whom we live, disapprove most highly of free intercourse +between unmarried youths and young girls, and that many of our Hindus +have adapted themselves to the opinions of our governors; but for my +part, as you know, I am a follower of our old customs, however much I +wish to see observed all fitting forms, and so I give you permission, +as in early days in our own country, freely to speak with your cousin +and bridegroom, but only allow our most trusted friends to know it, +otherwise my influence here, where I govern, and your good name, +may suffer. Now come." And going before her, he led the way to the +open verandah looking down on the river, where their two visitors +stood awaiting their appearance. + +"You are welcome, my lords and friends," said Salhana, with dignity; +"and I thank you for granting my request, and coming straight to +my dwelling, instead of taking up your abode in the town, as many +do." These words sounded cordial, though the tone in which they were +pronounced was as expressionless as his stiff countenance. + +Some might have remarked this, but not Siddha, who, barely greeting +his stately uncle or giving Kulluka time to receive the reverent +greeting of Iravati, flung himself on his knees before her, and +pressed a burning kiss on the hand she held out to him. + +"Welcome," she said, signing to him to rise, (and how sweet sounded +that gentle voice!) "welcome, friend. How long we have watched for +your approach, looking towards yonder mountains, and almost doubting +if you would ever come!" + +"You did not believe, beloved," cried Siddha, almost indignantly, +"that I would have delayed my arrival in Allahabad for one moment +longer than was necessary. If I could have leapt over rivers and +mountains to have been sooner with you, and had my horse had more wings +than Vishnu's Garuda, [51] I should not, indeed, have spared him." + +"I believe you willingly," said Iravati, with a friendly smile, "and +indeed I meant no reproach to you or to our trusty friend Kulluka, +and we must rejoice all the more at being together, as I hear from +my father that it is only for a very short time." + +"Indeed," said Salhana, after a few words with Kulluka, interrupting +the conversation of the two lovers, "our friends must leave us early +to-morrow; but I did not expect otherwise. Yet, noble Siddha, I must +shorten by a few minutes your interview with your bride, as I wish +to speak a few words with you, and at once, for my time is precious, +and before our mid-day meal I have many things to do. Will it please +you to follow me?" + +This request was not to be refused, and unwillingly and with many +a longing look towards Iravati, Siddha followed his courteous but +imperious uncle to the garden on the other side of the palace. There, +under the thick shade of trees, Salhana seated himself on a carpet, +signing to his nephew to take a place by his side. + +"And so you are going," he began, "to seek your fortune in the +immediate service of the great Emperor. In truth you may hold +yourself fortunate that you have a father who knows how to give +you so favourable an opportunity, and also, if I may add it without +presumption, an uncle who, by the accident of his position, may be +able to afford you help in case of need." + +"For that I am very grateful," answered Siddha, "and I hope never to +forget that you, perhaps more than my father, have aided to make easy +to me the first step on the ladder, not only because it may be that I +shall have opportunities of distinguishing myself, but that I shall +be able to achieve more here than in our own beautiful but far-away +country; and at the same time I shall see the Emperor living in all +the splendour of his court, of which I have heard so much at home." + +"Certainly," said Salhana, "but a word of counsel; beware of +exaggerated expectations, not as regards the magnificence of palaces +and courts, of which in the north we can hardly form an idea, but +of the Emperor himself; it is better to begin without highly wrought +expectations." + +"How," asked Siddha, in astonishment; "in truth does not Akbar deserve +his name? is he not, as my father and my tutor have always represented +him, a great man as well as a mighty prince?" + +"That I did not say," was the answer; "but our great men can have their +faults, which may threaten to become dangerous for others. Listen," +continued the governor, looking round to see there was no one within +earshot, and sinking his voice to a whisper: "whenever a man attains +such power as Akbar, through his own courage and prudence, then is +the longing to attain more not easily satisfied. The Emperor, who +has subdued states and people to his rule, can hardly bear that your +and my fatherland should remain so entirely independent. You know, +moreover, do you not, how every now and then, although it was kept +secret from most, divisions have broken out in Kashmir between our +king and his two sons, in the same way as in earlier days between +him and his brother Nandigupta?" + +"No, I did not know it," said Siddha; "this is the first time it has +come to my ears." + +"Well," rejoined the other, "you should inquire about it when the +opportunity offers. I can tell you somewhat of it at once, but do not +speak of it to Kulluka; for that, I think, might not be well. The +divisions between the king and his two sons were stirred up--you +understand by whom. If open feuds once broke out, and the country +was divided into parties, then a pretence for declaring war on us +would easily be found, and the Emperor would invade our country with +a strong army, guided through the mountain passes by his spies, and +so our country would be incorporated in his empire. This does not +prevent my acknowledging with admiration his wonderful conquests, +but the same ambition which has made his people great may be the +cause of the destruction of our independence." + +"But how," asked Siddha, after a moment's thought,--"if this is so, +how can you remain the servant of a man who has sworn the destruction +of our country?" + +"And why not?" said Salhana, in his turn surprised. "Is it not well +that one of us, without harming the Emperor, but, on the contrary, +serving him in many important affairs, should keep an eye on his plans +and actions. It is well that you yourself, under my recommendation +and protection, should come still more closely in contact with our +ruler. Certainly you will be less suspicious than I, but still in +this respect you can be of great service." + +"But," asked Siddha, doubtfully, after a moment's thought, "is that +honourable?" + +"Young man," answered Salhana, in a dignified tone, although his +countenance expressed no anger, "let me remark to you that a man of +my age and experience should know well what is honourable and what +is not; and you, only just commencing your part in life, should not +attempt to give counsel on such a subject." + +"Forgive me, uncle," answered Siddha, "you know that I am still +so little acquainted with the principles of state affairs, that I +cannot understand them at once; and, also, Kulluka, my guru, [52] +has always impressed on me to follow the right path, and never to +act ambiguously towards anyone, and----" + +"Kulluka, my best friend," interrupted the other, "is an excellent man, +for whom I have the greatest respect; but he is a man of learning, not +of facts; a man of theory, not of what is practical. See, now, your +country and people, who are dear to you, are threatened by a prince +whom you look upon with admiration, and would willingly serve in all +but that one thing. You should hold it as a duty to work against him +in this, as far as possible. The opportunity is now opened to you, +not entirely, but in a certain measure. Should you now spurn this +opportunity, because of an exaggerated idea of political honour? And +does he himself act with honour in accepting your services and mine +while at the same time he has designs on our king and country? and if +not, what claim has he on such special loyalty on our side? Moreover, +go, if you will, to Akbar, and say to his face, if you dare, that +you see through his plans and will oppose them; and before the day is +over, my good friend, you will be fettered in a dungeon, or on your +way banished to the furthest bounds of the Dakhin or Bengal, if worse +does not befall you. Such opposition would be of no service to us; far +otherwise would it be to make good use of favourable opportunities. By +doing so, there would be no harm done to the prince, while, on the +other hand, we may perchance save our fatherland from destruction." + +Not convinced, but still not knowing how to refute such reasoning, +Siddha vainly sought for an answer, and remained silent, waiting for +what his uncle might have further to say. But he appeared to consider +the interview at an end, and made a movement to rise, when, in the path +leading to the place where they were seated, a figure appeared, just +such a one as would attract Siddha's attention and draw his thoughts +from the preceding conversation. He was tall, brown, and closely shaven +all but a single long lock of hair; his right arm and breast were naked +excepting for the sacred cord of the Brahmans; a narrow white garment +was thrown round his emaciated limbs. His sunken dull eyes and hollow +cheeks spoke of long fasts and severe penances. Although not easily +alarmed by man or beast, and accustomed to strange appearances, yet +for a moment Siddha started back. Many a tiger had he slain in the +jungle, and without fear killed many a deadly snake, yet he could +not overcome a feeling of horror at this sudden appearance. + +"Gorakh [53] the Yogi," [54] explained Salhana, "priest of the Durga +[55] temple, yonder on the hills. Meet him with respect; he deserves +it, and has more to impart to you than you suspect." + +Gliding rather than walking, the priest approached the two men who +had stood up to receive him, and, raising his clasped hands to his +forehead, he said, in a slow, drawling voice, "Om, Om! [56] You, +the favoured of the Lord of the World, and of Durga his glorious +consort. Om!" + +"I greet you well, most honoured Gorakh," answered Salhana to this +curious salutation; "you see here my nephew Siddha Rama, from Kashmir, +of whom I have already spoken to you." + +"He is welcome," was Gorakh's reply; "and may he, above the strife of +disunion, know how to lay the foundation that leads to the endless +blessings of union, wherein you, my friend, begin more and more to +recognise the true part of salvation. Yet," continued he, after a +moment of dignified silence, "the experience of life must teach him +the way, as it has done for you and me. We must allow the time needed +for the scholar. In truth, I know him, and know that he will belong to +us." And here he turned to Siddha: "It is but lately that I met you." + +"Pardon me, honoured lord," was the reply; "that I cannot recall." + +"You could not," was the answer, "for at that moment I was invisible +to human eye." + +Too well acquainted with the extraordinary claims to the power +of rendering themselves invisible asserted by the Yogis, Siddha +contented himself with listening in silence to the priest, who, +to his astonishment, continued:-- + +"It was on that evening when you gave chase to the hermit's tiger;--but +we will speak to each other later. Now the noble Salhana wishes to +converse with me, so for the present farewell, and may Durga's mighty +consort bless you." And murmuring in a low tone his "Om, Om!" the +priest of Durga and Salhana left him in the garden, his uncle crying +to him, "We shall meet again soon." + +The last communication of the Yogi was well calculated to excite +Siddha's astonishment. How could the man know what had happened to +him yonder in the mountains, where, excepting his own companion, +he had seen no human being? But here the sight of his servant at a +little distance, wandering through the trees, brought to his mind +the way by which the riddle might be unravelled. + +"Vatsa," said he, beckoning to the man, "have either you or Kulluka's +servant just spoken with a priest?" + +"No, my lord," answered Vatsa, "we have not even seen one." + +"No!" said Siddha, now really astonished. "Good; you can go." And +turning away, he murmured to himself, half disturbed and half alarmed, +"I will speak to Kulluka about this." But how could a priest or +anyone else occupy his thoughts when, having gone but a little way, +he caught sight of the white robe and slight figure of Iravati, +seated under the thick shade of a mango, close to a pool of lotuses, +while the air was filled with the sweet music of a sparkling fountain, +and cooled by its falling waters. Flowers lay scattered around, and +in her hand was a half-finished wreath. Hearing footsteps approaching, +and catching sight of Siddha, she flung the wreath away, and hastened +to meet her lover, raising her clasped hands to her forehead. Siddha +seized them in his own, and, leading her back, flung himself on the +moss at her side. + +"What a cruel man your father is," said he, "to part us so soon, +when we had scarcely exchanged two words!" + +"Well," answered Iravati, "you must thank him for allowing us to talk +together, since it is long since this was allowed to those who are +betrothed to each other." + +"From my heart I will be grateful to him," said Siddha, "and more +highly prize the happy moments spent with you. But you do not seem +quite to share in my joy; tell me the reason." + +"Ah!" sighed Iravati; "how can our meeting be unclouded happiness, +when we are to part again so soon? Perhaps, and even probably, these +are the only short moments in which, for a long time, we shall speak +freely one to another; and to-morrow you depart for the luxurious, +turbulent city, where a simple girl like me may easily be forgotten." + +"Forgotten!" cried Siddha; "have I deserved such suspicion from +you? and what is the absence of a few months! Returns not"--asked he, +in the words of Amaru, as, taking her hand in his, he drew her nearer +to him--"Returns not he who departs? Why, then, beloved, art thou +sad? Do not my heart and word remain yours, even though we part?" [57] + +"Ah," answered Iravati, "if poets could comfort us! But tell me, +Siddha, have you never made any verses on me?" + +"I wish that I could," was the modest reply; "and indeed I have tried, +but what I wrote was never worthy of you. Still, there is another +art in which I am more accomplished than in poetry, and my attempt in +that line you shall see." And drawing from his girdle a small locket, +set with jewels, he showed a miniature, in which she recognised her +own image. + +"Siddha!" she exclaimed, joyfully; "but I am not so beautiful as that." + +"Not so beautiful!" repeated he. "No; but a hundred times more +beautiful than my pencil or that of any other could represent." + +And he was right, for according to Indian taste he had exaggerated +the eyes and mouth, when their regularity was one of the beauties of +Iravati's face. + +"But why," said he, as she suddenly drew herself up and quickly +escaped from his arms, "why are you now going to leave me?" + +"Wait a moment," she replied; "in an instant I will be back." + +With the swiftness of a gazelle he saw her taking her way through +the trees to the palace, ascending the broad marble steps as though +she scarcely touched them, and in a few moments return, holding in +her hand an object which, in the distance, he could not distinguish, +but as she drew nearer, and, with a blush, held it out to him, with an +exclamation of admiration, he recognised his own portrait. But this, +in truth, was an idealized likeness. + +"My dearest!" he said, in ecstasy; and before she could draw back he +had thrown his arms round her, and pressed a burning kiss on her lips. + +"See," said she, gently disengaging herself; "my father should be well +pleased with us, for we have done just like the princes and princesses +in our old national legends, and have drawn each other's portraits." + +"Not exactly so," added Siddha, "for they drew their own likenesses, +and then exchanged with one another. But I think our way is much the +best; theirs appears to me extravagant vanity, in our way of looking +at it, or utterly aimless." + +"Fie!" said Iravati, reproachfully; "do you make such remarks on the +writings of the ancients? Who knows if you will not next criticise +our holy books!" + +"And why not," asked he, "if they here or there make mistakes, or +show a want of taste, or----" + +"But you are not, I hope, an unbeliever?" + +"An unbeliever in what?" + +"In the law of the Holy Veda, for example." + +"Come, dear one," interrupted Siddha, laughing, "do not let us employ +the few moments allowed us as many of our countrymen do, who can +hardly meet each other without at once discussing theological and +philosophical questions." + +"You are right," she answered, "and I know of a game that is far +prettier, and one that you also know." And bending over the brink of +the tank, she gathered a dark-blue lotus, and picking up a long leaf +that lay on the ground, and weaving it into a kind of boat, she placed +the lotus in it and let it float on the surface of the water, which was +gently stirred by the falling fountain. "The lotus is my Siddha," said +she, half to herself; "let us see if he will remain faithful to me." + +"No," said Siddha, in his turn reproachfully, "that is a foolish game, +and one that you should not play." + +Iravati hardly listened to him, but watched with breathless attention +the waving leaf that was dancing on the rippling water. "Faithful, +faithful!" she cried; but then a sigh from the south wind caught the +frail vessel. It turned over and floated bottom upwards, while the +lotus disappeared. "Alas!" cried Iravati, as she let her head sink +in her breast; "my forebodings, then, have not deceived me." + +"Fie! I say now in my turn," said Siddha; "a noble, well educated +lady to hold to such follies, that are only to be excused in ignorant +peasant girls. And so you place more faith in the leaf of a tree than +in the word of honour of a nobleman who has pledged you his troth, +as you have to him?" + +"Ah! Siddha," sighed Iravati, "you must forgive me if I do seem +rather childish; and does not my uneasiness show you how much I love +you? However great my faith in your word is, I cannot help thinking +with anxiety of the city to which you go; and who knows what temptation +awaits you there? But I confess that I was wrong, and," continued +she, leaning her head on his shoulder, "I know that Siddha is mine, +now and always, and no other woman lives who can rob me of his heart." + +Putting his arm around her, Siddha gazed at her in silence; but his +look said more than the warmest assurance could have done. A jingling +of bangles made them look up, and Iravati said, "Our interview, my +friend, is ended; there comes Nipunika, my servant, to warn us." And a +moment after, the servant appeared, her brown ancles and arms clasped +with golden bangles, and announced to her mistress that the Governor +requested her to return to her apartments, and begged his nephew to +join him and Kulluka at their meal. Giving him her hand for a moment, +Iravati, accompanied by Nipunika, returned to the palace. Siddha +followed to seek his uncle and his travelling companion. The meal +was not wanting in magnificence and luxury, and was served in one of +the smaller apartments, from the open verandah of which there was a +magnificent view of the country around. There were cushions of silk +with richly embroidered borders, on which the guests took their places; +gold and silver vessels; choice meats and wines; numbers of servants +of all nations, and in every costume; in a word, everything that was +conformable to the rank of Salhana, governor of the fortress, and, +for the moment, the man of the highest rank of all the inhabitants of +the royal palace. But merriment was wanting to the courtly feast, and +confidential intercourse was not possible. All was formal, stately, and +stiff, and the conversation meaningless and polite, and only sustained +by the three men because silence would have been uncourteous. How +different, thought Siddha, was their simple meal with the hermit of +the mountain; and it seemed that Kulluka was of the same opinion, +for, stealing a glance at his guru, he saw a smile on his face, +unobserved by Salhana. At last their repast came to an end, but the +remainder of the day brought no pleasure to Siddha. He wandered for +some time under the balcony of the apartments which Nipunika, whom he +met, pointed out as those of her mistress. But Iravati did not show +herself, and when, towards evening, she appeared in the presence of +her father and his guests, it was only to take leave of him with the +same formality that had attended their meeting in the morning. + +At dawn next morning they were to recommence their journey, to avoid +the heat of mid-day, and the travellers withdrew early to their +apartments. Needful as rest was, the younger man was not inclined at +once to seek it. Taking off his arms, instead of throwing himself on +his bed, he stood for some time at the open window, from which there +was a view of the whole fortress, and all the thickets of trees, +half-hidden in the dimness of night. Behind them rose hills, with +here and there temples and other sacred buildings. His mind was not +alone occupied with Iravati's image, but also with the conversation +with his uncle, and the strange meeting with the mysterious priest, +who, by some artifice or accident, had become acquainted with his +adventure with the tiger, though how, he could not guess. But to what +did all this tend? What did the man want? And Salhana the governor; +could he trust him? and were his instructions to be followed, and all +that had happened this morning kept secret from Kulluka? or would it +not be better to consult him about it? + +An unexpected appearance made Siddha for an instant lose the thread +of his thoughts, though they were at once brought back to him. On the +nearest wall, where the low breastwork stood sharply out against the +light that still lingered in the sky, two figures suddenly showed +themselves above the parapet, who, though he could not distinguish +their features, he recognised as his uncle the governor, and Gorakh +the priest of Durga. Again the two were together, and at so late an +hour. But the most wonderful part of this apparition was the entirely +changed bearing of both. There was no trace of their former stiffness +and stateliness, and one gesticulated more violently than the other, +carried away by their engrossing conversation, as they walked up and +down, now towards the castle, and now towards the hills. This continued +until they were suddenly disturbed by the appearance of other figures, +which, one by one, moved along the outer wall, their emaciated forms +entirely naked with the exception of a white cord round their necks, +which here in the half light was visible in contrast with their dark +skins. On their approach Salhana disappeared, probably through some +stairs leading to the palace, invisible from where Siddha was. The +priest, immediately regaining his dignity, and pointing with his right +hand towards one of the temples, placed himself at the head of the +band, and led the way along the wall to the dark wood lying at the +foot of the rocks. A long row of figures followed him, and Siddha +had long ceased to count them ere the last disappeared in the jungle. + +In spite of himself a slight feeling of horror had seized on him as +he saw their strange forms pass by, and associated them with the name +of the goddess to whose service Gorakh was dedicated, and to whose +temple they appeared bound. Could it be true that the sect still +existed, of which he had so often heard, but believed to be either +rooted out or to have died out--that mysterious league of demons in +human form that had so long been the plague and terror of Hindustan, +the most terrible product that religious fanaticism had ever brought +to life? And with the leader of such a band was it possible that his +uncle, the servant of the Emperor, should be allied! It was indeed +not to be believed, and laughing at his foolish fancies, Siddha left +the window, and hastily throwing off his clothes, flung himself on +the bed prepared for him. But it was long before he could sleep, +for the conflicting images of Iravati, Salhana, Gorakh, and his +naked followers, kept passing through his head; and before he fell +asleep he had come to the determination not to speak to Kulluka of +what he had that day seen and heard. That his uncle was mixed up +with secret affairs was clear to him; still for a statesman that was +not unnatural, and there was nothing to make him suspect they were +criminal, though their discovery might be injurious to Salhana, and +perhaps to his nearest relatives. He would not, he felt, be justified +in betraying what confidential conversation and a pure accident had +made him acquainted with. Kulluka himself would certainly condemn +such a course of action. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +AGRA. + + +The call of trumpets sounding gaily awoke Siddha from his morning +sleep, and, on springing up and looking out of the window, he saw the +great court before the castle filled with horsemen, half of whom were +occupied in unsaddling their horses, while the others were mounting +and forming in line. These, with whom our travellers were to continue +their journey, were on the point of starting for Agra, to relieve the +soldiers just arrived; and amongst them Siddha saw his servant waiting +with his grey charger. It took him but a few minutes to finish his +preparations for the journey, and he was in the saddle some moments +before Kulluka and the Governor appeared. But in the meantime, before +the cavalcade moved off, Siddha found an opportunity to ride round the +corner of the bastion to the balcony towards which, the day before, +he had so often and so vainly looked. This time it was not in vain, +for between the plants that covered the balcony he caught sight of +a well-known figure, dressed in white, who at his approach waved a +handkerchief in the gentle breeze; and as he drew nearer, she let it +slowly fall; but he, quickly turning his horse, caught it on the point +of his lance. It was one of the brightly coloured tissues of Kashmir, +fine as a spider's web, well calculated to be the despair of all +the weavers in the world, and as easily drawn through a finger-ring +as bound into a turban. He quickly pressed to his lips this parting +gift so precious to him; then, binding it to the hilt of his sabre, +he waved a farewell, and in a few bounds had rejoined his travelling +companions. Salhana accompanied his guests for a short distance, and +then took leave, telling his nephew that he hoped before long to see +him again, as in a few days he thought of visiting Agra himself. Our +travellers continued their way, in company with the commanding officer +of the detachment. + +The journey lasted for more than one day, generally by or near the +banks of the Jamuna, and led through sandy plains, where stones were +more frequently met with than trees, though sometimes they came to +lovely hills clad in green. At length the evening of their last halt +came, at a short distance from Agra, and on the following morning a +short ride took them to the city of the Emperor, the view of which +more than repaid them for the weariness of their journey. + +In a semicircle on the opposite shore of the river, lay, between +garden and fortification, the long row of palaces and mosques, which +made, at this time and for long after, Agra, or Akbarabad, one of +the most beautiful as well as one of the most magnificent cities in +the world. In the middle, standing above all, as brooking no rivalry, +stood the palace of the Emperor. [58] The central building, which from +the delicate joining of its red, smooth-polished sandstones, seemed +hewn from a cloud of granite glittering in the sunshine, was surrounded +on all sides by small pleasure-houses and thick clumps of trees. This +building, from its colossal size, with its numerous cupolas, and slight +towers, with their delicate tracery visible against the blue sky, could +not fail to strike the beholder with wonder and admiration. Around +the central palace were the pleasure-houses of the great courtiers, of +rich noblemen and prosperous citizens, and mosques with their cupolas +and minarets, while here and there a few solitary temples were the +only witnesses of a civilisation whose ascendancy belonged to the past. + +The beauty of the view made the travellers draw rein, and gaze on +it with delight. One man alone, a mighty conqueror and deep-thinking +reformer, had, as though by magic, called this splendour and beauty to +life, as it were, from the barren plain. A feeling of anxiety crept +over Siddha as he thought how soon he would meet him, and perhaps +exchange a few words, formal though they might be. + +On reaching the other side of the river, they took leave of the officer +who had been their travelling companion, and, with their servant, +made their way to a house that had been hired for them by a friend +of Kulluka. It was simply but tastefully and comfortably arranged, +with cheerful views of the gardens around, and of the river that lay +glittering in the morning sun. + +"Come, this will do," said Kulluka, as he entered; "and I see the +camels with our baggage have arrived. We must not be idle, but dress +ourselves, and at once go to wait on Abú-l Fazl the Minister. Now +for a bath, and meantime Vatsa can unpack." + +Half an hour later both were ready for the visit, Siddha in a dress +of cloth-of-gold, reaching to the knees, and opening a little at the +throat, showing a pearl necklace. On his head was a turban ornamented +with a feather. Kulluka was also dressed with elegance and with less +severe simplicity than hitherto. They were armed with sabre and dagger, +but more for show than use. + +It was not far to the palace of the Minister, and passing through +the courtyard, they gave their names to a servant, who immediately +showed them into one of the inner apartments, to await the coming +of the Wazir; but their patience was not put to proof. The curtain +that separated their apartment from others was soon drawn aside, and +Abú-l Fazl entered. He was a man of middle height, rather inclined +to corpulence, and about fifty years of age. He was dressed in a +costly garment of yellow flowered silk, wore no beard, and his smooth +countenance, in spite of a look of weariness, expressed manly strength +and a strong resolute will, though this was tempered by kindly dark +eyes. [59] + +"It gives me great pleasure to see you here so soon," said he, +after the usual greetings, which on the part of Kulluka and Siddha +were full of respect. "Our young friend shows himself no laggard in +entering the Emperor's service--thanks, I suppose, to your inciting, +O wise Kulluka." + +"It would indeed have been a bad beginning," was the reply, "if he had +delayed a moment longer than was necessary in assuming the position +which your favour and the Emperor's had assigned him." + +"No favour, my friend," interrupted Abú-l Fazl, "but a wise choice, +I hope. We do not consider it needful to give all appointments to our +own noblemen, but hold them out also as prizes to the native nobility +of countries that are allied with us. And you know that our Rajputs +would see with displeasure their commanders chosen from any but their +own countrymen. And what could give me greater pleasure than to call +the son of an old and tried friend to a post that his father wished +to see him fill!" + +"Nevertheless, my lord," said Siddha, as the Minister finished, +"allow me to look upon it as a favour, and to thank you most heartily +both for my father and for myself, and I hope to prove myself not +unworthy of your goodness." + +"Above all, be faithful," said Abú-l Fazl, gravely. "Perhaps this +recommendation appears needless to you; but when you have been here +longer you will discover that treachery lurks in every corner, and even +the best may sometimes be led away and become faithless. To-morrow, +meantime, your commander will give you the necessary instructions for +your service, and he will warn you to be careful with your Rajputs, +for you know that many of them, although their position is lowly, +are noble as you yourself, and you cannot treat them as though they +were common soldiers. Now, doubtless, you wish to see more of the city +than you have yet done, and I will not keep you. But wait a moment," he +continued, as Siddha rose to take his leave; "a guide would be welcome +to you, and I think I can give you a good one." Clapping his hands, +he asked the servant who appeared, "Is my nephew Parviz in the house?" + +"I have just seen him in the courtyard," answered the servant. + +"Say that I wish to see him." + +In a few minutes a young man appeared, of about Siddha's age, +richly dressed, and with ornaments of pearls and jewels. His face +was pleasing, but, in spite of a black moustache, somewhat feminine. + +"Parviz," said Abú-l Fazl, "you see here our two visitors from Kashmir, +of whose coming I spoke to you; the noble Siddha I hope you will soon +call your friend; and now will you serve him as guide, for this is +his first visit to our city?" + +"Willingly, uncle," answered Parviz, as he greeted Siddha with +friendliness; "it will be as much a pleasure as an honour." + +"Then go," said the Minister; "Kulluka will perhaps remain a little +longer with me, to talk over the affairs of Kashmir. But, gentlemen," +said he, more to Siddha than to the Brahman, "do not forget to visit my +brother Faizi to-day; he might take it amiss if you put off doing so +until to-morrow, although he would not grudge me the preference." And +making them a friendly sign of farewell, the two young men left the +palace together. + +"Come," said Parviz, "luckily it is not so very hot, and we can go +at once to see--what to our visitors to Agra is the greatest of all +the sights--the Palace of the Emperor--that is if the walk is not +too far for you, after your long ride of this morning." + +"Oh," answered Siddha, quickly becoming familiar with his new friend, +"I care as little for heat as for cold--we are well accustomed to +both amongst our mountains; nor do we think much of fatigue. But I +am sorry to give you the trouble of showing me what you must often +have seen before." + +"Though not so indifferent to weather," said Parviz, jestingly, "as you +who come from wild mountains and forests, still I can manage a short +walk, and, even if it is hot, all inconvenience will be forgotten in +the pleasure of your companionship." + +They soon became more familiar, and confided to each other their +various affairs and concerns. Parviz, among other things, told +Siddha that he had no taste for military service, and that his uncle +thought him unfitted for it, and therefore destined him for some civil +employment. Thus talking they came to a fine broad street that formed +one of the principal approaches to the royal palace. This street ended +in a gateway in the form of a triumphal arch. Passing through it they +entered a large maidan overshadowed with plane-trees. Six other streets +equally broad opened on this space, under similar arches; in the middle +stood a colossal stone elephant, the trunk of which formed a fountain, +throwing up jets of water. Three sides of the place were shut in by +marble colonnades, behind which arose gradually the different stories +of the building. Though this view was not so striking or picturesque +as that from the river, yet the extraordinary extent of palace, +with its various buildings and fortifications, was more apparent. + +"You understand," said Parviz, "that it is impossible to visit all we +see at once; even if we were proof against fatigue, we should not have +the time. But let us take a glance around, so that you may be able +to form an idea of the whole, and later you will become acquainted +with it all." + +As they entered one of the verandahs Parviz spoke to the guard, +who at once called a servant to guide them to those apartments +that were accessible to visitors of their rank. Following him, +they passed through long rows of rooms, each furnished with more +splendour than the last, and all built in the light Moorish style, +with charming views of the gardens around, with their fountains and +luxuriant growth of flowers of all kinds. Here were marble walls, +inlaid with flowers in delicate Mosaics; there, from all corners, +tiny fountains filled the air with coolness; everywhere curtains and +hangings of silk, embroidered with gold and silver; and heavy carpets, +and soft silken cushions. + +"In the other wing," said Parviz, "are things still more beautiful; +but they are not shown, for there are the women's apartments. I have +had just a glance at one or two before they were finished, and while +they were uninhabited. The great audience hall, is it open?" he said, +turning to the guide. + +"No, my lord," was the answer; "but in a few days." + +"It does not signify," interrupted Parviz. "Soon," continued he to +Siddha, "there will be a public audience given, and we can then see +it. As to the apartments of the Emperor, in all probability you will +soon become well acquainted with them." + +They then took their way through high, broad galleries, filled with +servants and soldiers, and then through the pleasure-grounds, while +Parviz pointed out to his companion the various halls and buildings, +telling him to what purposes they were destined. Here was the imperial +library, with its richly bound manuscripts; yonder the work-room +of the goldsmith and jeweller, and laboratories of the perfumers, +the store-houses and kitchens, and also the arsenal of the fortress, +and stables for the horses, elephants, and camels, kept for the use +of the Emperor. + +Siddha had considered himself well acquainted with palaces, but the +conviction now crept over him that, until this moment, he had never +seen one. The extent of the stables struck him with astonishment, +appearing like a village from the compound round which they were built. + +"What a number of noble animals there must be there!" he remarked. + +"Yes," answered Parviz, "there are at least a hundred elephants here; +and I scarcely know how many are kept for the Emperor in other places, +but according to report he has as many again, and equal numbers of +horses and hunting-leopards." + +"But," asked Siddha, "what can any one, even though he be the great +Akbar, do with such profusion?" + +"Not much for himself," was the answer. "Less perhaps than you +imagine. Born in a wilderness, while his father wandered in banishment, +and brought up in a camp, he places no value on all this excessive +luxury; but he is convinced, I believe, that a prince like him, in +these countries and among such people as he governs, has as great +need of a striking magnificence as of a fine army and experienced +statesmen. We all--Persians, Mughals, Arabs, or Hindus, your people as +well as ours--are accustomed to feel greater respect for a monarch the +more outward show he makes. But you must not think that with all this +show there is also great prodigality. On the contrary, I can assure you +nothing is lost or wasted, and in the smallest affairs of this great +court there is the same strict order as in the different departments of +government, which can perhaps everywhere in the kingdom of the Great +Mughal be held up as an example of what intelligent administration +should be. My uncle Abú-l Fazl is busied in describing all this +exactly in his great work on the institutions and the government of +the Emperor, [60] in which he allows me to help him occasionally. But +there are some things in which Akbar may be called prodigal, especially +in aiding those who are in trouble and difficulties, and who have some +claim on his liberality; and also in the advancement of science and +art. As regards these, his treasurer has some trouble in keeping him +within bounds. But now," continued Parviz, after a moment's silence, +"it is about time to be returning; the sun commences to burn, and I +must confess to a little fatigue. If we loiter here longer I shall +be inclined to repose on one of these seats, and await the coolness +of the evening; but in this way we should lose our meal." + +"So let us turn back," answered Siddha; "and I thank you heartily +for your company." + +Taking a by-path on the other side of the garden and building, Parviz +guided his friend back to his lodging, and there taking leave, he said, +"To-morrow probably you will be too busy with your appointment to see +more of our town; but the day after, or later, I shall gladly be at +your orders, only let me know if I am to come for you." + +The two young men took leave of each other, and Siddha sought, +in a cool apartment, the mid-day rest, which he found far from +unwelcome. When evening fell, he, with his elder friend, took +their way to Faizi, brother of the Minister. A comfortable and +tastefully built bungalow, surrounded by thickly growing trees, was +the habitation of Abú-l Fazl's younger brother. They were immediately +admitted, and presently a servant appeared, to lead them to Faizi's +own apartment. There, close to a verandah that ran round the greater +part of the building, sat a man, in the prime of life, bending over a +table covered with papers. Around him, on the ground, were scattered +many others. He rose to meet his visitors without any formality, +and holding out his hand with a simple welcome, signed to them to +seat themselves with him on the cushions before the verandah. [61] + +What principally distinguished Faizi from his elder brother was the +frank, joyous expression of his smoothly shaven countenance, and a +peculiar easiness of manner, mixed with the courtly forms of a man +of the world. His calm and tranquil look was more characteristic of +a quiet thinker than of a man of warlike experience, although as a +warrior he had not failed in many a brave deed, and as ambassador +had aided in setting at rest many an intricate question. + +"I knew well," he said, as a servant offered wine and refreshments, +"that you would not let the day pass, worthy Kulluka, without giving +me, as well as my brother, the pleasure of seeing you and making +acquaintance with your young friend, who, before long, I hope to call +mine. And what do you think of our new city?" he asked Siddha. "You +must already have seen something of it." + +"Your nephew Parviz, noble lord," answered Siddha, "was so kind as to +show me a part of the palace this morning; but to tell the truth, I +cannot at this moment form an opinion of it. I am now simply overcome +with astonishment at so much magnificence and such a profusion of +splendid works of art. I had imagined much, but my imagination fell +far short of the reality." + +"That I can easily believe," rejoined Faizi: "it happens to everyone +on their first arrival here. However much one may have heard or read +of Akbar's palace beforehand, one is overcome with astonishment on +really seeing it. But tell me, Kulluka, how things go in the north; +I am anxious to hear news of your Kashmir." + +Kulluka willingly replied, keeping to general affairs, and without +then alluding to the divisions that were beginning to arise; and soon +Siddha also took a lively share in the conversation. Never before had +he found himself so quickly at his ease with a stranger as he did with +the celebrated Faizi, the great Emperor's friend and councillor, and +of whose learning and knowledge he had heard so much. The conversation +soon passed from the subjects of the day to various topics, especially +those relating to literature. + +"You admire our palaces," said Faizi, turning to Siddha, "and say +they far out-do your expectations; but it was quite the contrary with +me when I first made acquaintance with your simple, classical, and +sacred literature. Our faithful were not very learned; Mullahs had +assured me they were nothing but a confused and tasteless collection +of monstrosities, as pernicious to our civilisation as dangerous +to our belief in Allah and His Prophet. I say nothing about this +last accusation; but as to what concerns the cultivation of taste +and knowledge, I find far more aid in your poets and thinkers than +in ours. How splendid is your heroic poetry, how fine your lyrics, +and sparkling your dramas! what noble, elevated feelings, yet, at the +same time, what purity and humanity, and what a breadth and depth of +thought was there in your philosophers of old! But why should I remind +you of all this, which you naturally know and understand far better +than I do, who with great difficulty have learnt to understand your +language, which is so entirely different from our Persian or Arabic." + +"After all," said Siddha, "Sanscrit does not come so naturally to +us Hindus, who generally speak Hindustani. Ask Kulluka if he did not +find difficulties in teaching it to me." + +"Even," remarked Kulluka, "even if in the beginning Faizi found +the same difficulties in learning Sanscrit that others have done, +his translation of our Kashmiri chronicles, and his rendering of Nala +and Damayanti, [62] can well make us forget that the language is not +his native one." + +"What splendid poetry, is it not?" continued Faizi, who did not let the +conversation easily drop when it once touched on Hindu literature; +"and how far short any translation must fall when compared with +the original, so simple and yet so exalted, with its unsurpassed +women! Think of the noble, pure Damayanti, proof against all the +trials and slights of her unworthy husband! My translations have been +undertaken to please Akbar, who naturally cannot find time to learn +a strange language, and yet is desirous of reading everything. Now +he has given me the task of translating the Evangelists." + +"Of what?" asked Kulluka. + +"Of the holy books used by the people of the West, who are called +Christians, after the founder of their religion, of whom you must +have heard. There is much worth reading in those books, and I find +many exalted and profound ideas in them, mixed with matter of less +consequence, as is also the case with your philosophies; but on the +whole there is not much that is new to those who are acquainted with +your philosophical writings. But what always strikes me particularly," +he continued, again turning the conversation to the praise of ancient +India, "are your proverbs. How insipid ours appear when compared with +them! Even if I had only learnt this one of you, it would have been +enough to give me fresh courage for working at my manuscript,-- + + +"The treasure that never fades is never robbed, but grows +The more it is expended; that treasure is called knowledge." + + +"Is that right?" said he, turning to Siddha; "or have I made some +fault in the pronunciation?" + +For a moment Siddha hesitated, but glancing at Kulluka, who smiled +and nodded to him, he replied, with confidence, "Not quite right, +my lord; but the mistake is a very slight one." And repeating the +word in fault, he showed how it should be pronounced. + +"Now I am fortunate," cried Faizi, joyfully; "but do repeat one of +the sayings from Bhartrihari; [63] no doubt you know many." + +Siddha thought for a moment, and then recited:-- + + +"Every one who lives was born, but only those are truly born +Who, dying, leave a name to their descendants." + + +"Oh," laughed Faizi, "in your Kashmir you have learnt other things than +Sanscrit,--you are also learned in the art of flattery, my friend." + +"Flattery?" asked Siddha. "Should not your name and that of your +brother Abú-l Fazl--that have penetrated from Persia to the furthest +districts of Hindustan--should not your names be preserved by coming +generations?" + +"My brother's name," he answered; "yes, that will not lightly +be forgotten: preserved, perhaps, not so much through his deeds +as through his immortal work, the 'Akbar Nama,' [64] in which he +describes the history of our great Emperor's reign. That is indeed +a book, my friend, in comparison with which all my writings sink to +nothing. But I have remarked to him that he raises Akbar too much +to the clouds; for after all, he, as a man, has his faults, like +others, and perhaps in the future he may be accused of flattery of +princes and of prejudice. But he would not listen to me, nor in the +least diminish his praise of the Emperor. 'If I,' he answered me, +'may not say all that I in truth think of the man, who is more than +my prince--he is my benefactor and truest friend,--rather than not +say what I think, I would throw my book away.' As you can understand, +against all that there was no reasoning; and one can see also that to +Akbar, although he says nothing, the praise of a friend whose opinion +he prizes so highly is very welcome." + +"Noble Faizi," said Siddha, interrupting a short silence, "may I ask +you a question?" + +"Certainly," was the reply; "and I hope to be able to answer it +frankly." + +"Well, then, when we spoke of Abú-l Fazl, a warning he gave me this +morning crossed my mind. He warned me against treachery that here +surrounds the Emperor. Do you, whose opinion is of such great weight, +believe that there can be people here so foolish and so criminal as to +league themselves against so great and beneficent a prince as Akbar; +can it really be?" + +"Oh!" cried Faizi; "my brother sees treachery everywhere; but after +all, that is but natural to a Minister, and still more to the first, +the great Wazir. However, you may make yourself easy; people here are +not so base, nor are they so foolish, as to engage in a game in which +their heads are the stakes, and the chances ten to one against them." + +"Faizi," said Kulluka, gravely and half reproachfully, "your hopeful +views prove your good heart; but do you not think that they may be +sometimes dangerous to young people, and lead them, as for example +might be the case with our inexperienced friend here, into imprudence?" + +"I do not see that he is inclined to want of caution," was the reply; +"and I only mean that it is better that he should not begin with his +head full of imaginations of court and state intrigues, but enter life +with confidence and courage. We all began so, and dangers never harmed +us. If he begins with too much suspicion, he will end by trusting no +one, not even my brother or myself." + +"That could never be," cried Siddha, quickly, as he looked confidently +into Faizi's friendly face. "As little as I could ever suspect secret +enmity from you, so little could you expect faithlessness and treachery +from one who prizes your friendship and good opinion as highly as +I do." + +"Remember what you have said," Kulluka remarked, gravely; "and +think, too, that no one has the power of foreseeing all the events +and circumstances that may end in influencing him, short-sighted as +he is, to give up his free will." + +"See," said Faizi, in his usual joyous tone, "here we are again in +philosophy. You know well it is my favourite subject, although I have +not made so much progress in it as Kulluka maintains. Let us call for +lights--night begins to close in--and we will have some discussion +touching Sankhya and Vedanta, [65] in which he is so strong. What a +pity that we cannot ask Akbar to join us! he finds more pleasure in the +driest philosophical discussion than in the most sparkling banquets." + +"Nothing should I like better, honoured Faizi," answered Kulluka, +"than to pass an hour with you deep in such subjects, as in past days; +but now I am afraid we must go, Siddha must take over his command early +to-morrow morning, and I have much to settle to-night in readiness +for my departure, which is fixed for the day after to-morrow. Will +you, then, excuse us if we take our leave, and thank you for your +reception--as kind and friendly as ever it was in days gone by?" + +"Indeed I will excuse you, my worthy friend," answered Faizi, +as he called to a servant to show them out. "Siddha," he said, as +he took leave, "we were speaking of imprudences; be on your guard +against them. But a young man like you may happen to fall into them +as well at your court as at ours; and if you ever find yourself in +any difficulty, come straight to Faizi, who may be able to keep you +out of the fire." And without waiting for either answer or thanks, +he turned back to his own apartments. + +Who could have asked for more, on his entry into life, than was +given to Siddha! Neither councillors nor support failed him. For +important affairs there was the hermit of the mountain; for more +trifling difficulties the wise and influential Faizi. The favour +of the First Minister had already been granted him, and that of the +Emperor himself was promised him. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +AKBAR. + + +Early next morning, on the great maidan of the fortress, our young +soldier took over the command of his detachment from the chief +mansabdar [66] of the Rajputs. The officer above him exacted a +strict observance of discipline; but to that Kulluka's pupil was well +accustomed, and he himself saw the necessity for it. This mansabdar, +too,--who presented him with the white feather and other symbols of +his rank,--in spite of the severity of his disposition, was a man +of cultivation and courteous, friendly manners. Siddha was equally +pleased with the appearance of his men, clad in the same splendid +array as their leaders. They were splendid riders, with soldier-like +bearing, and countenances sparkling with life and courage. + +At the request of the commander, Siddha put his troopers through +some evolutions, which gave him the opportunity of showing off his +own admirable riding and the training of his horse. Had Kulluka been +present at these exercises he would have seen with satisfaction the +approbation with which his pupil was regarded by his superiors. After +some evolutions with all the troops assembled, the bugle signalled that +the exercises for the day were over, and commanded the retreat. Siddha, +giving his horse to Vatsa, who was in waiting, turned his footsteps +towards one of the gardens of the palace, to which officers of his +rank had access. But before he had reached the court he saw a young +woman approaching him by one of the side-paths, who, from her attire, +appeared to be a servant belonging to some great house. As she drew +near she hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Are you not, my lord, +the noble Siddha, just arrived from Kashmir?" + +"You are right," he answered; "you seem to know me." + +"Not personally," said the servant; "but the noble lady who sent me +gave me your description. She requests a few minutes' conversation +with you, if you will have the kindness to grant them to her." + +"But," asked Siddha, "who is your mistress?" + +"Excuse me, my lord," was the answer, "if I withhold her name for the +present; doubtless she will herself enlighten you, if you honour her +with a visit, and, if you will, she expects you this evening. Come at +about ten, by that mosque." And she pointed to a beautiful building +on a height, whose gilded cupolas and marble minarets were sparkling +in the sunshine. + +Siddha hesitated and sought for an answer. An adventure--and he thought +of Iravati. A plot--and he remembered the warning of Abú-l Fazl. + +"Well?" asked the maid, mockingly. "A soldier like you, and not know +what to do when an illustrious lady asks for a short conversation! You +are not afraid, I hope." + +"Afraid!" cried Siddha, while a flush of anger mounted to his +face. "What gives you the right--but," continued he, restraining +himself, "my irresolution may appear strange, but the reasons are no +concern of yours. Meet me at the appointed time at the mosque." + +"It is well," replied the woman; and greeting him, she returned the +way she had come. + +For a moment Siddha thought of attempting to follow her unseen, and +so to discover with whom he had to do; but a moment's consideration +convinced him she certainly would be on her guard. Dissatisfied with +the whole affair, and with himself, he continued his walk, and soon +reached the garden. + +Rich and magnificent as it was, there was more to fatigue than satisfy +the eye. Straight paths, one resembling another, paved with smooth +polished stones, were shaded by trees; and there were tanks bordered +with marble, from the centres of which fountains of various forms +arose. The groups of trees in all directions threw thick, cool shade, +inviting the passers-by to repose. After having wandered for some time +without meeting any one, Siddha saw a middle-aged and powerfully-built +man seated under the shade of one of these trees. There was something +in the man's appearance that immediately excited his attention, though +he could scarcely have given a reason. The stranger was distinguished +from the courtiers he had met, by something that words can hardly +convey. The expression of his face, closely shaven, like others, was +calm and frank; neither handsome nor the contrary, his attire was rich +yet simple; and excepting the elaborately worked hilt of his sword, +his only ornament was a diamond of extraordinary size that glittered +in the folds of his turban. But what neither ornaments nor beauty +of feature could give, was the peculiar expression and bearing that +Siddha had remarked in Gurupada the hermit, but which was still more +marked in this man, and bespoke him a ruler. Still, in the unknown +he did not suspect more than a courtier or a great warrior attached +to some prince who was in attendance at Akbar's court. With a silent +greeting he was about to pass by, when the stranger addressed him +by name, and without rising or further introduction, asked if he had +made acquaintance with his Rajputs. Somewhat surprised that everyone +should know who he was, Siddha replied in the affirmative, and the +other proceeded in explanation. + +"By the heron's feathers I recognised your rank, and knowing all your +fellow-officers personally, and knowing also that you were expected +to take up your appointment, I had no difficulty in guessing who you +were. And how do you like your appointment? Sit down by me." + +"I should indeed be ungrateful," said Siddha, accepting the invitation, +which sounded more like a command, and scarcely noticing that the +stranger treated him as an inferior,--"I should indeed be ungrateful +to my benefactor and the Emperor if I did not highly prize the noble +occupation in which they have placed me." + +"The Emperor!" repeated the other; "well, yes. But tell me, do you +come to serve him, or simply to enjoy the privileges that your rank +gives you at his court?" + +"A hard question, noble lord," answered Siddha, frankly, "and one I +have never put to myself; but still I can answer without difficulty, +that, above all, I should desire faithfully to serve the Emperor, +as far as honour and duty allow. My having entered into his service +of my own free will testifies to this." + +"Prudently answered," remarked the stranger; "but now the question is, +what do you understand by honour and duty?--those are difficult words +to explain." + +"For some," replied Siddha; "but I do not find them so. I take them in +their strongest meaning. Honour and duty would forbid me to undertake +anything against my country, even if Akbar himself should give the +orders; and in that case to give up all the privileges secured to me +by his favour." + +"And you would do well," replied the other, approvingly; "but what +reasons have you for imagining that the Emperor would ever require from +you what would be to the prejudice of yourself and your countrymen?" + +For a moment Siddha hesitated, as the conversation with his uncle +crossed his mind. But quickly recovering himself, and looking in +the stranger's open face, he asked, with no further introduction, +"Is not Akbar ambitious?" + +"Young man," exclaimed the stranger, in a tone and with a look that +made Siddha involuntarily shrink from his side, "until now you have +contented yourself with prudent remarks; but, at the court of Akbar +himself, so to express yourself to a perfect stranger appears to me +rather rash." + +"It may appear so," answered Siddha, without embarrassment. "I do not +know you, that is true; but to know your name or rank is indifferent +to me. I see you and hear your voice, and know that it would be +impossible for you to betray or harm a young and inexperienced man, +who has trusted you and spoken frankly." + +These simple words caused a look of pleasure to cross the stranger's +countenance, not of flattered vanity, but a nobler and purer feeling of +satisfaction. Flattery was not strange to him, nor was he insensible +to it. But these were words from the heart, spoken in ignorance of +who he was, and praising in him that which he prized above everything. + +He said, laying his hand on Siddha's shoulder, while his voice sounded +gentler, "What you have said is true. You trust me, you say, though +you do not know me; do the same when the time comes that you know me +well. But now for Akbar. He is ambitious: in that you are right. I +know him, and all is not so well as I could wish, and I agree that he +is ambitious; but then, in what way? Do you really believe that his +only desire is to add more and more kingdoms and peoples to his empire, +which already is far too extended? Should he not be content with what +he already has? I think the small kingdom of Agra and Delhi were his +sole inheritance. Little if anything else was left him by Humayun, +[67] his unfortunate and sorely tried father; and at present his +dominions extend from the borders of Persia to the furthest extremes +of Bengal, and to the districts of the Dakhin and Golkonda. Then why +do you imagine to yourself new conquests, and especially that of your +far-distant Kashmir, which would not repay the many sacrifices that +would be necessary to attain it. Still, reasons might arise which would +force a prince no longer to respect the independence of neighbouring +states; that is, if they should threaten to become dangerous for the +peace and prosperity of his own people. And in such a case he must +act, although he would gladly leave his sword in the scabbard; and +although the peace and liberty of surrounding nations are as dear to +him as those of his own dominions. Still all this does not prevent the +descendant of Baber and Timur [68] from being ambitious; and from his +earliest manhood his ambition has been not only to found a great and +mighty empire, but, above all, to ensure the happiness, prosperity, and +cultivation of the people that the great Power has entrusted to him. He +has striven to improve their condition, and to calm the jealousies and +divisions of the different races, to put an end to religious disputes, +and to bridle the tyranny and oppression of the powerful and selfish +nobles. He has tried to benefit the industrious classes of Bengal, +and striven to increase prosperity everywhere, to encourage science +and art, and to raise his subjects to a state of cultivation and +enlightenment for which many have shown great aptitude. Say, if you +will, frankly, that this is too much for one mortal to accomplish, +and I shall not contradict you; but the striving after an ideal +should not be condemned even if it is unattainable. And, in truth, +Akbar's own ideal will never be fulfilled. How many years of thought +and toil has he devoted to this goal; and how far, alas! is he now +from attaining it!" + +With respect and awe Siddha listened, as, carried away with his +subject, the stranger rose to his feet, lifting his hand toward heaven; +but as he finished, dejectedly he sank back, bending his head on that +breast which contained a warm and noble heart. For a moment Siddha +felt inclined to rise to his feet, not doubting but that he saw before +him the Emperor himself; but then the idea that so great a man should +so confide in a young, unknown stranger appeared too absurd to be +reality. As he was about to attempt, by roundabout questions, to find +out with whom he was speaking, approaching footsteps interrupted the +conversation, and presently a man appeared, short and bent, clad in +grave garments, and with what was rare at court, a thick black beard. + +"Abdul Kadir," [69] said the stranger, more to himself than to +Siddha, while a dark cloud crossed his countenance. Notwithstanding, +he greeted the new comer with courtesy, at the same time making him +a sign that he wished to remain unknown. + +With a defiant glance Abdul Kadir looked at Siddha, who had stepped +on one side, from head to foot, and then turned his back on him, +without saying a word. That the blood rose to the cheeks of our Indian +nobleman at such treatment was not surprising; but as he was about +to demand an explanation of the insult, the stranger restrained him, +and said, "Do not, noble Siddha, allow the treatment of my friend here +to arouse your anger. It is not personally meant, of that I am sure; +but he cannot bear the sight of you Hindus, as he imagines that you +damage his faith. Is it not so?" he asked, turning to Abdul Kadir. + +"You are right," he answered. "I have, indeed, no personal enmity to +you, young man," he continued, turning to Siddha. "I do not know you, +but to fight and strive against you, root and branch, is to me a holy +duty; and I do strive against you, and hate you with an irreconcilable +hatred. Still, as men, there are many among you whom I respect and +honour. You injure our faith, and even make the Emperor himself averse +to it. You deny Allah and mock His Prophet, and seek to drive us, the +faithful, away, and to become masters of offices and employments, that +you may put your false gods and false doctrines in the place of the God +without whom there is no god, and of those who, in truth, acknowledge +Him. Therefore, and for that reason alone, I hate you and yours, +and will strive against you and yours till the death. You are either +atheists or idolaters; in either case you lead the people astray, +and tempt the prince. Enough that you are nothing but unbelieving----" + +A severe, penetrating glance from the stranger held back on the lips +of the speaker the word that was about to follow. Had it been spoken, +Siddha, in spite of all his endeavours, would scarcely have been able +to restrain his anger. + +"Unbelieving, then," continued Abdul Kadir; "and that for a true son +of the Prophet is more than enough. But what can it concern you, if I, +who here have nothing to say, nor am of the slightest importance, am +not one with your race? The favour of the Emperor is assured to you, +who can and does do anything as it best pleases him. He has freed you +from the burthen justly laid on you by the true believers for your +denial of the true faith. He calls you to all employments, places +you at the head of his armies, chooses amongst you his councillors +and friends. What would you have more? Leave me, then, leave us, +our just wrath. We cannot harm you; but it may be that the anger of +heaven will one day fall on your heads, and perhaps on his, also, who +showered favours on you, instead of chastising you with the rod and +the sword, which for this purpose Allah himself placed in his hand." + +"It appears to me," coldly said the stranger, after this hot outbreak, +"it appears to me that our conversation so carried on is neither +profitable nor agreeable. Doubtless, friend Siddha, you have more to +say in reply to Abdul Kadir, and I myself am far from agreeing with +him. But if I do not mistake, this time he sought us not for the +sake of a fruitless dispute, but to talk over an important affair, +and on this I will willingly listen to him. Excuse me, therefore, +if for the present I say farewell, hoping that we may meet again +before long. Abdul Kadir," he said, as with a respectful greeting +Siddha took his leave, "what do you want with me?" + +"Sire," was the answer,--for it was indeed Akbar himself with whom +Siddha had been conversing,--"my duty as a subject as well as a friend, +though one of little importance, obliges me to seek your Majesty." + +"I know it," interrupted Akbar; "you are not self-seeking, you care +not for protection or favours. And yet I would that you did; then, +perhaps, I might be able to content you, in which now I seldom or never +succeed. But I suspect that it is on religious subjects you wish to +speak to me. The exaggerated words you have just used have told me what +was coming; at any rate, be so good as to use a little moderation." + +"In truth," answered Abdul Kadir, "the faith, the one pure, true +faith, is what now leads me here. For that I request a few minutes' +conversation,--and," continued he, with a stern look, "earnest and +grave conversation." + +"I will do my best," replied Akbar, courteously; "and will promise +not to laugh, if you will keep within bounds." + +"That will depend on your opinion," remarked the other; "but I will do +my best to treat the subject calmly. To warn you, and most earnestly +to warn you, is imperative on all who mean well to Shah Akbar, and yet +know what has come to my ears. As you well know, there has long been +deep discontent among us true Muhammadans, caused by state offices +being placed in the hands of men lukewarm like Abú-l Fazl, or atheist +like Faizi. But what you do not know is that a party has arisen in the +midst of your kingdom, and in the neighbourhood even of your court, +which has irrevocably sworn to work for your fall and destruction, +because you have refused to give ear to the claims which they, as the +representatives of the ancient and only true friends of the House of +Timur, have a just right to demand. Lately I had the opportunity of +being present at an assembly of our Mullahs, and what I there heard +was enough to make me shudder when I thought what such influential +men among the Muhammadan population might accomplish, even against +Akbar, if supported by ambitious nobles and discontented generals, +of whom many may be found in the court of Agra, as well as throughout +Hindustan." + +"But," asked Akbar, impatiently, "what do your Mullahs and their +followers want? Have they not the fullest liberty to think and speak +as they will, and to make as many proselytes as they can? Have I ever +laid as much as a straw in their path?" + +"Certainly not," replied his companion; "but does not that also call +to heaven? Of what value to them is the liberty which is shared by +unbelievers? Here, in your court, in the army, and in every kind +of employment, are they offended by the defiling presence of the +kafirs. And where is the vindication of the true faith, to which, +above all men on earth, the Emperor is called, as the representative +of Allah?" + +"Yes," cried Akbar; "here is again the old story, your people alone are +entrusted with the truth, and before that all must give way, even I; +and he who will not bend must break. But why should you alone be in +possession of the truth?" + +"Because the Prophet, blessed be his name, "has himself declared it +to us, and because----" + +"Because," interrupted Akbar, "because he, and no one else, is +good. Yes; we have the Padres, who come from the West, from the +land of the Franks: brave, honourable men, as yourselves. They also +have a Prophet, who, if I mistake not, they honour as their God. I +do not clearly understand it; but, in any case, their faith is +older than that of Muhammad. Then there are the Jews, who are not +content with this or that, but hold by Moses alone; and then what +do you say to our Brahmans? They have ancient books which merit the +greatest reverence,--so venerable that they themselves can scarcely +understand them; so ancient, that Moses with his Thora, Christ with his +Evangelist, and Muhammad with his Koran are all new in comparison. And +now I ask you, from your conscience, how can I, a simple man, who has +heard somewhat of all this, but not a hundredth part of the whole,--how +can I make myself judge amongst these various faiths, and decide, +for example, whether that of Christ or Muhammad is the true one?" + +"But you were brought up in the teaching of Islam." + +"No very satisfactory foundation for any one's faith. A sure foundation +should rest on conviction brought about by one's own inquiries, and +should hardly depend on the will of one's father. But the question now +is not what I personally believe--that concerns no one--but how I, as +prince and ruler over the kingdom of the Mughals, should conduct myself +towards the professors of the various religious sects who alike are +subject to my rule, and who alike have a claim to my protection. And +this question, best of friends, believe me, you will never answer as +long as you only look at it from one side and not the other." + +"But, then, the dangers that threaten your kingdom and throne?" + +"I have others to think of," replied the Emperor, with a contemptuous +smile, "than those with which the anger of your religious fanatics +threaten me." + +"Others!" said Abdul Kadir, looking earnestly at the Prince. "Just so; +you mean the kind of dangers caused by strangers. But what of those +dangers, at present secret, but which may become open, and may find +support in your own house, encouraged by those of your own race? If +your son----" + +"My son Salim!" exclaimed Akbar; "and yet," he continued, "that +is not impossible. Among the reigning houses around us, how many, +through family feuds, have been subjected to our rule? And so you +mean that Salim himself is ready to join these malcontents against +me? for that appears to me what your words point to." + +"It is so, Sire," answered Abdul Kadir; "at least, I mean that his +religious zeal might induce him to do so; but I do not say that this +is the case already." + +"One thing is certain," rejoined Akbar, "if this should ever take +place, religious zeal will not be Salim's inducement. He cares far +more for fine wines and beautiful women than for the Koran and the +Prophet. But that is no reason that I should not thank you for the +warning. If you had begun with it at first, many useless words might +have been spared. If in the future you should have any more such +communications to make, we will thank you for them. We must be a +little on our guard, and keep a look-out on our people here. But, +for the present, farewell." + +And, with a somewhat ironical smile on his lips, the Emperor left Abdul +Kadir to think over the impression that his words might have made. + +"By Allah," muttered the follower of the Prophet between his teeth, +"I have done a fine thing by naming Salim. I had only intended to +disturb him, and so to render him more pliant to our will; instead +of which I have simply warned him, and instead of helping, we shall +now find him still harder to deal with. Now he knows or suspects that +some of us league ourselves together with his son against him. You are +looked upon as a wise man, Abdul Kadir, and yet you have acted like +a fool. Ah! if the zeal that fills my soul for our holy faith would +but preserve to me the calm that seldom or never forsakes Akbar! What +an advantage that gives him over us!" + +That the composure Akbar showed was as real as the other believed +might well have been doubted by any one who had seen him returning to +the palace, buried in thought, and with his eyes fixed on the ground. + +In one of his private apartments a man awaited him, whose presence, if +Abdul Kadir had but known it, would have given him fresh grounds for +a violent outbreak. This was Kulluka the Brahman. He sat in thought, +not noticing the splendour around him, nor the lovely view over the +smiling gardens. Still, this was not the first time he had seen it. + +Presently one of the Imperial Guard came to arouse him from his +thoughts, and to conduct him to the Emperor. + +"It is indeed a pleasure to see you here again," said Akbar, +affectionately returning the Brahman's greeting, "and I hope you +bring me good news from Kashmir." + +"Alas, Sire," answered Kulluka, "I wish that I did, or that I +could hide from your Majesty, as from others, all the causes of +uneasiness. But the confidence you have placed in me, as well as the +good of my country, oblige me to keep nothing hidden that I know." + +"I understand," said Akbar; "the old story over again. Party feuds +and disputes: sons against their fathers; brothers intriguing against +each other, as in old days." + +"But too true," replied Kulluka. "After Nandigupta, the lawful king, +had disappeared from the stage, leaving all in his brother's hands, +we believed that order would be established, and for some time it was +so; and the people were content with the government, although not +enthusiastic for it. At any rate, there was no thought of further +changes, but now that is no longer the case. The spirit of faction +begins to stir up discontent, and fresh revolutions appear ready to +break out. The worst of all is that we cannot discover where this +plot has its origin. The king's sons, who sooner or later threaten +to rise against him, certainly do not act from their own inspiration; +but whence, then, does it come? That is what we cannot discover." + +"That may be as it will," said the Emperor, decisively. "Whether or not +they act independently, the old game seems about to begin again. And +what, if it cannot be stopped in time, will be the unavoidable +consequence? That, as before, the different parties will take arms, +and civil war will destroy your country. On all sides bands will be +formed, who, the less they find within the boundaries of Kashmir, +so much the more will they carry fire and sword among my people to +repay themselves for what they have lost at home. And now I say, +without circumlocution, and once for all, that I will not tolerate +it. My kingdom and my people shall be respected; and if force is +required, whatever trouble or treasure it may cost, I will again +assemble my armies and march to the north to re-establish the peace +that is necessary to the prosperity of my subjects. Better to tear +down and destroy the whole robber's nest than allow it to remain, +to the injury of my people." + +In spite of his respect for the Emperor, these proud, defiant words +could not but excite Kulluka's anger, and, though he gave no reply, +the dark colour mounted to his bronzed cheek. + +"Forgive me, worthy Kulluka," said Akbar, "if what I have said angers +you. But you should know, as well as I myself, that in so speaking +I do not mean the good men among your people, such as yourself, your +present prince, and his ministers, but the miserable intriguers that +will draw down upon you the greatest misfortune, while they threaten +us with the consequences of their turbulence. To guard against this +is my duty, and I well know how to fulfil it. Do all you can to make +my intervention unnecessary, and you may rest assured that I shall +be the last to wish to force it on you." + +"I place the fullest confidence in your words," said Kulluka, "and +if I could not suppress a feeling of anger, it was certainly caused +as much by the accursed plots laid for our country and prince as by +the threats, for which, I must confess, there is some occasion. But +does treachery alone seek a home in Kashmir? Is it so impossible +that it should also be present at your court, and that among your +own courtiers and relations there may be found those who conspire +against us and against your rule?" + +"How now, what do you mean by that?" + +"I went, perhaps, too far, and spoke rashly; still, I have my +suspicions, and though I trust they may prove idle, yet I cannot put +them from me. Salim----" + +"What, again Salim? Is he also involved in this?" + +"With what else he is concerned I do not know; but some slight +indications have caused me to warn your Majesty. If they are +groundless, so much the better, but to be on one's guard can in no +case do harm." + +"And that I shall be. For the present, however, all rests on +supposition and assumed possibility. We must neither judge nor act +rashly; but be assured that nothing you have told me shall escape +my closest inquiry. When we meet again the hour for action may +have come. But before you go, I must tell you something that will +be personally interesting to you--I have just seen and spoken with +your pupil." + +"How, Siddha?" exclaimed Kulluka, with astonishment. "And who presented +him to you?" + +"No one," answered Akbar; "I met him in the park, and guessing who +he was, spoke to him. You know, occasionally I like thus to converse." + +"And did he not know that he spoke with the mighty Emperor?" + +"Naturally not; nor did he guess it. Do not tell him; I will myself +enlighten him one day. You want to know what I think of him? Well, +then, I am content with him. He is a fine, honourable young man, +in whom I can trust. Perhaps somewhat imprudent in what----" + +"He has not said what was not fitting to the Emperor?" + +"Well," said Akbar, laughing, "if he had known to whom he was +talking. But do not be disturbed. When I made him see that he spoke +a little too freely he blamed himself in a manner that I could not +but accept. Enough: I have said he pleased me, and you know that I +am not wont to decide so favourably respecting those I see for the +first time. Let him only take care that the first good impression +continues. But now other affairs call me, and I will not detain you." + +With a respectful greeting, Kulluka left the apartment. Akbar looked +after him with affection. A man so far separated by rank and station, +religion and nationality, was yet bound to him both by respect and +friendship, and by a faith that could not fail where he had once +given his word. + +"On him, at least, I can reckon," said the Emperor to himself; "in +him is no deceit." And he was right; but how many stood far nearer +to him, and of whom he could not say the same! + + + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A NEW AND AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. + + +Siddha reached the Mosque at the appointed time, and had not waited +long before he saw the servant approach and sign to him to follow +her. She led him through different side-paths until they reached a +high garden wall, in which there was a small door. She opened this, +and carefully shut it again, after they had entered. A path thickly +bordered with cactuses and other plants led him to a kind of terrace +with orange-trees and fountains, on which the back part of a small +but tasteful house opened; the rest of it being hidden by thickly +growing trees. Siddha's guide led him up a flight of marble steps +and through a gallery to an apartment open to the fresh air, and +having left him she disappeared behind the hangings. On a divan +was carelessly stretched a young woman richly clad in the Persian +style. No sooner did she become aware of her visitor's presence than +she arose and came forward to meet and welcome him. At the first moment +Siddha could hardly have told whether she was beautiful or not. Her +features were not regular; but her soft blue eyes, overshadowed with +silken lashes, had an indescribably sweet and friendly expression; +and though she was not tall, her figure, which her closely-fitting +robe showed to perfection, was most perfectly proportioned. But what +particularly struck Siddha was the whiteness of her neck and bosom, +round which a pearl necklace hung; and the rosy tint of her cheeks, +which he had never seen in other women. + +"Noble lord," she said,--and if the impression she had already made +on Siddha had been unfavourable, the sweetness of her voice would at +once have won him to her,--"I thank you for so speedily fulfilling +my request. Perhaps it seems a little indiscreet; but when you hear +the reasons, I trust you will not think harshly of me." + +"To refuse such an invitation," answered Siddha, "would indeed have +been uncourteous; though I confess I did not await the time with +the impatience I should have done, noble lady, had I known whom I +should meet." + +Acknowledging this compliment with a slight inclination of her head, +she continued,--"My excuse is, that no personal reason made me take +this step, but the affairs of another, of a friend of mine, whom I +love with all my heart. Some time ago she was forced to fly from Agra +to escape the snares laid for her by powerful persons here, and sought +a refuge in your country, in Kashmir. Now I have a communication to +make to her which may be of great importance; but until now I could +think of no means of sending safely to her, as I do not trust any of +the messengers at my disposal. Then I heard accidentally, it does not +signify how, that you with your former tutor had arrived in Agra, +and that the guru would shortly return. I at once saw that I could +not do better than trust in the honour of a nobleman whose name was +well known to me, and so determined on begging you to ask your friend +to undertake the delivery of my letter, in which I inform my friend +of many things that are only of importance to her; and I trust my +request will not inconvenience you or the worthy Kulluka." + +At these words, Siddha's first feeling was one of relief. So, then, +the whole affair merely consisted in taking charge of an apparently +innocent letter, and which, at any rate, did not concern him. But with +his satisfaction was mingled a certain degree of disappointment, and +that there should be no shadow of an adventure in this affair was not +flattering to his vanity. He hastened to assure her he would gladly +charge his tutor with the letter, who would willingly undertake to +convey it. + +At a sign from the lady the servant appeared, bringing her a paper +folded in the form of a letter, and fastened with a silken cord, +bearing a seal. "The direction, as you see," she said, as the servant +left the room, "is not to my friend, but to some one whom perhaps +you know." + +"Certainly," answered Siddha, "we have often hunted together." + +"He will deliver the letter, and so your friend Kulluka will not +know who the real recipient is; for I think it is better that as +few as possible should share the secret. I hope," she continued, +after a moment's silence, "that my friend will profit by what I tell +her. Indeed I pity her greatly in her banishment, though at times I +almost envy her the opportunity she enjoys of visiting your beautiful +country, of which I have read such glowing descriptions. But tell me +frankly, are not these descriptions a little exaggerated--at least, +they are rather poetical?" + +"Indeed," answered Siddha, "though my tutor has always warned +me against exaggeration as outstepping the bounds of reality and +good taste, still I must say the descriptions you mention fall far +beneath the truth. Here nature has her beauties. Charming are the +borders of your Jamuna, and with the magnificence and luxury of your +palaces there is nothing in our northern land that can be compared; +but the beauty of our mountains, woods, and valleys, can hardly be +imagined by you, accustomed to less-favoured lands." And led away +by recollections of his native land, and by the interest shown by +his new and really beautiful listener, our Siddha lost himself in +descriptions of Hindustan's world-famed paradise. His eloquence, +as well as his good looks, increased the admiration with which his +hearer regarded the handsome and powerful youth. + +"But I detain you too long," she said, at last rising, "and am taking +advantage of your kindness. Still, one more request: let our interview, +for the sake of my friend, remain a secret between you and me. This +short meeting can be of no importance." + +"For you, certainly not," said Siddha; "but for me more than you seem +to think." + +"I see," she replied, laughing, "that you Hindus are as well versed +as our people in the art of paying compliments. But let us leave +that. There still remains something that I should say. I should show +myself indeed unworthy of your confidence, if, knowing who you are, +I should myself remain unknown; and, under the promise of secrecy, +I see no reason for withholding my name and rank, lowly as it is. My +name is Rezia; my father, an Armenian, came here for commerce, and +early married me to a merchant of this town, who was already far +advanced in years. Some time ago he went to Persia on his affairs, +and perhaps further; but it is long since I have heard anything of +him. In the meantime I live here, as you see, solitary and quiet, +enjoying the pleasure of a peaceful life. So now you know who you +have had the trouble of visiting, although we may never meet again." + +"And why, noble Rezia, should that not be?" asked Siddha. "I see no +reason against it, and possibly I may have things to tell you of the +country where your friend now is, that might interest you." + +"Well," answered Rezia, "I will not refuse your friendship; and if +some evening you should have an idle hour, I would gladly hear tidings +of my letter, and that its charge occasioned no trouble. At any rate, +I am sure it has a good chance. No doubt you will meet my servant, and +have only to tell her when you will visit me in my solitary dwelling." + +"For the opportunity of seeing you again, I shall indeed be grateful," +said Siddha, as he carefully placed the letter entrusted to him in +his girdle, and prepared for the moment to say farewell. + +When he reached his home he stood for some time in the verandah, busied +with thought, gazing on the river that flowed softly below him. Those +were the same waters that would bathe the walls of Allahabad fortress, +and reflect back the lovely features of Iravati; true, might it not +be that the waves would take a greeting to his loving betrothed, and +whisper words of love and faith? And he snatched Iravati's portrait +from the wall, and pressing his lips to her image, he seated himself +in the gallery; and as he gazed on her, lovelier than ever seemed +the features of the noble and beautiful Hindu girl. But as his eyes +wandered over the palace and gardens bordering the river, another's +figure appeared before him--the graceful form, the blue eyes, and sweet +voice of Rezia the Armenian. What was she to him? Nothing, certainly; +but what harm was there even if he found her charming? He had never +promised Iravati that for her sake every other woman should appear +to him both ugly and unpleasing. + + + +"Hallo!" was heard next morning in the courtyard of Siddha's +dwelling. "Is your master awake? Go and see if a visit from me will +disturb him." + +Before Vatsa could obey the command, Siddha, who was preparing to go +out, recognised the cheerful voice of Parviz, Abú-l Fazl's nephew; +and hastened to meet and beg him to come in. + +"Are you on service now?" he asked. + +"Not for a couple of days." + +"That is well. Then perhaps you will come with me for an expedition?" + +"Very willingly. Where shall we go?" + +"To Fathpúr Sikri, [70] the country residence of the Emperor, the +place everyone visits when they first make an expedition in the +neighbourhood." + +"I submit myself entirely to your friendly guidance," answered Siddha; +"but excuse me if I leave you for a few moments to say farewell to +Kulluka, who is on the point of starting." + +He found his tutor in all the hurry of departure, and, as he said +farewell, entrusted him with the letter, which Kulluka took without +any questions. And before long Siddha and Parviz were mounted and, +followed by their servants, on their way out of the town. Their +journey was nothing but a pleasant ride, their road lying as it did +through an avenue overshadowed with fine trees, with beautiful views +on each side, over fields and shady groves. + +"See," said Parviz, after they had ridden for some time; "such avenues +the Emperor has had planted almost everywhere; and in places where +formerly no green leaf was to be seen, and men died of heat, now +these shady roads are to be found. Is not this a great and useful +work? Certainly every traveller has good cause of gratitude to Akbar." + +"Yes, indeed, the Emperor does great things," answered Siddha--and +his thoughts turned to the extraordinary man with whom, yesterday, he +had talked of Akbar. And he described to Parviz his strange meeting, +and asked if he knew who the person he described could be? + +"No, I know him not," said Parviz, with difficulty suppressing a smile; +"but perhaps you will meet him again." + +"Very likely," answered Siddha, "But, tell me, how is it that here +there are so many people without beards? I always supposed that your +Muhammadans thought a great deal of their beards." + +"So they do; but Akbar thinks quite differently. A little moustache, +like yours and mine, he can put up with, but would rather see nothing +at all on one's face. The wisest men have their whims, and this may be +one. Or he may do it with intention to vex the faithful, and to show +them how little he thinks of their opinions and customs. But, whatever +the reason, so it is; and, unimportant and childish as it seems, this +has given rise to much talk and much that is disagreeable. Now we are +approaching the dwelling of one of the chiefs of the village of this +district, who I know very well, through my uncle the Minister. Shall +we rest with him for a few moments while our horses are watered? My +bay is much in want of it, for he was waiting saddled long before I +was ready." + +Agreeing to this proposal they dismounted in the inner court of +a farmhouse built of stone and wood, and surrounded by tamarinds +and acacias. The proprietor himself soon appeared--a middle-aged, +respectable-looking Hindu, with a magisterial air. After the usual +greetings, and while fresh fruit and ice-cold water was brought for +their refreshment, the conversation naturally turned to agriculture +and the great prosperity of the district, although but lately brought +under cultivation. + +"Partly, of course," said the chief of the village, "we owe the +fortunate condition in which we find ourselves to our own labour +and exertion; but we owe great thanks to the Emperor, whose wise and +beneficent system of ruling first gave us the opportunity of using +our own strength." + +"I have heard of his system," remarked Siddha; "still, to tell you +the truth, I am scarcely master of it." + +"Yet it is very simple," replied the Hindu, "and, to one like you, very +easy to comprehend. The system rests principally on a wise division of +the land, and a just settlement of the taxes on land, and, above all, +on the certainty of law and justice, possessed equally by proprietor +and tenant. Everything used to depend on arbitrary decisions, and no +one knew what he might keep or what he would be obliged to pay; and we +chiefs of the villages had to decide what the yearly taxation of the +fields should be. Now that is all changed: the fields are correctly +measured, their boundaries fixed, and the taxation regulated with +reference to their productiveness, according to which they are placed +in classes, and rented for a certain number of years. [71] And what, +perhaps, is the most important of all, the taxes are payable either +in money or in kind; and no Government officer can decide as he will, +when disputes arise, but by the law alone. The consequence of all this +is, that the cultivator, proprietor, or farmer can tell beforehand +what land will cost, what he will have to pay, and what will remain +his own property. Is it any wonder, then, that he now, understanding +his affairs, applies all his energies to them, and becomes prosperous, +whereas before he was content if he could but earn his daily rice. You +see the fruits of the system around you, and can form your own opinion; +but you could do so far better if you had known the former condition +of the country as I do." + +"The same system in any country would lead to the same results," +answered Siddha. "What a blessing for a state to possess a prince +like Akbar!" + +"We must also be grateful to his councillors," said the magistrate, +"particularly to Todar Mal, [72] the treasurer, who worked out the +system; and to Abú-l Fazl, the great Wazir, who put the last touch to +the work, and repressed with severity the extortions of the Government +officers. If in the beginning these measures appeared to diminish the +revenues of the state, in the long run it has been quite the contrary; +but had the revenues been lessened, still they would have been far +more productive, because the payments are certain and punctual." + +"But, worthy sir," asked Siddha, "is there not danger of these +excellent regulations falling to the ground if a less wise prince +should ascend the throne?" + +"I do not believe it," was the reply. "No despot could easily take +from our community such rights when it had once obtained them. You +know that our people almost entirely govern themselves by their +magistrates, and are thus, to a certain extent, independent of the +sovereign. If he attempted to deprive them of their rights he would +find that he must wage war against a dozen small states, and would not +find soldiers enough to reduce them all to obedience. Even should he +succeed in doing so, the villages would be almost entirely deserted, +and the population would seek refuge in impenetrable jungles and +wildernesses. On the other hand, our villagers leave the prince free +to act as he will. He can carry on war against other kingdoms as +much as he pleases, and as long as the state of his treasury admits; +and they never concern themselves with court intrigues and disputes." + +"What a happy condition of things," said Siddha, "for both parties." + +"But the union of state and people is not much advanced by it," +remarked Parviz, joining in the conversation. + +"No, that is true," answered the magistrate. "But do you believe it +possible that there can be real unity in a State such as our present +Hindustan, where so many and such different races and people are +brought together under one rule?" + +"I acknowledge that it may be difficult; still, it is worth trying +for." + +The conversation, which was very interesting to Siddha, continued +for some time, and then the two friends, taking leave, mounted their +horses and continued their journey. A brisk but rather long ride, +which obliged them more than once to halt and rest, brought them in +sight of the heights on which the palace of Fathpúr was built. However +striking had been the first view of the palaces of Agra, this was +not less so. The buildings rising one above another, as though built +on terraces, stood out proud and stately against the sky, with their +tall towers, and sharply cut battlements. Broad marble steps glittered +in the sunshine, here and there overshadowed by the thick green of +tamarinds and other trees. + +As Siddha and his companion, leaving their horses to the charge +of their servants, entered the precincts of the palace itself, +the former, though less astonished, was far more delighted than he +had been with his first view of Agra. The gardens pleased him more, +and were more satisfying to the eye, for here no wrong was done to +nature; the paths, instead of being laid out with uniform regularity, +followed the unevenness of the ground, and were thickly overshadowed +by luxuriant vegetation. And what a magnificent and refreshing view +over the neighbouring hills and fields, rich and golden with corn, and +over the silver shining river! For some time the two wandered about, +sometimes through solitary groves, and then through galleries filled +with guards and servants. At last Parviz proposed they should go to the +lower town to seek their lodgings, and to obtain better refreshment +than had been possible on the road. This proposal was willingly +agreed to; and after the two friends had enjoyed the needful repose, +they again sallied out to visit what was to be seen in the town. + +"Excuse me," said Parviz, "if I leave you for a few minutes. I have +to give some papers from my uncle to one of his officers here, and +to speak to him about some affairs which will not interest you. He +lives close by, and I shall be back immediately. In the meantime +you can visit that old temple yonder, surrounded with acacias; or, +if you like it better, pay your devotions there." + +"Very much obliged," he answered, laughing; "I scarcely care to +do that, but I will willingly visit the temple, and will await you +close by." + +Siddha had hardly entered the vaulted, dimly-lit building before he +recognised it as a temple of Siva by the numerous emblematic ornaments +on the pillars, and, advancing a few steps, he saw at the furthest +end a kind of hall lighted from above, where was placed a colossal +image of the god, seated cross-legged on a lotus, his arms and ancles +ornamented with numberless rings, the symbol of the trinity on his +forehead, and a necklace of skulls around his neck. Siva was the +immortal ruler of the world, creating to destroy, and destroying to +create afresh, endless in his manifestation and transformation of +being, from whence all takes origin, and to which everything must +return. Well as our young Indian understood the idea represented by +these images and their symbols, the mis-shapen, monstrous figures +struck him with the same feeling of repulsion as they had done when +he first beheld them. The temple itself was not wanting in beauty, +though disfigured by the grotesque representations on the walls. + +He had not been long alone before he heard a voice behind him, +although the silence was unbroken by any sound of footsteps. + +"Om," sounded through the stillness; "Om, the unworthy servant of +Siva's holy consort greets thee, O Moral Force." + +Turning to the spot from whence came the voice, Siddha recognised +the Durga priest Gorakh, whom he had seen in company with his uncle +at Allahabad. "I greet you, holy man," he said, and awaited what the +other should say. + +"So, then, we have not forgotten each other since our last meeting," +replied the priest. "In truth I have not lost sight of you since I +saw you in the neighbourhood of Badrinath." + +"Let that be as it will," answered Siddha, half impatiently; "but I +scarcely comprehend, honoured lord, why you should concern yourself +about me." + +"Should not," asked the other, "the nephew of my old friend and pupil +have claim to the interest I feel in him? and for that reason I feel +obliged to give you a warning, if you will take it from me. You know +who Gurupada the hermit is, do you not?" + +"Gurupada?" asked Siddha. "Certainly; he is a hermit living in the +mountains." + +"Yes; but I mean who he was before he assumed his present name." + +"Of that I know nothing--he never alluded to it." + +"But your guru, Kulluka, must have told you." + +"I never asked him; it was nothing to me." + +Gorakh turned a penetrating look towards the speaker; but he would +have been no true Indian had his countenance displayed ought but utter +indifference. However, irritated by the persistence of his questioner, +he proceeded, with less caution, to say, "Even if I knew who and what +Gurupada had been, can you not understand that I would not tell you?" + +"Ha!" cried the Yogi, "you mean you do not trust me. You mean to defy +me. Do you remember that I am a friend of the Governor of Allahabad?" + +"Yes, I know that," said Siddha, expressing vexation. + +"What do you know?" + +"I know what I know, and that is enough." + +The priest regarded Siddha with anger, not unmingled with +disquietude. What was the meaning of this tone, and what could he +really know? Still for the moment the wisest course seemed to be to +break off the conversation. + +"Enough, then," said Gorakh, "both for you and for me; but bethink +yourself, my young friend--though you are so little desirous of my +friendship, and I will not force it on you,--think that the mighty +goddess, to whose service all my feeble strength is devoted, not +only protects but destroys also, and that there is no hope of mercy +or chance of salvation for him whom, through her priests, she has +chosen out for her service and who has turned from it." So saying, +he disappeared down a side aisle, without waiting for any answer to +his mysterious menace. Siddha looked after him with an involuntary +feeling of anxiety; and though in reality the Durga priest was alone, +yet he almost fancied he could see him followed by a long train +of naked bronze figures, with white cords round their necks, just +as he had seen him in the dimness of night passing along the wall +of Allahabad fortress and vanishing in the jungle. And that night, +as he went to rest, he thought it would be as well to question his +faithful servant who awaited his orders. + +"Vatsa," he said, "at Allahabad you assured me that neither you nor +Kulluka's servant had spoken to any priest or penitent; but can you +not remember some other unknown person to whom you might have talked +of our journey through the mountains, and recounted to him some of +its incidents?" + +"I should never have thought of it again, Sir, if you had not brought +it to my mind," replied Vatsa; "but now I remember that near the stable +a half-naked, bronze-coloured man once talked with us, and told us +much about the town and fortress, and then asked us about our journey." + +"And you told him of my adventure with Gurupada's tiger?" + +"I believe we did." + +"And did you say anything of the hermit and his appearance?" + +"Certainly," answered Vatsa. "His venerable and princely bearing had +so struck us that we were full of it, and not thinking there was any +harm in speaking of it we made no secret of our meeting with him to +the stranger." + +"Did you describe Gurupada's appearance exactly?" + +"I cannot distinctly remember all we said; but I believe we did speak +of it." + +"There is danger," murmured Siddha to himself, "and more than +danger. The priest naturally learnt enough from his spy about our +journey to put me out of countenance. His suspicions seem to be aroused +as regards Gurupada; and it is clear he tried to find out more from +me. But what can he have to do with Gurupada or Nandigupta? And my +uncle Salhana--is he also mixed up in this?" + +"I hope we have done no harm by our talk with the stranger," said +Vatsa, disquieted by seeing his young master sunk in thought. + +"No, no," he replied; "and even had you done so, it was done +unintentionally, and you are not to blame. We ought to have been more +cautious, and to have warned you beforehand. But in future, Vatsa, do +not speak to any one of the hermit, whoever it may be that asks you; +do you understand?" + +"Perfectly, my lord," was the answer; "and in future I have never seen +the hermit, or even if I have done so, I have entirely forgotten what +he was like." + +"Nevertheless," thought Siddha, "it might be as well to warn Kulluka, +and even Nandigupta himself. I will try and find a safe opportunity, +whether Salhana has anything to do with it, or not." + + + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +SALIM. + + +"Form quickly," said the commandant of the Rajpúts, as he stood in +the court of the fortress, while the cavalry fell into rank; "and +then march for the field where the Emperor reviews the troops to-day." + +This order was obeyed without delay, and, when outside the +fortification, they broke into a trot, until they reached a plain, +at some little distance from the town, where the review was to be +held. A splendid sight lay stretched out before Siddha, as, at the +head of his detachment, he ascended a small hill. On the right was +a whole town, as it were, of tents; long, broad streets, laid out +with the utmost regularity. In the middle stood the imperial tent, +made of red cloth, with a gilded dome-shaped roof,--if one might call +a palace of cloth and wood a tent; and on the left, brilliant with +many colours, were drawn up the different army corps--some horsemen in +armour and some without, some armed with lances and some with guns; +and there stood the artillery and war elephants; and further off, +other elephants with luxurious hauda, on whose cushions were seated +ladies, most of them veiled, who had come to see the spectacle. + +Soon after the arrival of the Rajpúts the troops moved forward, +and, preceded by their bands, defiled before the Emperor and his +staff. Siddha did not hesitate long before deciding which was the +Emperor among that brilliant group of officers, their arms and +horse-trappings glittering with gold and jewels. Unmistakable was +his whole bearing--a robust man on a splendid white horse, with the +commander's staff in his hand, standing a few steps in advance of +the others, his standard and umbrella bearer behind him. Instantly +Siddha recognised in the mighty ruler the man with whom he had spoken +in the gardens of the palace, a suspicion of whose real rank had for +a moment crossed his mind. + +When his turn came to pass before the Emperor with his men, he bent +his head and pointed his lance to the ground, as he had seen others do; +and stealing a glance at the Emperor, saw a smile pass over his stern +features, from which he gathered that Akbar had not taken ill his bold +words, and he remembered that excepting a passing outburst of anger, +his interlocutor had maintained during the whole interview a frank +and friendly tone. He came to the conclusion that he had no cause +to dread his presentation to the Emperor, which Faizi had warned him +would most likely take place after the review. This expectation was +soon fulfilled. No sooner had the halt been sounded, a sign that the +troops might for a time repose, than Siddha saw Faizi beckon, and on +joining him he was guided through tents, the magnificence of which +rivalled that of the palace itself; and a few minutes later he found +himself in presence of the Emperor. Faizi was not a little surprised +at seeing Akbar, without waiting for the official presentation, step +forward to meet Siddha, replying to his reverential greeting with +a gracious movement of his hand, and say, "Well, I saw you at the +head of your troop, and it seems to me that you will turn out a good +officer. Take care that my expectations are fulfilled. I have already +made acquaintance with your friend," he continued, turning to Faizi; +"we met a few days ago, although at the time he had no idea who I was." + +"Even had I known it, Sire," said Siddha, respectfully, "I could +not have regarded your Majesty with more reverence than I did the +unknown stranger." + +"But perhaps spoken a little less freely," said Akbar, +smiling. "However, there is no harm done, and I had far rather hear +what men think of me than guess what they say behind my back. Our +former meeting induces me to command, or rather to request, for what +I wish cannot be forced, that now you know me, you will trust me as +you did when I was a stranger. You see to-day that your confidence was +not misplaced. Turn to me, and not to others, when you think that you +have cause of complaint against me or mine. I never refuse to hear +grievances: if they are groundless I try to refute them; if real, +to redress them. Boldness and free speaking, my friend Faizi here +can bear witness, never arouse my anger, however much dissimulation +and falsehood may do so." + +After some questions and replies regarding the particulars of Siddha's +service, the Emperor signified that the audience was at an end, and +they took their leave, Faizi not a little bewildered about this first +meeting, a full account of which his young companion soon gave him. + +"You are indeed a child of fortune," said Faizi; "such things do not +happen to every one, however easy of access Akbar is, and however +willingly he enters into conversation. You seem to have made a +favourable impression on him, and that rejoices me from my heart. But +do I not see Parviz approaching? Yes, indeed; but what can he be doing +here? Well," continued he to his nephew, "what is my lord the future +councillor doing here among warriors in their tents?" + +"As much as my worthy uncle the philosopher," answered Parviz; "but +I willingly confess that I can rival him as little in statecraft and +learning as in deeds of arms." + +"No compliments, my nephew," answered the other, laughing; "they are +not fitting between us. But shall I tell you my suspicions? That you +have come to have a glance at those beautifully decorated elephants +yonder: the lovely daughter of Todar Mal is perhaps not unaccustomed +to your appearance, although you are supposed never to have seen her." + +"Uncle, now in my turn I say, no betrayal of my secrets! However," +added Parviz, good-naturedly, "I have none from my friend Siddha, and +all the more, that I am sure of his sympathy whenever he thinks of +his no less dearly loved betrothed, though I am less fortunate than +he; and even if I hope to find favour in the eyes of the daughter, +I am not so sure of doing so in those of the father." + +"That will all come right in time," remarked Faizi, good-naturedly; +"but enough at present of our confidences. See, here come others, +for whose ears they are not intended." + +"Who is that?" asked Siddha, as he saw a group of horsemen approach, +in the centre of which rode a young man but a few years older than +himself, and whose appearance for more than one reason attracted his +attention. He was dressed with the most luxurious splendour: over +his coat of gold cloth he wore no less than four necklaces of pearls +of unwonted size; his turban was ornamented by a heron's feather and +three jewels of priceless worth. On his arms, up to the elbows, were +clasped numerous bracelets, all set with precious stones; and on each +finger was a ring; while his weapons and horse-trappings were a mass +of pearls and diamonds. But in strange contrast to all this splendour +was the wearied white face, its sallowness still more marked by the +jet-black eyes and finely pencilled moustache and eyebrows. Originally +the features must have been noble and beautiful, but they were ruined +and aged before their time, and bore signs of many a night spent in +dissipation and riot. + +"What, do you not know him?" answered Faizi; "that is Salim, the +Emperor's son and heir." + +With a silent greeting the Prince was about to ride by, but a sudden +thought striking him, he drew in his horse by Faizi, and said, "Sirs, +I am glad to meet you here; I expect some friends this evening in +my palace to a feast, will you also give me the pleasure of your +presence?" + +"The invitation," answered Faizi, "would be to me a command, if a +still higher one did not prevent me from obeying: the Emperor has +invited me for this evening." + +"And so you will give my father another lesson from your unbelieving +philosophers; is it not so?" said Salim, with a half-contemptuous +smile, not quite pleased with the refusal. + +"What I myself may do," was the answer, "can depend on the will +of your Highness; but what the Emperor may think good to do is, it +appears to me, above your opinion and above mine. Also there may be +a question as to which evening will be most profitably spent." + +"Now do not be angry, noble Faizi," said Salim, good-naturedly. "I +mean no harm; and if I leave your evening alone, let me have mine. And +you, Parviz," said he, turning to him, "have you also some important +business to prevent your enjoying some innocent amusement?" + +"Certainly not," answered Parviz, "and even if I had, I would desire +nothing better than to thrust it on one side before the pleasure of +a feast in Salim's palace. But allow me, if it is not indiscreet, +to present to your Highness a new friend of mine." And signing to +Siddha to approach, he announced his name and rank. + +"Oh yes," said Salim, "I remember hearing of his arrival; and if you," +he continued, turning to Siddha, "will accompany your friend this +evening, it will give me pleasure." + +"It will be both honour and pleasure to me," said Siddha, bowing +respectfully. + +"There is not much honour in it," said Salim, "I am of no +consequence at this court; still I hope that our meeting may give you +pleasure. Till this evening, then." And turning his horse the Prince +rode off, followed by his retinue. + +"And allow me also, honoured friend," said Siddha, "to take my leave; +it is time that I should return to my troop." + +"If you will," said Parviz, "come and fetch me this evening; my +dwelling is on the way, and we can go together." + +"With pleasure," answered the other, as he turned away to return to +his post. + +Though Siddha had anticipated that Salim's palace would be one +of great splendour, yet his expectations were far outstripped by +the unheard-of luxury which surrounded him on all sides, as he +passed through different ante-rooms and rows of servants, before +reaching the brilliantly lighted hall where the Prince welcomed +his friends. In spite of the richness of the imperial palace, there +was something grave and sober about it; but here, on the contrary, +in the midst of Moorish architecture and sparkling decoration, all +breathed of luxury and the search after boundless enjoyment. Many +coloured hangings of silk and gold hung from the finely cut arches, +and the marble walls were partly covered with variegated mosaic work +and gilding; thick masses of flowers spread fragrance around; broad +mirrors reflected back the light, while the foot sank deep in soft +carpets of fantastic designs; luxurious divans wooed the passer-by to +repose; and there at his hand were drinking-cups of open-worked gold +and crystal, and porphyry and marble coolers of every form. On one +side of the hall was a kind of stage, lighted with coloured lamps, +where dancers and players were to perform. All this formed a picture +that at first sight would strike the beholder with surprise, however +accustomed he might be to the palaces of India. + +Salim quickly caught sight of the new comers among the other guests, +who stood talking in groups, while others reclined on divans, and +advancing towards them, he said, "You are right welcome to my humble +dwelling, and I hope that this evening will afford you enjoyment; +but let me tell you that etiquette has nothing to do with pleasure, +and here we are all friends." + +The Prince turned away, and at the same moment Siddha saw approach +a well-known but unexpected figure--that of Salhana, Governor of +Allahabad. + +"Well, nephew," he said, giving him his hand, "I am very glad to meet +you here; I have just arrived, and found an invitation from the Prince +awaiting me." + +"And how goes all yonder?" asked Siddha; "and how is----" + +"Iravati," interrupted Salhana. "Very well; she sends her +greetings. But see, there comes a man whose acquaintance you must +make; he is not much seen at court, but, for all that, is a man well +worth knowing." + +No introduction was necessary, for the man was no other than Abdul +Kadir, Badaoni, the Islam fanatic, whom Siddha had already met in +the imperial park with Akbar. To his astonishment this man greeted +his uncle with courtesy, although he was an unbeliever like himself; +and even to his share fell a recognition which could not be considered +uncourteous. + +"I have already met your nephew accidentally," said Abdul Kadir, +as Salhana was about to introduce him; "and I hope," he continued to +Siddha, "that you regard the words I then spoke in the sense I gave +them, for you see now that persons are not hated by me, however much +I combat the false doctrines they hold." + +"I honour your feelings, noble Sir," said Siddha, "although I regret +that you are not one with us; perhaps----" + +"Perhaps what?" began Abdul Kadir, angrily. + +"No, no, my friends," interposed Salhana; "no disputes, I pray, +over your different beliefs. Think rather of the grave dangers which +threaten us all, we Hindus as well as you true sons of the Prophet, +should the plans be carried out in true earnest that the higher powers +now think of." + +Some others, apparently trusted acquaintances of Salhana and the +Muhammadan, had joined the speakers, forming a thick ring around +them, while Parviz and some young friends had gone to the other end +of the hall. + +"Let us consider," continued Salhana, in a low but audible voice, +"how we should bear ourselves should our otherwise honoured Emperor +attempt, as is probable, to force upon us a religion alike abhorrent to +our feelings, customs, and morals. Will you Muhammadans, the present +rulers of the land, deny Allah, and kneel in adoration before the +sun and stars, and perhaps----" + +"By the beard of the Prophet," began Abdul Kadir, laying his hand on +the hilt of his sword, "we should----" + +"Let that be as it may," interrupted the other; "there are still worse +things. Consider the words 'Alláhu Akbar' [73] we now find on our +coins and firmans; they are innocent enough if you understand them as +'God is great,' but far different if you read them in the sense of +'Akbar is God.'" + +"That goes indeed too far," broke out Abdul Kadir, in bitter anger. + +But Salhana again interposed. + +"Let us be calm," he said; "we have at present only to do with +suppositions, which may, as I hope, turn out to be groundless. But +should it be so, could you, and would you, submit?" + +This question was addressed as much to those standing around as to +Abdul Kadir, and made a deep impression on Siddha. That Akbar had +thought of founding a new religion had already come to his ears; but +could it be that he thought of using force as an aid to conversion; +was this possible? + +"Therefore," concluded Salhana, "let there be no division between us; +let us consider together, and by unanimity and the use of legitimate +measures we may ward off the dangers that threaten us, through +the excited imagination of an otherwise excellent sovereign being +worked on by fanatics and intriguers. But I believe that the Prince +already signs to us that the feast is about to begin. Let us for the +moment break off our conversation; I shall remain at your command, +my lords. Perhaps I am in error; from my heart I wish that it may +turn out so." + +As the guests were taking their places on the divans, Siddha heard, +in passing one of the groups of talkers, a few words that attracted his +attention--"And Kashmir," asked one of the speakers; "is she informed?" + +"Thoroughly," was the reply; "the mine is almost ready to be sprung." + +"And the letter?" + +"Is in the best of hands." + +Other guests divided Siddha from the two whose conversation he had +accidentally heard, and he was soon seated, not far from Salhana, +but divided from him by several young people, with whom he was soon +in conversation; while servants carried round various refreshments, +and rich wines flowed in the golden drinking-cups. Now and then the +words he had heard crossed his mind, but their meaning was dark. Could +they refer to secret divisions in his native land, which, according to +Salhana were stirred up by Akbar. And the letter! Involuntarily his +thoughts turned to Rezia's letter that he had entrusted to Kulluka; +but what could that have to do with state affairs? His attention was +soon engrossed by the dancers who, accompanied by musicians, appeared +on the stage at the end of the hall. Their bronze-coloured arms and +necks were bare, while a long robe fell to their feet. To the music +of stringed instruments and cymbals, they commenced one of those +dances so dear to both Indians and Muhammadans, and which they can +watch unwearied for hours. Now and then, for a change, their places +were taken by singers, who treated their audience with extracts from +the Persian poets, which Salim and his friends listened to with great +pleasure, but which to Siddha appeared a little monotonous. + +"Where is Rembha," at last asked the Prince, "that she does not come +and sing a few translated passages from an old Indian poem, that you, +Siddha, doubtless know well--I mean the Gita Govinda?" + +"Oh yes," answered Siddha; "the pastoral of Jayadeva, which describes +the adventures of the god Krishna with the shepherdesses, and his +reconciliation with the beautiful Radha. I have myself attempted a +translation." [74] + +"Let us listen," said Salim; "here comes Rembha." And on the stage +appeared a dark but beautiful young woman, in rich and luxurious +costume; and, accompanied by soft music, she began half to sing, +half to recite, the following: + + + "In this love-tide of spring, when the amorous breeze + Has kiss'd itself sweet on the beautiful trees, + And the humming of numberless bees, as they throng + To the blossoming shrubs, swells the Kokila's song,-- + In the love-tide of spring, when the spirit is glad, + And the parted--yes, only the parted--are sad, + Thy lover, thy Krishna, is dancing in glee, + With troops of young maidens, forgetful of thee. + + "The season is come when the desolate bride + Would woo with laments her dear lord to her side; + When the rich-laden stems of the Vakul bend low, + 'Neath the clustering flowers in the pride of their glow; + In this love-tide of spring, when the spirit is glad, + And the parted--yes, only the parted--are sad, + Thy lover, thy Krishna, is dancing in glee + With troops of young maidens, forgetful of thee. + + "Dispensing rich odours, the sweet Madhavi, + With its lover-like wreathings encircle the tree; + And oh! e'en a hermit must yield to the power, + The ravishing scent of the Mallika [75] flower. + In this love-tide of spring, when the spirit is glad, + And the parted--and none but the parted--are sad, + Thine own, thy dear Krishna, is dancing in glee; + He loves his fair partners, and thinks not of thee." [76] + + +"The poetry and the meaning," said Salim, as the singer paused, +"leave nothing to be desired; but what, noble Siddha, do you think +of the translation?" + +"Not bad," he answered; "the imagery and spirit are well and freely +given, even if here and there the word are not exactly followed; but +that, I believe, in the poetry of the present day, would be difficult +if not impossible. Is not the name of the translator known?" + +"It is Faizi, with whom I saw you talking this morning," said the +Prince, smiling at the confusion painted on Siddha's cheeks at hearing +these words and thinking of the rather magisterial opinion he had just +expressed. "Do not be disturbed," continued he; "Faizi will not take it +ill that you do not consider his work faultless; but, on the contrary, +will be grateful for any corrections. Now, Rembha, let us hear one +piece more, and then for this evening we will not trouble you again." + +"This," said the singer, "is the complaint of the forsaken Radha to +her friend: + + + "Ah, my beloved! taken with those glances; + Ah, my beloved! dancing those rash dances; + Ah, minstrel! playing wrongful strains so well; + Ah, Krishna, Krishna, with the honeyed lip! + Ah, wanderer into foolish fellowship! + My dancer, my delight! I love thee still. + + "O dancer! strip thy peacock crown away; + Rise! thou whose forehead is the star of day, + With beauty for its silver halo set; + Come! thou whose greatness gleams beneath its shroud, + Like Indra's rainbow shining through the cloud-- + Come, for I love thee, my beloved! yet." [77] + + +For a short moment Rembha paused, and then continued in a slightly +altered measure, and with a softer and sadder tone in her sweet +voice, as though she from her heart threw herself into the rôle of +the loving Radha. + + + "Go to him--win him hither--whisper low + How he may find me if he searches well; + Say, if he will, joys past his hope to know + Await him here; go now to him and tell + Where Radha is, and that henceforth she charms + His spirit to her arms. + + "Yes, go! say if he will that he may come-- + May come, my love, my longing, my desire; + May come, forgiven, shriven, to me, his home, + And make his happy peace; nay, and aspire + To uplift Radha's veil, and learn at length + What love is in its strength." [78] + + +Universal applause greeted the singer as she concluded: the beauty +of the words, so fully expressed by her voice and bearing, came home +to them all. + +"Then follows the reconciliation of Krishna and Radha, does it +not?" said Salim, "but that we will have another time. Tell me, +worthy Abdul Kadir," he continued, perhaps not without intention, +"does the Hindu poetry give you as much pleasure as our own, or, +like others of the Faithful, have you a horror of the false ideas +proclaimed by these Hindus?" + +"With poets," answered Abdul Kadir, with difficulty suppressing +his anger, "I have not much to do; and our Holy Prophet, blessed +be his name, cursed with good reason the impious Amru-l Kais, [79] +however highly his Mullakat was famed by others. But that the Hindus, +not content with writing the wanton poetry we have just heard, should +dare to hold up such beings as Krishna and Radha as objects of worship, +appears to me too gross." + +Just as Siddha was about to attempt to show the fanatic that there +was a difference between mythology and true worship, between poetry +and faith, Salim hindered further discussion by saying--"No theology, +gentlemen, I beg; let us leave that to my honoured father, who is, +at this moment, I believe, occupied with the learned Faizi, and, +it may be, with other philosophers also; but we younger ones have +met together to pass a merry evening. Ho! you singers and players! A +drinking song, and a gay one too, that may bring back the right tone +amongst us; and let wine flow to rejoice our hearts. That no anger +may linger in your mind, noble Abdul Kadir, think that even a poet, +whom our great Prophet did not curse, and who is honoured amongst +us,--think that Tarafa [80] sang: + + + "Wouldst thou spend the livelong day + In the tavern bright and gay, + I with song would mirthfully + Bear thee joyous company. + + "Ready on the board we'll find, + When the morrow breaks again, + Foaming goblet--rosy wine-- + Which with joy once more we'll drain. + + +And why should we not follow the good advice?" + +The sullen Muhammadan muttered behind his beard, but dared say nothing, +for he had need of Salim, as the latter well knew, as an ally in the +troubles that might arise from Akbar's forsaking the faith. He was +silent, therefore, and ended with consoling himself for his wrongs +by drinking as deeply as any, in spite of what the Prophet might +have said. + +The other guests made good use of their time, and the drinking-cups +were no sooner emptied than they were refilled. Then the singers +and bayadires, at a sign from Salim, mingled in the gay company, +and took their places on the divans amongst them. + +The beautiful Rembha seated herself by Siddha, and before long they +were in conversation. He discovered her not only to be accomplished +but good-hearted, from the compassionate manner in which she spoke +of the unfortunate dancers, who, though not slaves in reality, were +sold in their earliest years by their parents to the highest bidders, +and then passed from one to another like so much merchandise, leading +a life but little better than real slavery. + +"And though," she said, frankly, "in the beginning mine was the +same fate, fortunately I had a talent for music. My patron gave me a +thorough education in it; and now I can support myself by means of +my art. And when," she continued, smiling, "I become old and ugly, +then----" + +"Then what?" cried Siddha, who had listened with sympathy to all +she said. + +"Oh no," answered Rembha, "I know what you mean, and you forget +yourself. When I become old and ugly, I need not descend to a life of +adventure; being a Hindu of high caste, there will be no difficulty +in finding employment in one of the temples to superintend the dancers +and singers kept by the priests for their ceremonials." + +Here the words were interrupted by a wilder and louder burst of music, +and when it ceased other guests and women joined in the talk. But +now the conversation became less guarded, and many an expression +met Siddha's ear that until now was unknown to him, but the meaning +of which he soon caught. By degrees he also began to lose his sense +of decorum. Here and there lay a reveller, still clasping his empty +goblet, and quite unconscious of all around. And there on the divan +were groups whose bearing showed no recollection of the high presence +in which they found themselves. + +But the Prince had long ceased to take much notice of what went +on around him; he had thrown himself carelessly back between two +dancers, one of whom played with the hilt of his dagger, while +the other examined the many bracelets on his arms. One of these +he unclasped and flung at her, tossing at the same time two costly +pearls, he had torn from his coat, to her companion; then filling high +his goblet, he drained it to the last drop, and sank back senseless +on his cushion. And now, as the conversation became more confused, +so also it became louder and louder, while the music played, and +the wine flowed in streams; and our Siddha, overcome by the noise, +and heavy perfume of flowers, and still more perhaps by the wine, +by degrees remarked less and less all that went on around him. But +a heavy hand laid suddenly on his shoulder aroused him from his +stupefaction. It was Salhana, who had approached him unnoticed. + +"Come," he said, "it is time we departed; on occasions like these +who can tell what quarrels or disputes may break out?" + +"Yes," answered Siddha, with hesitating speech; "but can we go before +the Prince gives the sign for leave-taking?" + +"The Prince!" answered Salhana, contemptuously: "look! and judge +whether he is likely to know or care whether we go or remain." + +He glanced towards Salim, who reclined on a divan with closed eyes, +his arm hanging over the cushion, while a few paces from him lay his +newly-filled goblet that had fallen from his hand and rolled on the +carpet. Though Siddha did his best, he could not see Salim; or, if he +did, it appeared to him there were two Salims; and without resisting he +let his uncle lead him from the hall, and assist him into a palanquin +which awaited them at the door; and after giving directions to the +bearers, Salhana, who had certainly not drunk less than his nephew, +turned, with a firm and steady tread, towards his dwelling. As he +passed through one of the narrow streets he saw under the shadow of +a house a tall thin figure, which, after looking cautiously around, +left its hiding-place and approached him--it was Gorakh the Yogi. + +"Does all go well?" he asked. + +"Nothing could be better," was the reply. "Our cause prospers; I cannot +yet give particulars, but when I know more, and certainly in case we +have need of you and your followers, you shall be warned at once." + +"And our young simpleton? keep your eye upon him, for I believe he +has suspicions of our understanding. When he is once with us that +will not signify. But tell me, is the bird in the trap?" + +"Not yet," answered Salhana; "but it will not be long before he is." + +Gorakh laughed, and the men parted, each going his own way. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +SECRET MEETINGS. + + +Faizi's excuse for refusing the Prince's invitation was no feigned +one, for at the moment when Salim's guests were assembling he was +awaiting very different company in the private apartments of the +Emperor. Preceded by a servant a man entered, by whose garb any one +from the West would at once have recognised a Catholic Priest. It was +the Padre Rudolf Aquaviva, head of the Jesuit Mission, and deputed +to the court of Agra by the Father Provincial. [81] + +"You are welcome, worthy Father," said Akbar, returning his greeting; +"welcome in the name of the Great Being whom we both worship, although +in different ways. I hope," he continued, "that the journey has not +wearied you." + +"I am grateful to your Majesty for the interest you take in me," +answered Aquaviva. "Our journey, fortunately, has been accomplished +without accident, although my health is feeble; but it is fitting +that insignificant man should bear, without murmuring, what the +Lord appoints." + +"In that I agree with you," said Akbar; "but I have to thank you for +the books that in your absence you were so good as to send me--your +evangelists' and other writings. My friend Faizi here, who doubtless +you remember, has translated the greater part of them for me, and I +assure you that we have carefully read them, together with Abú-l Fazl." + +"And," asked the Padre, gazing earnestly into the Emperor's face, +"may we hope that the seed is fallen in good soil?" + +"I believe that I can answer yes," said Akbar. "Some of your holy books +I prize very highly, now that I have made closer acquaintance with +them. What beautiful, elevated truth they contain, and noble ideas, +almost beyond our grasp (which, however, are not entirely wanting in +the teaching of Islam). What a noble, pure conception of self-denial +and self-sacrifice, and, above all, what a pure idea of love and +charity! and this is entirely wanting in the Koran. After this I can +hardly tell you how far above Muhammadanism I place Christianity." + +"The Lord be praised!" said the Jesuit, clasping his hands, and +casting his eyes up to heaven. "That is the right way; first error +recognised by comparison with truth, then is the soul steadfast. And +how should it be possible that a man like Akbar, who is not only a +powerful prince but a wise and learned scholar, should not be able +to distinguish truth from lies?" + +"I am flattered by your good opinion," said Akbar; "but am afraid I +shall fall in it when you hear what I have to add to the words I have +already spoken. Still I must say it, for I wish to act openly and +fairly with you. Though I expressed my warm admiration of much that +is to be found in your holy books, yet that does not prevent me from +being ready to welcome all that is good and beautiful in other creeds: +for example, some of the original Vedic ideas that are still extant." + +"What!" cried Aquaviva, with irrepressible agitation,--"the terrible +idolaters?" + +"I acknowledge," replied Akbar, calmly, "that there are many amongst +them to whom the name is appropriate; but that is not the case with +all. Am I not right, Faizi?" + +"Most certainly," was the answer; "and no one knows that better than my +Emperor himself. He, as well as I, worthy Father, can testify to you +that in these religions there is more than one passage, touching the +points already mentioned, which are not inferior to your Christianity." + +"It is impossible," said Aquaviva, firmly. + +"And why impossible?" asked Faizi, smiling. "Are you intimately +acquainted with all the religious systems?" + +"All I know of them," said the Padre, "is what I have seen here and +there; but I neither wish nor need a closer acquaintance with them; +what purpose could it serve? And can there be more than one truth?" + +"That speaks for itself," said Akbar; "but the question is, what +is truth, and where is it to be found? Is it only to be found in +one religious system, or scattered through many? You naturally will +answer that you alone are in possession of truth; but then, I ask, +what are your grounds for saying so?" + +"The truth," replied Aquaviva, "has been declared to us by Jesus +Christ, the Son of God." + +"So you say," was the answer; "but my friend Abdul Kadir says that +the truth was revealed to him through Muhammad the great Prophet; +and if your Christ is really the Son of God, it would be well you +should prove it, before calling upon him as such." + +"And," added Faizi, "our Vishnuvites here say that truth was declared +to them, not only by wise and holy men, but also through different +incarnations of the Deity." + +"The authority of the one true Church rests on the Bible, the Word +of God," said Aquaviva. + +"That again," answered Akbar, "resembles the authority of the Koran, +the Khalifas and Ulamahs, and the authority of the canonical books, +and the teachings of the Vishnuvites, of whom Faizi spoke just now." + +"But surely the faith that stands firmly is of importance?" + +"So are also all of like strength." + +"There is no doubt but that Christianity is far older than the teaching +of Islam." + +"Yes, but not quite so ancient as the Vedas, on whose authority is +founded the religious teaching of which we have just spoken. Buddhism +is also far more ancient than Christianity; and while that, and I +believe other religions, agree with yours in the teaching of true +humanity, and also, to a wonderful degree, with the ceremonials of +your church service, they go far beyond it in tolerance." + +"In this manner we shall make no progress," remarked the Padre, +angrily, in spite of his respect for the Emperor, in whose presence +he was. + +"No; I agree with you there, worthy Father," said Akbar, with a +slight smile; "but perhaps all would be better if you would study +our different faiths, and give yourself the same trouble that we +have not spared ourselves in making acquaintance with the religion of +our country. We could then at least compare the different teachings, +and so in the end decide on their comparative worth." + +"It was not for that purpose I came here," answered the apostle of +the heathen; "I was sent to preach the gospel, and save souls from +destruction." + +"And in that," said Akbar, in his usual calm tone, "I wish you all +success; but I doubt whether you will achieve much if you simply +seek to force on others what you yourself hold for truth, without +inquiring what they on their side may consider true." + +"I believe," said Aquaviva, not alarmed at the difficulties in his way, +"in the irresistible power of conviction possessed by our faith alone, +which in the end can soften the most obdurate hearts, be they those +of atheists or idolators." + +"You mean by the teachings of your belief, do you not?" + +"Certainly." + +"Well, however much this teaching differs from that of the other +religions we have mentioned, I am but little inclined to share the +implicit faith you place in it. I respect all; and on those points +where you find other creeds to agree with your own there can be no +strife, and your work of conversion will be unnecessary. What do you +think, friend Faizi, is it not so? You are a man of calm judgment, +not an idealist as I or even our worthy Aquaviva, therefore your +opinion is for us of great weight." + +Whether the worthy Aquaviva agreed in this is very doubtful; however, +he could not refuse to listen to Faizi, who thus began:-- + +"I do not think, Sire, that your Majesty requires any confirmation +of your words from me. Still, I must assure the Padre, although in +doing so I take from him his dearest illusions, that even though he +may here and there make a convert, yet his teaching will never take +root, neither among the Muhammadans nor among those it pleases him +to call heathen. Those who cling alone to the dogma of the unity +of God can never agree with what he inculcates about the Trinity, +three persons in one God. There are others to whom this dogma +will be less unacceptable, as they already worship the Great Being +under more forms than one; but they will find other points which +they also will never receive. For example, worthy Father, they will +never allow it to be possible that God created man to let him fall, +and that He offers Himself or His Son as a sacrifice, to save man; +or that He created man as if He did not know that man would fall; +and that by such extraordinary means of redemption alone could Divine +justice and Divine love be again brought into harmony. They would, +excuse me for saying so, consider such representations as utterly +senseless, and feel no inclination for their sake to say farewell +to the faith handed down to them by their fathers, which they find +simpler and more rational. On the other hand, if you were content +only to inculcate your doctrine of sin and reconciliation, and much +of the same kind of teaching that I will not now allude to, and to +declare nothing but your Christian morality, your ideas of humanity, +of self-denial, and of love of man, to which all should gladly be +sacrificed--when you have taught all this, it is nothing new here; +and to say the least, your preaching is superfluous." + +"But," said Aquaviva, "we hold fast by the truth we declare--the +one truth that can save lost man and doomed souls from the eternal +punishment of hell; and for this we are ready, here and everywhere, +to take up our cross and suffer reproach for the sake of Jesus Christ, +even should it be to the same martyr's death that He and so many of +His saints after Him have suffered." + +"But of that," said Akbar, laying his hand on the arm of the angry and +enthusiastic fanatic, "there can be no question as long as I reign +over Hindustan; nor, do I think, have you met with scorn anywhere +under my government. On the contrary, honour has been shown you, +an honour so high that many are jealous of it; and you enjoy the +fullest liberty to declare your faith when and where you will. But we +spoke, if I do not deceive myself, of the chances of your doctrines +prevailing over those already professed in this country, and these, +I must confess with Faizi, appear to me but slight." + +"Still," Aquaviva ventured to remark, "if your Majesty would set +the example." + +"But I must first be convinced," said Akbar; "or do you wish that I +should declare with my mouth what my heart denies?" + +"Certainly I do," the other answered, "wild and absurd as the wish may +appear; however, I do not urge it. But I had so hoped, so believed +that the reading of the holy writings would have rendered the noble +soul of Hindustan's wise ruler steadfast in the one true faith that +alone can save his soul and ours from eternal perdition. And now I +see my most cherished hopes lie shattered. Is it not, then, to be +excused if I have expressed myself too strongly?" + +"There is no need of excuse, my worthy friend," said Akbar; +"I can quite understand your feelings. But I never said that I +would not listen to you; on the contrary, I will willingly give +you the opportunity of convincing me, if you can. For the present +our conversation must cease; but let us regard this evening as the +forerunner of others to come. This time we have touched on too many +topics; on our next meeting we will keep to one distinct point, +and who knows to what your learning and eloquence may bring me?" + +If irony was mixed with the Emperor's grave words, neither his voice +nor bearing betrayed it. All that the Jesuit remarked was that the +audience was over, and thanking the Emperor for the honour he had +done him in listening to his words, he respectfully took his leave. + +"All are the same," said Akbar to Faizi, when they were alone; +"if we listen to Abdul Kadir or Aquaviva, it is always authority, +faith, revelation, never one word of reason or judgment, or of reasons +founded on knowledge or experience. Still I always converse gladly +with these zealots. From books we can learn the various theories +of man's connection with the infinite; but the living words of the +professors of the various persuasions teach us far more." + +"Certainly," replied Faizi; "but as to this constant reference to +authority and revelation, is it not natural and unavoidable in those +who, not content with the lessons of experience and reason, seek the +solution of the enigma of life in their own imaginations? If they are +shown the groundlessness or senselessness of their propositions, what +remains to them but to take refuge in the authority of a revelation +declared and handed down to them by their forefathers? But it is +singular that contradiction so seldom leads to the study and criticism +of their own doctrines; were it to do so, they would soon become aware +of the vanity of their theories. Proudly and defiantly the towers +and pinnacles of their temple rise into the clouds, but examination +would show them that the foundations are laid in the shifting sands +of phantasy." + +For some moments after Faizi ceased to speak Akbar was silent; on +resuming the conversation, he said-- + +"I believe you are right, Faizi; still I have a sympathy with the +people you reproach. And it may be that in some moment of enthusiasm +and poetical imagination we may be carried away to the discovery +of truth that we shall afterwards find to be supported by reason +and knowledge. But for the present no more of this; we have other +things to attend to, and presently I expect Abú-l Fazl, who has some +important communication to make." + +On a subsequent evening another interview took place at Agra, which +had nothing in common with that just described, except that it also +was hidden from indiscreet eyes and ears. + +After his first interview with Rezia, Siddha had more than once sought +for the servant who had guided him to her dwelling. At last he met +her in the neighbourhood of the imperial gardens, and received anew +from her an invitation to visit her mistress, which he hastened to +accept. Since then the visits had been repeated, following one upon +another, until at last the day that passed without Siddha sitting +beside Rezia in the verandah appeared to him empty and void. All +that Agra had to offer him of beauty and pleasure; however great +the delight he took in the favour of Abú-l Fazl, and, later, in that +of the Emperor himself; or the pleasure of conversation with Faizi, +whose house was always open to him, and who treated him as a trusted +friend; or the amusement he found in the society of Parviz and that of +his joyous comrades; all sank to nothing in comparison with the quiet +dwelling of the lonely Armenian. That the image of Iravati retired +more and more into the background was not strange, nor that Rezia +speedily became to him more than a pleasant, entertaining acquaintance; +nor was she herself entirely insensible to the unconcealed homage of +the young chief. A feeling of terror had overcome him when he first +made the discovery that, instead of loving her as a dear friend, +his feelings for her had in them a depth and passion that until that +moment he had never known; but he had soon become accustomed to this +thought, and from that moment only one desire was master of his soul, +that of calling her his, and knowing that his love was returned. + +On a certain evening Siddha was again seated on a divan beside his +fascinating hostess; before them was a low table decked with fresh +fruits and sparkling wine in golden drinking-cups. She seemed lovelier +than ever to him, deeper than ever the expression of her soft blue +eyes, that now full of tenderness, and now with an indescribable fire, +gazed up at him, and then again were hidden under the shadow of long, +silken eyelashes. The scent of roses and jasmine filled the air, +and moonlight, almost as bright as day, fell on the verandah, and +silvered the groups of trees and fountains in the garden. + +"Siddha," said Rezia, with sudden gravity, interrupting their gay, +laughing conversation, "you once did me a great service in undertaking +that my letter should safely reach Kashmir; can I now ask of you +a second, which, I tell you beforehand, may be of more consequence +to yourself?" + +"Command, and I obey," said Siddha, without hesitation; "whatever +you may desire, do not doubt but that I will endeavour to fulfil it." + +"Prudence, my friend," said Rezia, playfully lifting up her finger; +"you are committing yourself before you know what I require; and you +do this because, from your high rank and assured position at court, +you think you can look down on what a simple woman like me can wish, +and assume that the question is only how some one of my whims may be +gratified; but in this you may be mistaken." + +"I swear to you," was the impetuous answer, "no such thought crossed +my mind. Now, then, demand what you will, and I obey your commands." + +"Well," said Rezia, approaching her worshipper a little nearer, "you +are perhaps more concerned in what I wish than I am myself. You +imagine, perhaps, that I, leading this solitary life, know +nothing of what goes on in the palaces of Agra and the Emperor's +council. Accidental relations with people of high station give me +the opportunity of knowing more than you perhaps suspect--more than +you know of your own concerns, and of what should be known to your +country and your people." + +"I believe," said Siddha, "that I know what you mean; you allude to +plans that may be formed to destroy the independence of Kashmir, as +the many party divisions there give hopes that such plans may succeed." + +"You are right," was the answer; "but what you do not seem to know is, +that these plans are already ripe, that the imperial army is ready +for the invasion, and that you yourself are destined to serve against +your country and people; for your influence among the faithful Rajpúts, +and your well-known name, will be important, should you remain blindly +obedient to the commands of Akbar." + +"But, dear Rezia," said Siddha, making a faint attempt to conceal +under a cheerful voice the uneasiness that was mastering him, "even +if this should be so, what is it to you? and what moves you to speak +to me of it?" + +"My own interests; but also the interest I take in you, my friend. I +told you, as you will remember, of a friend who was exposed here to +certain persecution. But now I will confess; I deceived you--it was not +a friend, it was myself. The husband to whom my father's cruel command +gave me, and whose tyranny I detest, will soon return, and my own +desire is to fly from him, to be free, and some day perhaps in safety +to be able to give myself to the one I choose; and to attain this I +sought Kashmir as my place of refuge, and opened a communication with +some of my friends there. But should this country also become subject +to Akbar, my hope vanishes and I know not where to turn. Quickly you +will again see me in the power of this man, who has my fate in his +hands; our happy meetings will be at an end; and Rezia will cease to +exist for you, as you," she added, with a slight sigh, "will for her." + +"Never!" cried Siddha, passionately; "that shall never happen. But +what would you have? what means do you know of? what do you ask of me?" + +"Only this," replied Rezia, calmly, "that you should not allow +yourself to be used as a tool against your own country, against +yourself, against me. Remain by your own brave followers; but when +the decisive day comes, do not lead them against us; but know how to +go over to those of us, who, in spite of outward show of subjection +to the Emperor, have a secret understanding. Then a powerful party +in Kashmir will side with you, support you by their influence, and +raise you to the greatest honour; and in the end, though that is of +less importance, you will find a resting-place in my arms, who will +ever be grateful to you for your protection." + +"But," said Siddha, following, among all other plans and proposals, +the thread of his own thought, "that would be treachery of the worst +kind against the Emperor who has trusted me." + +"Certainly, treachery," answered Rezia, with a contemptuous laugh. "As +the Emperor has shown you some favour, he naturally has a full right +to use you as a tool against your country and people, but you have +not the right to repay him in the same coin. Now be subject--or +slave! However, act as you please. Your assurances that you would +do all I asked were nothing but the vain promises men are wont to +make to simple women. But enough! Let our interview come to an end; +not that I wish it, but it is better with firm resolution to part +from one another, than to continue our intercourse only to see it +inevitably broken off a few days later against our will." + +"Never!" said Siddha, as Rezia turned from him, as though to hide +her grief. "Nothing shall part us, and if for a moment I hesitated, +I did not deceive you when I promised to do whatever you might ask. I +repeat it, command and I obey." + +"Your word." + +"My word as a Rajpút. But why do you ask it? you know well that I can +do nothing but what you wish. Why should I keep silence respecting +that which you must long have known? At last let me say freely, +that you are dear to me, above everything, dearer than life or +even honour. I love you with a passion and devotion that until now +I should never have thought possible; I believed I knew what love +was, but what I took for it was only a childish liking. You have +taught me differently; teach me more; teach me what it is when love +like mine is returned. No slave can be more submissive to the will +of his master than I to you; no slave of Akbar's or of any one but +yourself. Whatever I may gain in the future, rank, esteem, riches, +belong to you alone. And the power you have over me you may use or +misuse as you will. But be mine, Rezia, mine as long as life lasts!" + +"No, Siddha," said she, softly withdrawing her hand from him, "it is +not fitting that I should hear such language, nor that you should use +it. Remember that I am not yet free, and you yourself have other ties." + +"Other ties!" cried Siddha, passionately; "I break them, or rather I +broke them long ago; and could I not do so, I should curse the day when +they were laid on me. And you, if you are not free, I will soon make +you so. We will fly to Kashmir, to that far-away, beautiful country +in the north, where, as you say, Siddha Rama's name and influence is +well known, and where none will dare to injure you whom I protect, +your hated husband least of all." + +"And will that protection avail against Akbar and his +favourites?" asked Rezia. + +"Against him and his, as against all others," was the proud reply; +"and against him we shall know well how to defend the liberty of +Kashmir, if it were only for a place of refuge for you and for me." + +"But I cannot be yours," interrupted Rezia; "and it grieves me, in +truth, that you have so spoken this evening. You might have spared +us all this, and then our friendly intercourse might have continued, +and led perhaps later to another and a closer tie. Now all must cease, +however deeply it grieves me. Go now, say farewell, and forget me, +it is better for you and--for me, whom you say you love." + +"In truth," said Siddha, as he rose, and, with his head sank on his +breast, drew back a few steps, "to part at once is perhaps the wisest +course. I see but too plainly that my love is despised. It is true that +for me, without you, there is no life, no happiness possible. Still the +continued martyrdom of meeting you, day by day, loving you more dearly, +and yet knowing that you belong to that hated, cursed stranger, is +more than I can bear. Fresh disturbances have broken out in the south, +in the Dakhin, and the Emperor has ordered part of the army on service +there. I will implore him to let me join them; and there in battle +with the wild mountain races I may soon find, not forgetfulness, +that is impossible, but an early and longed-for death." + +"Ah, Siddha," said sadly the sweet, loved voice, "why such violence +because a weak woman (who finds the strife against herself and her +own heart too much for her) seeks for a moment's strength to withstand +you? It is, as you said, better that we should part, and yet--I cannot +let you go; remain, it is but a short pause; seat yourself again by +my side, and let me enjoy, even though it may be for the last time, +that quiet conversation, undisturbed by passion, that until now we +have found so much pleasure in." + +And before Siddha was quite aware of what he did, he was again +seated by the side of her who had so mastered his whole mind and +understanding. At her desire he seized the lute that lay beside them, +and tried to bring back to his recollection one of the songs of his +native land, for which, in the winning way peculiar to her, she had +begged; but vainly he tried, sometimes beginning and then breaking off, +his memory failed him, and dejectedly he laid down the useless lute. + +"I know no more," he said. "I can neither think nor remember." + +"How now, my singer," said Rezia, laughing; "must I set you the +example? But let us first drink to one another." And lifting a golden +goblet to her lips, she made Siddha empty his, and then began, in +soft, melting tones, a Persian love song that soon brought Siddha +back to himself. + +"Now, then," cried he, as Rezia finished, and he began the description +of a lover's reception from Kalidasa's "Seasons," [82] "The Bride +represented by the Return of Summer." + +The singer ceased, and she who listened to him had drawn nearer, +gazing at him with her fascinating eyes, that now shone with an +unwonted glow. Suddenly he seized both her hands, and drew her to +him with irresistible force. + +"Rezia," he said, "Rezia, be to me as Kalidasa's bride--now and +always mine!" + +She softly murmured Siddha's name and flung her arms around his neck. + +More than once since that evening a manly figure might have been +seen in the darkness of night carefully looking around him, and +then following the cactus road that led to the dwelling of the +Armenian. Iravati's lotus flower had struck against the frail vessel +on which he had embarked, and had been wrecked by a sultry wind. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A TEMPTER. + + +Once more the lovely lady of Allahabad sat on the balcony looking +out towards the far-away mountains, from whence, now long ago, had +approached the eagerly awaited one. Nothing had changed since that +time: the same calm, silver waters and thick shade of trees, and far +beyond the mountain tops, while the same cloudless sunshine lighted +up the whole landscape. Ah! if only he were as unchanged--he that now +took part in all the dissipation of the court and the many pleasures +of the great city. Did he still think of her, and daily regard her +likeness as she did his? These doubts, that had involuntarily arisen in +her mind, appeared to Iravati an injury to the man whom she esteemed +as highly as she loved him, and who at their last interview had so +fervently pledged his word to her, and had repeated the same promises +in his letters. But these had now for some time ceased. And why did +he not return to her? Could he remain so long parted without making +any effort to see her again, even if it were but for a day? Without +doubt his duty prevented him, and he was not yet able to obtain leave +of absence. But oh! how long was the time, and how the days and hours +appeared to creep, as she waited and watched alone! + +As on that morning long ago, her musings were interrupted by the +appearance of her father the Governor. + +"Iravati," he said, in his usual measured tones, "a guest has arrived." + +He had come, then; he already awaited her; and her whole heart was +filled with impatient joy, but of which she showed no trace. + +"A guest," continued Salhana, "that for you to receive will be as great +an honour as a pleasure. It is Salim the Prince, who, in obedience +to his father's wishes, comes to pass some time at Allahabad." + +With a great effort Iravati concealed her bitter disappointment; +but to speak was to her impossible. + +"Well," asked Salhana, "is not the news welcome to you? There are +many who would give all they possess to enjoy the honour that awaits +you. Naturally I do not wish that any of the Prince's followers +should see you, but the future emperor is different; and it may +be of importance both to me and to Siddha that you should gain his +favour. Follow me." + +As Iravati and her father entered the gallery where Salim was, +he advanced to meet and greet her with his usual light-hearted +courtesy. But suddenly all his boldness deserted him, and he stood +still and silent. Such a noble bearing, mingled with so much modesty, +beauty so grave, with an expression so winning and lovely, he never +remembered to have seen in any other woman; and, contrary to his +custom, he waited until Salhana had presented his daughter before +greeting her. + +"Noble lady," he said, "I am indeed grateful to you for the trouble you +have given yourself in coming to welcome your guest. I have heard of +you more than once, and--" but the courteous phrase that trembled on +his lips appeared too insipid and meaningless, and he continued--at +the moment not being able to find any better speech--"It is indeed +a pleasure to make your personal acquaintance." + +"The honour shown by your Highness to my father and to me, I prize +highly," answered Iravati; "and I trust you will not find our quiet +town at Allahabad too dull in comparison with the capital, with its +many pleasures and diversions." + +"If," returned Salim, "the noble daughter of the Governor will +sometimes give me the pleasure of her company, I need not fear that +my sojourn in Allahabad will be tedious. But you speak of the capital; +you know it, I hope?" + +"I have never been in Agra," was the answer. + +"Never?" said Salim; "it is indeed time, my worthy Salhana, that your +talented daughter should see more of the world than is possible in +this remote fortress." + +"The time will come," answered the Governor, "when my daughter is +under the protection of her intended husband, my future son-in-law, +whom your Highness has received with so much kindness." + +Whether this recollection did not please the Prince it was difficult +to discover, but he at once became silent and knitted his dark +eyebrows; and when he spoke again it was on quite another subject. The +conversation continued for some time longer, and then Salhana gave +his daughter leave to return to her own apartment, and with a deep +reverence, Iravati took her leave, rejoicing that the interview was +over. The only impression left on her mind by the Emperor's son was +the magnificence of his attire, although Salim himself only regarded +it as a simple travelling costume. + +A few minutes later, Salim, the Governor, and a third person were +seated in one of the inner apartments of the fortress, well secured +from all intruders or listeners, engaged, apparently, in consulting +over more important questions than how time should best be spent at +Allahabad. The third person was Gorakh, the priest of Durga. + +"The good for which we strive, my friends," began the Prince, "seems +nearer; and it appears to me that it would be wise to consider the +present state of affairs, and then to think what further preparations +had better be made. You, Salhana, are, I believe, the best informed of +us three; as for me, at the court much is suspected, and I come here +in obedience to the wish, or rather the command, of my father. Abú-l +Fazl--may Alla curse him!--is, I know, at the bottom of this; but +I hope one day to have the opportunity of repaying him. And now for +you, Salhana." + +"I must say," he began, "that all now goes according to our wishes. In +Agra, Delhi, Lahore, and other places, are the true Muhammadan Umaras +and other nobles embittered to the utmost against the Emperor, through +the contempt he shows for their religion and by reason of the loss +of many privileges of which he has deprived them. Nothing will be +more welcome than a revolution, and many will join it; including more +than one of the principal mansabdars. Abdul Kadir has been of great +use in all this, but we must not count much on him; he wishes to act +openly, and every now and then misgivings come over him of what he +calls treachery." + +"And your nephew?" asked Salim. + +"Is entirely one of us. How he has been won over matters not; it is +enough that so it is. I had at first destined him as a spy on Akbar, +but soon saw that he would be worthless as such; he is too simple, +and too strictly brought up according to Kulluka's ideas, to be of any +avail for such a rôle; and then, too, Akbar entirely won him over, +in his usual manner, at their first meeting. But in another way he +will do us better service: he has obtained the rank of mansabdar, +and will soon have the chance of further advancement; so when the time +fixed on comes, he will be in command of an important body of Rajpúts; +and in Kashmir his name has great influence. Then, when our plan is +carried out, his co-operation will be of no slight importance. At +the chosen moment he will turn his troops against the Imperialists, +and doubtless his example will be followed by the greater part of +the Rajpúts and Patans." + +"But now the plan itself, as it concerns Kashmir?" asked Salim again. + +"It appears to me that nothing could be better," was the answer. "The +interior strifes, for the most part fomented by us, have come to +a crisis; both parties have had recourse to arms, robbers desolate +the land; and, what is of greater importance, the adjacent countries +which form part of Akbar's kingdom are also convulsed. This gives +him a pretext of marching his army to the north, and attempting to +re-establish a lasting peace by the conquest of Kashmir. His army +is ready, and, if I do not deceive myself, his intention is to place +himself at the head of it, after the annual celebration of his birthday +has taken place. When the war begins, then suddenly our Siddha and +other followers will fall from him, and join the army of Kashmir; +and Akbar will have enough to do in making good his retreat. In the +meantime our party in Agra will have proclaimed Salim emperor, and +taken possession of the fortress and treasure. So if Akbar succeeds +in his retreat, he will find more fighting awaiting him, and the end +must, I suppose, be his abdication in favour of the Prince Royal." + +"All," said Salim, "is well calculated, and quite in accordance with +our original plan, which I see, with pleasure, is now almost ripe. One +question, however; is there no danger of any part of our plan becoming +known? is all arranged with caution? That letter, for example, that +was sent to Kashmir,--supposing it should have got into wrong hands?" + +"That letter," answered Salhana, "has safely reached its destination; +and who do you think carried it? No one less than Kulluka himself." + +"What unpardonable rashness!" cried Salim. + +"Not in the least so," was the calm reply. "The good man had no idea +of what he was undertaking, and the letter was given to him by Siddha +himself, who equally had no idea of its contents. He was trapped into +charging himself with its safe delivery; and had he, at the worst, +glanced at it he could have given no information, and no suspicion +could have fallen on us, who were naturally not named." + +"Well done," said Salim, approvingly, and laughing heartily. "We +thank you, Salhana, for your information. But has not our worthy +Gorakh his share for us?" + +"Indeed, yes," answered the Yogi, who had hitherto listened in silence; +"I have not been idle; as I told you, but you thought it improbable, +I have made my way not to the palace alone, but to the private +apartment of the Emperor. You know how anxious he is to study the +various religious systems and philosophies that are found within his +realm; and so he desired to become acquainted with the ancient Yogi +teaching, of which, although he had heard much, he knew little or +nothing, and on which neither the learning of Faizi nor of Kulluka +could throw much light. Then I found means, through some confidential +friends, of letting come to his ears my great knowledge of the Yogi +mysteries. Not long afterwards I was invited to court, and Akbar +received privately from me the first indications of the teaching +of Concentration, [83] whereby mortal man comes more and more into +relations with the immortal Being, resolving all his thoughts in the +absolute, and participating in the infinite existence, so that he +attains to the power of being able at will to transport himself to +the greatest distance, while apparently he remains in the same spot, +and of assuming any form he pleases, or of making himself invisible +or lighter than air. To support this, and not to rest on assurances +alone, I brought one of my people before him, who is a great adept in +magic or trickery, and made him perform a feat, at which, not without +reason, the Emperor was much astonished. The man seated himself on +a low wooden stool, to which was attached a bamboo, with a crooked +handle like a walking-stick. Then a white cloth was spread before him, +so that he was entirely concealed; and when it was again removed, he +was found seated in the air, about two feet above the stool, supporting +himself by resting his out-stretched hand on the crook of the bamboo. A +most wonderful feat, and one that you must some day see when we have +time. [84] But enough: Akbar was not only astonished, but still more +desirous of being admitted to our mysteries. As you understand, I +took good care to tell him no more than was necessary, still more to +excite his curiosity; and now I have always the opportunity of being +admitted to his presence, a privilege of which I make but a sparing +use, but, as you may be assured, a good one. Through my people I hear +all that is of importance for our affairs. Akbar's palace and private +apartments are filled with people who seek out all that happens, +although in them he suspects nothing more than the followers of a +religious fanatic or ascetic. By these means I can give you, Salim, +and our friend Salhana information on many matters, that would not +otherwise have been easily obtained." + +"In truth," said Salim, "we must confess that you are almost a +magician. But what do you demand as recompense for the services that +you render us? Salhana, we know, wishes, when our power is established, +to be named Viceroy of Kashmir; and if all goes well his wish shall be +fulfilled. Nothing for nothing I say with him; but you, what are your +wishes? It is best that all conditions should be settled beforehand." + +"Mighty Prince, allow me to call you so by anticipation," answered +Gorakh; "if I ask you nothing, simply nothing, that astonishes you, +does it not? But I will try to make it simple. In my turn I ask, +what do you want for yourself? You have already, one would think, +everything the heart of man can desire; you have treasures, palaces, +lovely women to serve you, joyous friends and companions, the most +splendid wines, and only stand next to the Emperor in this powerful +and flourishing kingdom, and are certain of succeeding him. And yet +you have recourse to our help and that of others, your inferiors, to +carry out your dark, difficult, and even dangerous plans. Why? Because +you wish to govern at once, and cannot wait until the death of your +father leaves the throne vacant for you. See, then, what you ask +for yourself is what I ask for myself--to govern. And while you, +to-day, may be said to be ruler over nothing, I reign already, +though I ever strive for a more extensive power. Hundreds who, if +need were, would become an army against the great of the earth, obey +unconditionally my slightest sign without question or hesitation. I, +the poor, unknown priest, despised by many, possess a power that you, +in all your greatness, cannot rival. And by what might are they thus +subject to me? Through that which nothing can resist, by which reason +is silenced and the will destroyed, so that man is nothing more than +a living, moving corpse--the power of religious fanaticism. Just a +sign of my finger towards whom I will, towards you or some other, is +enough to show more than one of my followers what new offering will be +the most welcome to the never-satiated Durga; and the higher the rank, +the more welcome is the victim. Even should the doomed one be warned +beforehand, let him take what precaution he will, let him surround +himself with servants and guards, yet nothing less than a miracle can +save him. Close to him, amidst his followers, are my trusted ones; +and when the right moment has struck, in the stillness of night, +with no sound to awake suspicion, suddenly the cord is round his +neck, and with no time for cry or groan, the long list of victims is +swelled by another name. It is true that occasionally, but seldom, +the intruder is seized; but he who tries to hold him grasps a body +slippery as a snake, that glides from his hands, and disappears as +suddenly and silently as it came. But suppose it came to the worst, +and one of my Thugs was really taken, what matters it? he dies with +the certainty of participating in endless bliss; and hundreds are +ready to attempt to carry out what he failed in, and sooner or later +success will be theirs." + +The Yogi was silent for a moment, but neither of his listeners +spoke. Salhana, who was well acquainted with these strange confidences, +had listened with calm indifference, but saw no room for speaking; +while Salim, although not wanting in personal courage, turned pale +at the priest's words, and remained lost in thought, gazing before him. + +"So," continued Gorakh, "I also govern in my fashion. Those who +withstand me, I sweep unsuspected from my path, and those who +know my power fear me; and be they of high or low rank, they do my +bidding. And do you not think that power so exercised has not equal +pleasures with yours? Can you imagine no feeling of pride at seeing +yourself looked down upon and treated by men with slight respect, +and then to know that their actions, their life and death, are to be +disposed of according to your will? And I am not the only one who so +thinks. I know there are others, and in far and distant lands, who, +in silence and darkness, strive to govern those who are looked on +as the greatest rulers in the eyes of the world. More than once in +Agra, and in other places, I have spoken with men from the far West, +who have come hither to try and win converts to their teaching, and, +under the pretence of lending a willing ear to their preaching, +I have gradually become acquainted with their aims; and from what +I have learnt from them respecting the institution and working +of their order, I discover that they, or at least their chiefs, +seek the same God as I, though by another path. Their means, I say, +are different, though scarcely more humane: we strangle men, they +burn them alive. But though often they are resisted and persecuted, +yet they know how, in the name of the so-called faith, to rule over +not worldly sovereigns alone, but also over the spiritual head of +their own Church, while they flatter him by unconditional submission +and obedience to his will. And so you see, however strange it may at +first appear, that the existence and enjoyment of power does not lie +in its outward display, nor in its acknowledgment by others." + +Still Salim remained silent as Gorakh finished; but the look which +he cast towards him said more than words. + +The priest laughed. "I understand," said he, slowly, "what thoughts +at this moment occupy your Highness. An ally such as I may become +dangerous, and the question is whether it might not be wise to get +rid of him at once. But I am not simple enough to venture into the +tiger's den without the certainty of returning from it in safety. My +followers await me in yonder temple on the mountain; if by the morning +I do not rejoin them, they know well who the goddess requires as an +expiatory sacrifice for the death of her chosen priest." + +"Arranged with your usual prudence," said Salim. "But, worthy Gorakh, +your prudence was superfluous; we have need of your help in many cases, +and should I, without reason, deprive myself of it? But we have, I +think, rather wandered from the subject of our consultation. About +one thing I am rather uneasy. What are we to expect, Salhana, from +your brother the Minister of Kashmir? Will he choose our side? And +if not, has he the power of injuring us?" + +"I fear greatly that he has," answered the Governor. "He will not +forsake the cause of the present king; and should he fall, would +rather turn to Akbar than to us, from whom he expects nothing but +mischief to his country and people." + +"In that case, hand him over to me," said Gorakh. + +"What do you mean?" + +"No questions. I say, hand him over to me, and he shall not long +stand in your way. There is another point of far greater importance: +I have reason to believe that a certain important person of Kashmir, +who has long been considered dead, but who, should he return to his +native land, would overturn all our plans, is still alive." + +"How! what!" asked Salim, much disquieted. "You don't mean----" + +"I mean he whom you have already guessed--Nandigupta." + +"Nandigupta! it is impossible." + +"And why so? Was there ever any certainty about his death? All we know +is that he suddenly disappeared and has never more been heard of, that +is all. Some little time ago I discovered that among the Himálayas, +near Badari-natha, a hermit now lives, whose description answers to +that of the former king, and whom Kulluka, with Siddha Rama, visited +on their journey here." + +"That, indeed, seems dangerous," said Salim. + +"In the meantime," continued Gorakh, "I have set some of mine on the +track to discover the truth; and should my suspicions turn out to be +just"--here he made a sign that both his hearers understood--"then +he certainly will be amongst those that Durga will welcome. It is now +time for me to return to my followers, and your Highness will excuse +me if I take my leave." + +Salim nodded his assent, wishing no doubt that it were possible +that the priest should never more set his foot outside the fortress; +and so for the present the three separated. + +Evening after evening since that first day the sound of feasting and +revelry from the lighted walls of the fortress had fallen on Iravati's +ears, as she wandered alone through the park. There feasted the future +emperor of Hindustan with his boon companions and dancers, seeking +thus to repay himself for the weariness of the day, and to forget +for a while the cares that his own ambition had brought on him. At +times the faithful Nipunika, who mingled with the other servants, +and often looked in at these feasts, told her mistress particulars +of them, which made the blood rise to her innocent cheeks, while she +enjoined silence on her servant. Could it be possible that Siddha took +part in such festivals at Agra? And Salim, the future governor of so +mighty a kingdom, and undisputed ruler over so many peoples, how had +he sunk! in spite of the high position to which fortune had raised him. + +And yet Iravati found no reason to despise the Prince when she met +him, as often was the case, in company with her father. His manner, +when he conversed with her, was that of a polished nobleman; and far +from allowing himself the slightest freedom, the respect and reverence +with which he treated her was such that the greatest princess could +have found no fault with it. There was no trace of flattery or empty +politeness in the words he addressed to her, but all was simple, +unconstrained and natural; while his conversation was amusing, and +bore witness to an unusual cultivation and extended knowledge. "Oh, +if," she often thought to herself, "he would but make a better use of +his many gifts, and would consider that to follow the great example +set him by his noble father is his holiest duty and task!" + +One evening, as, lost in thought, Iravati seated herself on one of the +benches in the park, she became aware, to her astonishment, that the +silence that reigned around her was unbroken by any joyous sound of +revelry from the castle, and that no lights showed themselves from the +windows and galleries. Only a warm wind murmured through the leaves, +gently moving the branches of the trees, and every now and then a +sound of flutes or bells from distant villages told of some peasant +fête. Suddenly a sound of footsteps broke on the silence, and through +the evening twilight a man's figure became visible, approaching +the spot where the daughter of Salhana was seated. With a feeling +of terror, she rose to her feet, but, to her great astonishment, +recognised in the intruder the Prince himself, who, drawing nearer, +greeted her with his usual respect. + +"Forgive me, noble lady," he said, "if, unaware of your presence +here, I unwillingly have disturbed you; receive my evening greeting, +and I will not trouble you longer." + +"The disturbance," said Iravati, courteously, "cannot be otherwise than +agreeable to me; still I must confess that I was a little surprised. I +believed your Highness was wont to pass your evenings in another and +more mirthful manner than by quiet, solitary walks." + +"It was so," answered Salim; "and you have a right to reproach me. I +should have treated with more respect the roof that sheltered you. But +let bygones be bygones. In future no unfitting noise of carousal +shall disturb you in your palace, and break the silence of the night." + +Iravati listened to him with astonishment. Why should he make this +declaration? and what was the cause of so sudden a change? + +"A change has come over me," continued Salim, "and I believe no slight +one, although the time has been short. Until to-day I was--listen +to me and do not draw back, I will confess all to you--I cared +only for pleasure; I was dissipated and even a drunkard; I conceal +nothing. But I have ceased to be all that; I have broken with my +former life, and the Salim of to-day is a very different man from him +of yesterday. From this hour I will live for duty and honour alone, +and for the weal of the people that may some day be confided to my +care. I will say farewell to all ambitious and unlawful projects, +and above all to those debasing, worthless diversions, in which, +until to-day, I sought distraction but never true enjoyment. I will +do all this if one wish may be granted, a wish on which my happiness +and my future depend, and also to a great extent that of my kingdom; +and the granting of this wish depends on you." + +"I do not understand you, my lord," said Iravati, who, alarmed as she +was, would have been no woman had she not guessed to what the words +of the Prince tended. + +"You will soon understand me," he replied, "when I tell you what has +caused this sudden change in my whole being. But should I not rather +leave it to you to guess, if you have not already learned from my words +that it can be no one but yourself? And so it is," he continued, with +ever-increasing enthusiasm, though never out-stepping the bounds of +reverence. "From the first moment I saw you, I knew, or rather felt, +that you had an influence, a serious one, over my fate; I who never +before had cast my eyes down before any one, did so at once before you, +and in your presence felt myself small and nothing; and so whenever +I saw you and spoke to you, and came to know you better, I felt still +more clearly that my future lay in your hands. I began to feel a horror +of myself, my manner of life, and so-called friends who aided me in +passing evenings, and often nights, in so unworthy a manner; yet I +would not at once resolve to break with it all; and I confess that +when our feasts were in progress your image often faded away from my +mind, as wine obscured my senses; but then when morning broke, with +what shame and anger I regarded myself! To-day my resolve is taken, +and, as you see, is carried out. All is quiet, there is no sound of +revelry, my dancers are dismissed, and most of my guests have already +taken their departure from Allahabad, or will do so to-morrow. All +that is your work, and may it be carried out still further! For that +one thing is indispensable, we must no longer remain acquaintances, +meeting occasionally; a closer bond must unite us. Iravati, is it +possible to say more clearly what I feel for you? Well, then, I----" + +"Ah! no, no, my lord!" cried Iravati, clasping her hands +supplicatingly; "do not say the words that are hardly on your lips, +for I may not hear them." + +"May not," repeated Salim, "or will not? When a request is made to you +by me, it seems there should be no question whether you may hear it." + +"Both then," replied Iravati, firmly, "both may not and will not; +may not, because my word and faith bind me to another; and will not +and cannot grant your wish because my whole heart and life are given +to that other." + +It was fortunate for her that the increasing darkness hid the fierce +expression that these frank, imprudent words called forth on the +Prince's face; had she seen it she would have shuddered at the thought +of what might befall that other from such a rival. + +"Consider well," said Salim, after a moment's silence; "think what you +recklessly fling from you for the sake of a young man once dear to you, +and who for the moment still appears to be so, but who, even should +he remain true to you, can never offer what the future ruler of the +empire of the Mughals can give. I do not speak of the treasures that +should be yours, or of the luxury that would surround you, seated by +my side, and ruling over the kingdoms and princes of Hindustan, for I +know how little temptation there is in all that for a soul noble and +elevated such as yours. Still it is not to be despised. You think you +know what riches and luxury are, but what you have hitherto seen is +but tinsel in comparison with the splendour of the palaces and gardens +of Agra and Delhi. But let that be. Think what a glittering future +you throw from you in choosing to become the wife of a simple unknown +nobleman, instead of ruling over the deeds of the mightiest monarchs, +while all the great and noble bow before you, and the prosperity of +millions depends on you. Even as I place my lot in your hands, so +I swear from to-day to place also that of my future subjects. Your +decisions shall be my laws, for I know well that you will command +nothing but what is noble, good and wise, and no one in the whole +kingdom oppressed justly or unjustly but will find protection in you." + +Vainly the future ruler awaited an answer. Iravati was silent, but +it was a silence that gave no hope of consent. She had turned from +him as if to hide her sorrow, and buried her face in her hands. Even +this glorious future made no impression on her. + +"Iravati," said Salim, in a deeply moved voice, "do not at once +deprive me of the peace with which your appearance filled my whole +soul. Through you I had become quite a different man from what I was; +do not let me fall back again. Have pity on me, and on the thousands +that with you by my side would find a benefactor in me, but without +you, in all probability, a tyrant. I am weak, I know, but I would +be strong as a hero, if from your words and presence I might draw my +strength. Why should it be refused me? It will only cost you one word, +and the crown of India lies at your feet; and you have nothing to do +but to stretch out your hand and place it on your head. But I see," +he continued, passionately, "that my respect, my admiration, and +my love are nothing to you; you despise the prince for a miserable +adventurer, to whom you are bound by chains forged without thought; +but think well what you do, what you venture, and what fate may await +you and him also, if ever the love of one powerful as I is turned to +rage and hate. But I am speaking wild and foolish words," he added +sadly, letting his head sink on his breast. "What right have I to your +love? However high my station, I am not worthy of you. I am old before +my time; that other is young, beautiful, with a heart unspoiled by the +world. Why should I then complain? what I am is my own doing, and that +of an unhappy fate, which has placed me in a station for which I am +unfitted. But ah! how different, how different might all have been, if +fate had thrown you in my way earlier! Now it is too late, too late!" + +"My Prince," said Iravati, gently, "you do yourself wrong; you have +reason for reproaching but not for despising yourself. And be assured, +I do not despise or scorn you, even if I can never be yours; in truth, +had I known you earlier, even as you are now, but before another had +won my love and faith, I might have returned your affection. You +cannot really wish me to break my pledged word; and if I did you +would lose the respect for me on which your love is grounded. But +even in that case, which now is impossible, your high rank would +have been no temptation. The luxury and splendour in which you live +could never have been my element; and the great responsibility you +were ready to lay on my shoulders, I could never have borne. But +why should we lose ourselves in thought of what might have been, +but can never be? The unknown powers that rule our fates have willed +otherwise, let us submit to their decision, which must be just and +wise for you as well as I. And so leave me, my gracious prince and +lord, in the lowly state which you found me; go and forget me, now +and always; and if you do remember me, let your thoughts be of that +moment when nobler and more elevated feelings made themselves master +of your soul. As for me, my thoughts will follow you in your future, +which will, I hope and trust, be rich in noble deeds, when you succeed +to the throne of the great Emperor; and be certain that amongst your +numberless subjects none will watch your path in life with deeper +interest than she who now implores you to leave her, and to release +her from the hard duty of disobedience to your wishes." + +Seeking for an answer both fitting and convincing, stood the despot who +perhaps never before in his life had met with contradiction. Silently +he stood before the young girl; now about to speak, and then +restraining himself, seeking vainly for words to give expression to the +conflicting feelings that thronged his brain. At last he approached +Iravati, seized her hand and lifted it to his lips, then turned and +disappeared in the darkness, without a single word. + +The next morning, greatly to Salhana's alarm, he heard that the Prince +had left the Castle of Allahabad accompanied by a single servant, +but whither he had gone no one knew. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE WEIGHING OF THE EMPEROR. + + +What a bustle was there in the thronged bazar as Siddha, in the +morning, wandered through the busy rows of shops, on which were +spread out in rich abundance everything that could tempt the eye and +purse. And what a strange and wonderful mingling of various peoples +and races, the different representatives of which jostled against and +crossed each other's paths without betraying any surprise, so well +accustomed were they to the sight. Here the natives of the land, +Hindus of more or less pale complexions, their servants of various +bronzed shades; there, too, the proud ruling races--Persians, Arabs, +and Tatars, Armenians and Jews from the west, and also sons of the +Celestial Kingdom, with their long tails and wide flowered robes; +and there men who especially struck Siddha, as he had never before +seen their like, men most strangely clad, with pointed, broad-brimmed +hats decorated with feathers, short doublets, wide velvet trousers, +and high boots, and with long, straight swords hanging from coloured +shoulder-belts. They were in company of the spiritual Fathers, one +of whom but a short time since, had been admitted to the presence of +the Emperor. + +Among all this throng many had come to make their own purchases, others +only to wander and contemplatingly watch the bustling crowd. Numbers +of women, of many nations and classes, were also to be seen, some +in the costume of the people, simple, but graceful and pleasing; +others in coloured and gaudy Persian attire, and some closely veiled, +according to the strict Muhammadan law, and showing nothing human +excepting a pair of red-slippered feet, and a pair of dark eyes +that glittered through round holes in the upper veil that enveloped +everything. Some were busied with household purchases, others with +the acquisition of useful knick-knacks. + +Just as Siddha was about to inquire from some of the passers-by who +the strange men were, he saw his friend and benefactor Faizi approach, +and addressed his question to him. + +"They are Franks," was the answer, "called Portuguese; they come from +far-away countries in the West, for the sake of commerce; and those +with them have come to try and convert us to what they say is the +only religion which can save souls." + +"And those two," asked Siddha, "coming from the other side? do +they belong to them? They wear nearly the same clothing, but their +companions appear to me fairer, and how red their beards are!" + +"They are also Franks," answered Faizi, "though not quite the same +as the others. They are English, [85] who seek to drive out the +Portuguese, but with little success; however, they are well received +by our Emperor and our great people." + +A few years later, Faizi would have been able to point out others +among these visitors from the West, who, though also included under +the name of Franks, yet were quite different. He could have pointed +to the robust and somewhat plump figures and good-humoured faces of +Hollander and Zeelander, who, under Pieter van der Broeche, [86] came +to seek their own fortunes and those of their masters the Directors +of the East India Company. For long years they were considered both +by English and Portuguese as their most formidable rivals in the +markets of Hindustan, and as men who knew how to sustain the fame of +the flag of the Netherlands in the Indian waters against the Gijs, +or "Gijsooms" as they mockingly, though not very grammatically, +named their arch enemies. But their time was not then come. + +As the two Englishmen passed by, Siddha looked at them with a curiosity +which, though perhaps natural, at first seeing such strangers, yet +was far from courteous; but Siddha felt--although he had heard nothing +of these people--very little respect for them, and even Faizi seemed +to consider them hardly worthy of a glance. + +"Cursed proud Moors!" muttered one of these sons of Albion in his +own tongue as he passed. Had these men, the haughty Indians and +half-despised English, been able to cast one single look into the +future, and could the former have guessed that the descendants of the +latter would one day rule over their people and country, they would +certainly have observed them with more attention. With still closer +interest would they have gazed, if anyone had told them that these +strangers sprang from the same race, and stood nearer to Siddha than +many of his friends whose origin was from the Semitic race. + +"The visits of all these strangers," said Faizi, "do us no harm; on the +contrary they give fresh impulse to our trade and various industries; +and from them also we have many good painters and other artists. Then +we have learnt much from them respecting their own countries. Still +they must not attempt to play the master here, which appears to be +rather according to their tastes." + +"Then surely we should show them the door," said Siddha. + +"That would soon happen, I can assure you. But now for another +subject. Have you tried my bay that we spoke of the other day?" + +"Indeed I have," answered Siddha, "and with the greatest pleasure; +it is a magnificent animal." And he broke out with praises of Faizi's +horse. + +"You are pleased with him, then?" he answered. "I will send him to your +stables; you can keep him if you will; and in the coming campaign he +will be of use to you. Your grey is a beautiful horse and well broke, +but scarcely strong enough; and the bay is uncommonly so. I ride him +but seldom, for I must confess I have become rather lazy and prefer +a quieter animal." + +"But," said Siddha, overcome at such goodness, "this is indeed a +costly present, which I have not deserved. Your bay is a splendid +thoroughbred Arab, such as I have never before ridden." + +"When I offer my friends anything it ought to be worth having," said +Faizi. "Now I want to tell you of something else: about a meeting +that took place yesterday evening at the palace, and at which I +wish you had been present. In spite of state troubles that again +overwhelm the Emperor, he found both time and inclination to hold +one of his philosophical and theological gatherings, for which, +just now, there is an opportunity, as the Christian missionaries +from Goa are again here. Yesterday a number of Ulamas and Mullahs +were assembled in one of the great halls of the palace. Among them +naturally Abdul Kadir appeared; then there were the Jesuits, a Jew, +and a Parsee, and your former tutor Kulluka, who has returned here, +and whom doubtless you have already greeted; my brother Abú-l Fazl +was also present, and I also had that honour, and took for my part in +the course of the discussion your ancient atheistical philosophy of +nature. Akbar himself inclined a little my way, while Kulluka defended +the orthodox Brahmanical Vedanta, [87] and Abú-l Fazl the ordinary +human ground. Kulluka detected him now and then in Buddhistic heresies, +but let them pass, saying there was no Buddhist present to defend his +creed. You know there are some here, but none fit to take part in these +discussions. The Emperor scarcely took any part in what went on, but +only listened; and perhaps the most remarkable part of these discourses +was their conclusion. Nothing could be better ordered or more courteous +than the beginning; our Mullahs, calm and grave, saying but little; +nothing could be more gentle than the Padres, piping as sweetly as +bird-catchers; the Jew, a follower of Maimonides, [88] was the same, +but very silent, and not quite at his ease; the Parsee was poetical +and not always very intelligible; and as for us, we every now and then +threw in some problem or argument, gathered from the philosophers of +old days, or that we had learnt from the Arabs or Persians, and which +did not appear to be quite to the tastes of the disputants. By degrees +they began to grow warm, and from arguments proceeded to assertions, +and from assertions to hard words, especially between the Muhammadans +and Jesuits, though on the whole we were not spared; and in the end +there was shouting, cursing, and noise, in spite of the presence of the +Emperor, enough to deafen us. In all this the Mullahs were foremost, +who, as you understand, consider themselves as the most injured. Akbar +sat watching this foolish scene, not without secret satisfaction, and +glanced every now and then at me with a smile; but at last it became +too much for him, and he saw that in his presence it was not fitting +such a spectacle should continue. 'Faizi,' said he, signing to me, +'have the door opened to these people, as they no longer know how to +conduct themselves. I gave them the fullest opportunity for defending +their various religious theories against each other, in order that I +might decide who had the best grounds for his opinions; and what have +they done? Each has endeavoured to outdo his neighbour in shouting and +cursing; nothing else. Let there be an end of it.' 'Sire,' I answered, +'we had better send them all away; if two only should remain, there +will be no end to the strife.' Akbar laughed, but rising from the +seat where he had calmly remained all through the storm, he said, +in his powerful voice, which at once enforced silence on all around, +'We thank you, gentlemen, for the pleasant evening we have passed, +due to your kindness and interesting discussions. We hope for another +such interview before long, but the present one is closed,' and with +a sign of his hand he dismissed them. The greater part withdrew, +grumbling. Oh, Siddha, how foolish men are thus to curse and hate each +other for the sake of abstract problems, of which they know nothing, +and which, even if they did, would not advance them one single step +in the practice of what honour and duty enjoin!" + +"I quite agree with you; and to follow the two last are often hard +enough," answered Siddha, with a sigh, knowing far more of the +difficulties of which he spoke than the other suspected. + +"But now tell me," said Faizi, "how it comes that you are here; +I thought that you, with your men, were already on your way to join +the camp." + +"We had started," said Siddha, "but received counter-orders on the +road. We are to remain some days longer at Agra, to my great pleasure, +as it gives me the opportunity of being present at the great festival +of to-day, which celebrates the Emperor's birthday, of which I have +heard so much." + +That there was another reason for rejoicing at a longer delay in Agra, +Siddha did not think it necessary to add. + +"That reminds me," said Faizi, "it is time to go to the palace before +the durbar. The Emperor receives, as you know, the foreign ambassadors +to-day. Come with me, and you can take your place among the officers +of your rank." + +Although Siddha had been more than once present at a durbar, yet as +with Faizi he entered the great throne-hall, where the Emperor had +already taken his place, the impression made upon him was almost +as great as on the first occasion. He looked with admiration at +the splendid white marble columns and walls inlaid with beautiful +mosaics, delicate arches, with silk and velvet curtains falling in +rich folds. He was much struck by the great assembly, which was larger +and more splendid than any he had yet seen. At one end of the hall, +lit by a softened light from above, was the Great Mughal, seated on +a throne sparkling with precious stones; on both sides, standing in +long ranks, were the Umara, [89] the ministers, generals, and nobles +of high rank, and then ambassadors from neighbouring countries in +their various costumes, among them the two Jesuits; and at the end +the lesser officials and officers, amongst whom Siddha, according to +his rank, had taken his place. + +The chief part of the ceremony was the exchange of presents. The +ambassadors and others approached the Emperor in their turn. On +reaching the throne they raised their right hands to their foreheads +and bowed their heads before the Emperor, then placed their presents, +consisting chiefly of costly objects of art, by the side of the step on +which the throne was raised, and in their turn they received presents +on behalf of the Emperor. Aquaviva also drew near the Mughal, bearing a +splendidly bound Latin Bible, which, according to custom, he was about +to lay down; but Akbar, rising from his throne, advanced a step or two, +and took the book from the hands of the missionary. "We thank you, +worthy Father," he said, "for this kindly thought, and trust that what +we have to offer will not be less welcome to you," and taking from the +hands of a Brahman standing by his side a voluminous and beautifully +ornamented manuscript, he presented it to the Jesuit, saying, "This +is a copy of the 'Atharva-Veda,' [90] one of the most ancient of our +holy books of India; it is accompanied by a Persian translation." + +With deep respect Aquaviva received the imperial gift, though one +might question whether in truth he was much pleased, and if he did +not see in it some allusion to the meeting of the preceding evening; +which was the more probable as the Emperor was always informed +beforehand what presents were to be made him, that the return +might be appropriate. But whatever the Padre thought, it was not +difficult to guess what impression this affair made on the orthodox +Brahmans. There was a frown on almost every forehead in their ranks, +and Abdul Kadir could scarcely restrain his indignation. They could not +read the meaning of the return present, and how by it Akbar wished to +show that he took no part with the Christians. All they saw was the +special honour shown to a Christian. Abú-l Fazl, who understood it +better, nevertheless shook his head, vexed at the needless defiance +and insult to the Muhammadans offered by the (in other respects) +humane and wise Akbar; still he confessed that they almost deserved +it for their unmanly conduct of the previous evening. + +After the ceremonial of the reception of presents was over, the Mughal +was for some time occupied with giving audiences and appointments; +among others our Siddha was called to him. + +"Siddha Rama," he said, "with good reason we are content with you, +and, to prove it, we name you from to-day Mansabdar over a thousand; +show yourself always worthy of our trust and favour." + +A deep colour mounted to Siddha's face, as silently, according to the +usage, he bent his head before the Emperor, in token of his gratitude +for this fresh favour. He worthy of Akbar's confidence! Could there +be one in the army that deserved it less? Yet the Emperor had need of +his interest and assistance in Kashmir, so that it was not generosity +and kindness alone which led to this promotion. Akbar only saw in the +confusion of the young warrior an easily explained and praiseworthy +modesty at finding himself so openly laden with favours, and nodded +to him kindly as he signed to him that he might withdraw. + +It was now almost time that the people's feast should begin, and for +it was destined a field not far from the town. Towards it was now +streaming from all the streets and along all the roads a brilliantly +coloured throng, some on foot, some riding either on horses or richly +caparisoned elephants; some, too, were on camels laden with eatables +and refreshments of all kinds for the many that cared to take part +in the rejoicings. Mingling in the merry crowd were Siddha and his +friend Parviz, whom he had met on leaving the palace, and who had +heartily congratulated him on his new command. + +"And you," said Siddha, "how go your affairs?" + +"You mean my own private ones, do you not?" answered the other, +laughing. "On the whole they go on well. Lately I have several +times seen her to whom my heart belongs; and, though of course it +was in secret, yet I have reasons for suspecting her father, Todar +Mal, [91] knew all about it, although he gave himself the airs of +knowing nothing. I believe my uncle Faizi has something to do with +this favourable change in affairs. 'May Allah bless him!' as the +pious Abdul Kadir would say." And here the good Parviz wandered off +into a stream of praises of the beauty and virtues of her he loved, +which, deeply interesting to him, was not quite so much so for his +hearer. However this might be, the one subject occupied the two +friends until they reached the spot where the festival was to be +held. Here the view was as full of life as that of the court had been, +but far fuller of mirth and merriment. Endless numbers moved in lightly +coloured groups over the great undulating plain where countless tents, +great and small, were pitched. Above all, the elephants with their +dark bodies, bright-coloured cloths, and richly ornamented haudas, +contrasted picturesquely with the riders and those on foot. The +imperial elephants were decorated with golden breast and head plates, +set with large smaragds; and their gigantic bodies bore a treasure +enough to make the fortune of any simple burgher. On one of these +the Mughal himself was seated, and dismounting in a circle of his +courtiers, and followed by them, repaired to the spot where the great +ceremony of the day was to be celebrated. This ceremonial deserves +attention, so strange and impressive was it. Many have endeavoured +in different ways to explain what it betokened, but the true meaning +has hitherto escaped all historians. [92] + +On a little height was erected a large and strong pair of scales, large +enough easily to hold a man. One scale was heaped with gold, silver, +and precious stones, while the other stood empty, high in the air. On +this the Emperor now took his place, in sight of hundreds and thousands +of his subjects, who crowded round from all sides; and the other scale +was added to or taken from until it exactly balanced the illustrious +person of the Great Mughal, who well held his own against the precious +metal. It was a pity that other things could not be laid in the scale, +such as duty, honour, faith, and enthusiasm for all that is good and +beautiful; then surely Akbar would not have been found wanting in the +balance. When the weighing was over he stept calmly from the scales, +and the gold and silver were distributed amongst the crowd. Towards +the end the Emperor mixed among those around him, throwing among the +bystanders small golden objects in the form of flowers and fruits, +addressing here and there kind and friendly words--confirming many +afresh in their conviction that in Akbar the people had not only a +great and powerful, but also a benevolent ruler, to whose heart the +well-being of his subjects was dearer than his own greatness. + +After the grave ceremonies of the day were over, the real festivities +began, and every kind of diversion occupied the numberless +visitors. Here the jugglers and conjurors displayed their foolish +art, and performed feats of strength; there dancers to the sound of +monotonous music, and with slow movements, performed their dances; +and further on, horsemen at full gallop lifted rings from the +ground at the end of their long lances. On one spot was a wonderful +and horrible exhibition of two of those beings peculiar to India, +who think they combine a religious act with self-torture. They were +suspended twenty feet above the ground by means of an iron hook driven +into their backs and hung by a rope to a cross-beam. [93] Here, where +such a sight was rare, it excited great attention, and Parviz stood +gazing at it with interest, very different from Siddha's indifference, +who was well accustomed to such spectacles. + +"What can possess the people?" said Parviz to his friend. "It is +said they do this prompted by religious fervour; but if so, why +do they choose a day of public rejoicing and festivity to exhibit +themselves? It is not a pleasant sight, but I cannot understand how +it is they appear so at their ease, and so free from pain." + +"Perhaps I can explain it to you," said Siddha. "You know that such +tortures as we are now looking at are considered by our fanatics +as meritorious actions, by which heaven may be gained; and those +that gaze upon these martyrs, and give them money, participate in +the merit; and the more superstitious the people are, so much the +greater are the gains. But the secret of their art is not known with +certainty, although I believe there are grounds for suspecting how it +is done. If I am not deceived, they are always accompanied by women, +although they are never seen with them, and these for about half a +day before an exhibition pinch them between the shoulder-blades until +the spot is without feeling, and the hook can be inserted without +causing them any pain." + +"A wonderful kind of pleasantry," remarked Parviz. + +"Yes, and a wretched one, too. Whatever support it receives from +superstition, by respectable Brahmans it is only looked upon with +contempt. But did you not say there were to be elephant and wild +beast fights?" + +"Certainly, and by yonder flag I see they are about to begin; let us +make our way there and find a place." + +This was not difficult, for their rank gave them instant admission +to the space railed off, and provided with seats, where the combats +were to take place. In the midst the Emperor was seated surrounded +by his courtiers. They had not waited long when from the opposite +sides the fighting elephants entered the arena, each covered with +a splendid cloth, and mounted by a brightly dressed mahout. Very +little preparation was necessary. No sooner did the gigantic animals +approach each other, than, rising on their hind legs with a snort, +they seized each other with their trunks, each endeavouring to stab +his foe with his long tusks, while their riders, now clinging by their +knees behind the creatures' ears, and now holding by their hands to +the girth of the cloth, still kept their places. For some time the +fight continued with uncertain fortune; now one elephant was driven +backwards, and now the other. At last one was overthrown. His mahout +leaping nimbly to the ground alighted on his feet, and the rider of +the victor struck his hook into the constantly kept open wound behind +the ears, and forced him to draw back without injuring his fallen +foe. The Emperor applauded loudly, his example being followed by the +courtiers and spectators, and then they slowly left the tribunes. + +"Akbar seems to have a great liking for these combats," said Siddha +to his friend, as they continued their walk. + +"Yes," was the answer; "Akbar likes everything that displays courage +and dexterity, whether in man or beast. As you know, he is of unusual +strength himself, and unsurpassed by any in the use of arms; and his +personal courage in war and hunting is of that description that one +might call recklessness. He seems to seek danger instead of avoiding +it, and his generals and hunting comrades have at times enough to do +with him when his blood is up. You must have heard of his adventures; +certainly some are exaggerated, but you can trust to Faizi, who has +been present at many, and who will tell you about them some day." + +Thus talking they wandered on, and at last having seen all they +wished, turned towards the city. Suddenly Siddha stood still, struck +with astonishment: his eye had accidentally fallen on the hauda of a +magnificently caparisoned elephant, and the lady he there saw, with one +or two others leaning back on the silken cushions, could be no other +than Rezia! Her thin veil fastened with diamonds had been pushed on +one side, there could be no mistake, and there by her side was the +well-known servant. But what was she doing here, she who lived in +solitude, carefully hidden from all eyes--just at this moment, too, +when she believed that Siddha had marched with the army! Could she +have deceived him? could she be other than she had told him? + +As calmly and indifferently as was possible, he asked his companion, +pointing to Rezia, who had not seen him among the foot passengers--"Do +you know that lady?" + +"She with the veil thrown back, and a servant holding a fan of peacock +feathers?" asked Parviz. "Certainly I know her, and I wonder that +you do not; however, of late she has shown herself but seldom. She +is"--and here Parviz named a name which gave our friend such a shock as +never before in his whole life he had experienced; and he felt as if, +standing on the brink of a precipice amongst his northern mountains, +he had been seized with a sudden dizziness and fallen into the abyss +beneath. "She is," said Parviz, "a lady of whom, at any rate, you +must have heard--Gulbadan, [94] Faizi's wife." + + + + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +SURPRISES. + + +"How can the name of that woman affect you?" asked Parviz, astonished +at Siddha's strange bearing. "You have not, I trust, fallen in love +with Gulbadan at first sight? I would scarcely advise you to do so; +although Faizi is goodness itself, he is not always quite gentle +where his wife is concerned, with whom he is desperately in love." + +"It was a passing remembrance," replied Siddha, recovering himself +as well as possible, "awakened by that name, but which has nothing +to do with Faizi's wife." + +"So much the better," rejoined the other; and they silently proceeded +on their way. + +To be alone, to escape from Parviz as soon as possible,--no other +thought occupied his companion, and seeing one of his men walking up +and down, "Excuse me," he said, "but I have to speak with that man, +and, thanking you for your pleasant company, I must for the moment +say farewell." And hastily greeting his friend, and beckoning to the +horseman to approach, he was soon in conversation with him on subjects +connected with the service, but as suddenly broke it off directly +Parviz was out of sight. He then hurried on, not minding where his +steps carried him, only on and on, thinking and dreaming, as though +bewildered with drink. "Gulbadan, Faizi's wife!" Treachery again, +then, though this time involuntary, yet of the worst description, +against the man by whom when a stranger he had been received with +the utmost kindness, and in whom he had always found the truest of +friends, and to whom he owed privileges and favours that no one in +his place could have obtained without such protection. Treachery, too, +against the Emperor, who had laden him with unexpected and undeserved +favours; treachery and shameless faithlessness against her to whom +once he had given his heart and pledged his word; and all for the +sake of one who had deceived him,--and whom he must despise,--and +yet love above everything and for ever. What should he do? Honour +and duty spoke loudly,--flight, instant flight, alone could save +him. He knew and felt that delay would only again place him on the +brink of a bottomless abyss. But to leave her so suddenly, without +any preparation, any explanation--she, who, though weak, still loved +him; and if she had led him astray, she, too, had sacrificed honour +and duty;--would that be acting rightly? would it be fair? was it +possible that he could do it? + +For a long time Siddha wandered on, not knowing where he went. At last +he looked round, and found he was not far from the city, and near the +habitation of Rezia--the Rezia of happy days now gone by--and which, as +now he remembered, was situated close to Faizi's villa. Evening began +to close in; it was the hour that he was wont to approach the garden +wall, and, at a well known signal, to be admitted by the servant. A +few moments later he again stood by the wall, gave the signal, and, +as the door was opened, hurried in. + +Rezia, or rather Gulbadan, was reposing comfortably on a divan by the +verandah, little thinking of Siddha, who she imagined was on his way +to join the army, when suddenly the man she thought miles away rushed +into her apartments. + +"How, Siddha!" she cried, starting in alarm to her feet. "I thought +you were gone." + +"Rezia, Gulbadan!" said Siddha, with assumed calm, "I know you now; +you have deceived me, and the man to whom I owe so much, if not +everything. I come to bid you farewell; honour commands me to go, +but without flight I know that I could not. To-morrow or to-day I +leave Agra, never to see it again, nor you." + +In a second, and before Siddha had finished, Faizi's wife had +comprehended all. She had, convinced that her lover had left +in command of his detachment, seen no reason why she should not +openly show herself at the great festival, nor for keeping herself +veiled. Then he must have seen and recognised her, and have heard +her real name; the affair was too plain to require any explanation, +nor were questions and explanations among her tactics. She looked at +him entreatingly with her soft blue eyes, raising her clasped hands +towards him, then tottered, and without one word sank back on the +divan, hiding her face in the cushions. + +For some time Siddha gazed silently at her; so beautiful, so +irresistibly lovely had she never appeared to him as just in that +moment when he had determined never again to see her; and he felt +that this last look would be imprinted on his mind for ever. + +"Go, go at once," whispered a voice to him; "no words more, nor +farewells, or it will be too late to escape the enchantment, that +already begins to work." + +Then she slowly raised her head, thrusting back the luxurious locks +that fell in waves around her, and passed her hand over her face, +as one that awakes from a deep sleep or swoon. + +"Rezia," said Siddha, "let me call you so once more; I thought to leave +you without one word of preparation would not have been honourable; +but do not make this parting still harder to me. You, I trust, will +agree that to part is unavoidable. Unknowingly, I have sinned against +hospitality, and repaid the truest friendship with the grossest +ingratitude. To continue doing so would be the worst of crimes." + +"You are right, my friend," said Rezia, gently. "To part, I feel, +must to you appear unavoidable. I have long feared it, and for that +reason dissembled my name; but hear me for a few moments before +you leave me for ever, for I would not that you should remember me +with contempt. Listen to what I have to say, not in defence, but +in excuse of my conduct. I deceived you, it is true, and more than +once. I began by deceiving you the first time we met. I had seen you +shortly after your arrival at Agra, though you did not see me, and +that first sight of you awoke an interest that was not diminished by +what I heard in answer to my inquiries, and then rashly I determined +to make your acquaintance, making use of that letter to Kashmir as my +pretence. To what that acquaintance led, aided by my weakness and love, +alas! you know too well; but then, indeed, I did not know that there +was any bond of friendship between Faizi and you. And when later on, +to my horror, I discovered it, I should have had the courage to break +off all that we were to each other by confessing who I was. But, +ah! I was weak, Siddha; weak as only a woman who loves can be, who +loves the man of her choice with passionate fondness. I feared the +parting that your sense of honour would pronounce to be necessary, +and I was silent. Can you forgive me, Siddha, before we bid each +other good-bye for ever?" And timidly, as though afraid of his anger, +she stretched out her hand to him, and sank back, slowly and wearily, +on the cushions, her eyes filled with tears. + +For a time he struggled with himself a bitter and terrible battle, +but, alas! of too short duration. + +"Rezia," he cried, clasping in his arms the woman who not only +ruled him but forced him to forget all that honour bade him to hold +dear,--"Rezia, without you there is neither life nor existence, +and with you no crime and no shame." + +He had indeed spoken the truth, and made use of no exaggeration when +he told her that she was dearer to him than life, and dearer than +honour. And so the evening passed on. Siddha was partly disturbed, +partly overwhelmed with an indescribable happiness; sometimes despising +himself, and then again rejoicing in his fatal passion. It was late +before he passed down the well-known path, and was about to open the +little door in the garden wall, when, to his astonishment, it opened, +and the figure of a man passed through, who, without remarking him, +attempted to close it after him. But a sudden exclamation from Siddha +made him turn round. Who could it be? Faizi himself perhaps. Siddha +could have bitten out his tongue for his foolish imprudence, but it +was too late. + +"What, in the name of Shaitan, are you doing here?" cried the new +comer; and Siddha at once recognised the voice of Prince Salim, +whose figure was scarcely visible in the dimness of night. + +"With an equal or a better right, I might ask that of you," was +the bold reply. The clatter of arms told Siddha that the Prince had +laid his hand on his sword, and he on his side did the same. Salim +approached a step or two, and recognising his opponent, let his sword +fall back into its sheath. + +"Ha! my friend Siddha Rama," he cried, in no little astonishment, "so +we catch you in one of your nightly adventures! Still, there is not +much harm in that for a young man like you. Do not fear that I shall +betray you, nor need you be jealous. You must know that the chosen +one of your heart is, to a certain degree, mixed up in our plans, +and I come occasionally to talk them over with her in secrecy and +under cover of night; but perhaps at this moment she will be hardly +inclined to discuss such dry subjects, and it will be as well for me +to put off my visit." + +And Salim turned towards the doorway, and, having let Siddha through, +carefully shut it. + +"I suppose you are now returning to your lodging? My path lies in +the opposite direction," said he; "but," he added, to Siddha, who, +not knowing what to say, stood silently listening to him, "let this +meeting remain a secret between us, it will be our wisest course." And +so saying, Salim disappeared in the darkness. + +"He has accidentally rendered me a great service," muttered the Prince +to himself, as he hurried on; "he has put me in possession of a secret +that can be of inestimable worth. In all this I recognise that snake." + +The next day one of Salim's most trusted men was wandering round the +country house, and before long found an opportunity of talking with +Gulbadan's servant. The bargain he proposed was quickly concluded, +the servant betraying her mistress's secrets willingly, for the Prince, +naturally, could pay more than she and Siddha together. On the evening +of the same day the servant presented herself at the palace, and was +received by Salim's confidant, to whom she gave two papers folded in +the form of letters, and hurried back to her mistress's abode with +the price she had received for them. The following day Salim was on +his road back to Allahabad with a small escort. + +There sojourned one solitary and sad. For a long time Iravati had +heard nothing of her betrothed. In the beginning, shortly after his +arrival in Agra, he had, as she well remembered, written her two +letters, as overflowing as his earlier ones had been with assurances +of his love that could never be shaken; since then she had received +no letter from him, though she heard from others that he was well and +rising in favour with the Emperor. What, then, could be the reason +of his continued silence? A terrible doubt began more and more to +make itself master of her, but she strove against it, drawing fresh +strength from her faith in the word and honour of her Siddha. Once +as she sat lost in musings, idly turning over the leaves of a book +that in earlier days she had read in Kashmir with her lover, she was +disturbed by the appearance of the faithful Nipunika, who approached +her with a troubled face, first hastily and then hesitatingly, as +though she doubted whether to speak or keep silence. + +"What have you to tell me?" said Iravati. "You seem to be the bearer +of bad news." + +"Alas!" answered the servant, "I would that my mouth were gagged; +yet I cannot leave you in ignorance of what I have heard. It concerns +you too nearly for me to dare to keep it from you." + +"Speak at once, without further preface," said Iravati. "I am ready +to hear what you have to tell." + +Then she recounted her meeting with a soldier from Agra, and what he +had told her of Siddha. At first she spoke guardedly, but ended in +repeating all that Salim had discovered about Faizi's wife. + +The consequence of this tale was as Nipunika had feared. As though +lifeless, Iravati sat there, gazing before her; and some minutes +of silence ensued before she spoke. Then she sprang to her feet, +asking, with a passion unwonted to her, "Who told you all this? Was +it a soldier? Speak the truth, with no shifts or excuses." + +"Noble lady," answered Nipunika, "how should I dare to deceive you, +and what reason could I have for doing so? The man from whom I heard +what I have now repeated to you is a servant of the Prince." + +"Then the whole story is a lie!" cried Iravati. "I understand it +all now. What a contemptible plot!" she added to herself; and then +turning to her servant,--"It is well, my good Nipunika, and I thank +you for your report, which you brought, I doubt not, prompted by the +real interest you take in me. But now that I know where it comes from +I care not for it. Leave me now for the moment, and in future do not +have to do with the man who told you these tales." + +Still the arrow had been better aimed than Iravati would allow, either +to herself or to her servant; and left alone, she sat for a long time, +her head leaning on her hand, thinking over the possibilities and +probabilities of what she had heard. But she felt her courage rise +again when, some time after, leaving her apartment, she met Prince +Salim in one of the galleries, whose return had not been announced +to her. It was all plain to her. No one else had invented the whole +slander in order to estrange her from Siddha; and she bent her head +coolly and half contemptuously in acknowledgment of her visitor's +respectful greeting. + +"Iravati," he said, "you would have reason for surprise at my +return here after our last, and for me discouraging interview, if +the explanation had not been given you by what has come to your ears +through your servant, and which I could not personally tell you." + +"I understand well," said Iravati, without anger, but without +circumlocution, "that you think scandal may aid you where persecution +has failed; but this I had not expected, and, above all, from you." + +"Scandal!" repeated Salim; "that would indeed be a contemptible manner +of attaining the goal of my passionate, and for you not injurious, +wishes, and a very vain one. Of what avail would such tales and empty +gossip be? But it is different when truth is supported by proofs." + +"How? Proofs! What do you mean?" + +"I mean the kind of proofs that the strictest judge cannot condemn. You +know Siddha's handwriting, do you not?" + +"Certainly." + +"Well, look at these letters." And Salim handed to her two papers +folded as letters, which Guldbadan's trusted servant had stolen from +her mistress and sold to him. They were hastily and passionately +written, full of every expression of love, and contained one or two +verses, written by Siddha, in which the name of the adored Rezia was +repeated several times. + +Iravati hastily read them through, and then read and re-read them, +turning the letters round and round, looking at them from every side; +then suddenly she let them fall from her hand, and would have sunk +senseless to the ground if Salim had not supported her and placed +her on a seat. + +However deeply Iravati loved, she was no weak, nervous girl. In +her veins ran the blood of an ancient and heroic race; and quickly +recovering herself, she stood before the Prince, looking him firmly +in the eyes. + +"My fate," she said, "is decided; for I must confess that what I have +heard is really true. Another has taken possession of the heart that +until now was mine, and mine alone. But do not think, Prince, you +who rule over everything except a woman's heart, that the way to it +that was closed is now opened by your discovery; do not think that +my promise is now vain because the word that was pledged to me in +return is broken. As long as mine is not returned to me it is sacred." + +"How?" cried Salim in astonishment. "The lover whose faithlessness +is known to you, forsakes and abandons you for another, and yet you +are not free, and may not listen--I do not say at once, but some +time hence, when other memories fade at last and disappear--to him +who loves you above everything, and can lay at your feet power and +honour, such as no one else can offer?" + +"Salim," answered Iravati, gently, as she strove to collect her +thoughts; "you do not understand me, and perhaps you cannot do so. You +do not understand us Hindu women, so different from those to whom +you are accustomed. You think that the highest happiness for a woman +is to be the favoured Sultana of some mighty ruler, and for many it +does appear so; and you think it is enough to convince a Hindu woman +of the faithlessness of her lover, to cause her to say farewell to +all thoughts of the unworthy one." + +"And is it not so?" + +"Our women," was the answer, "know nothing of the temptations of +greatness, where either duty or honour are concerned, and to their +husband, or, which is the same thing, their betrothed, they remain +faithful, even if their love is repaid by treachery. There are no +bounds to the loyalty of a woman to her husband; and you know, though +you may consider it only the consequence of superstition or exaggerated +feeling, with what willing enthusiasm they will throw themselves on the +burning pile that consumes the body of their dead husbands. You must +have heard of our holy legends and heroic traditions, which describe +the devotion of a wife to one unworthy of her. Doubtless the touching +adventure of Damayanti must have come to your ears. Well, as far as +in me lies, I will be another Damayanti. [95] Siddha has deserted me, +but that is because the wicked Kali [96] has got possession of him, +and tempted him to evil; not he himself that has brought this bitter +sorrow to me. And when he awakes from this enchantment he will return, +another Nala, and find me pure from any spot, and acknowledge that +I knew better than he, how to watch over the honour of his name." + +"I willingly leave you," said Salim, after a moment's silence, +"the happy hope of his return, however much it grieves me. But do +not flatter yourself with such expectations. Believe me, I know the +woman into whose snares he has fallen. I loved her till I saw you, +and know that she is irresistible until a purer love conquers the +passion one feels for her. Believe me, I know no more fascinating +woman, as I know none purer or nobler than you." + +"Prince," said Iravati, in answer to this declaration, "I implore you +to grant me a favour, although it may sound uncourteous. Leave me for +the present. After all that has passed, I feel that it is necessary +to be alone. A prince, a nobleman as you are, will not refuse me this." + +"I should be," replied Salim, "unworthy of the name, if for a moment +longer I misused your goodness; also I feel but too well that further +persistence is now not only useless but prejudicial to my cause, +therefore I obey your request." And turning, he left the gallery with +slow footsteps. + +No sooner was he gone than Iravati's courage and firmness forsook her, +and, worn out, she sank on a seat near, and covering her face with +her hands, wept bitterly. + +Her repose was but of short duration, the sound of approaching +footsteps made her look up in alarm, and she saw Salhana before her. + +"My daughter," he said, in a gentler tone than she ever remembered +to have heard from him, "I know what occupies your thoughts and +bows your head with sorrow. I have long known what you to-day have +heard. I discovered some time ago Siddha's faithlessness in Agra, but +concealed it until the time should come when it would be necessary +that you should know it. Now all is known to you, and I trust that +you will recognise that the respect you owe, not to yourself alone, +but to me and my house, should oblige you to banish all thought of +the man who in so shameful a manner has flung from him the alliance +with our race. No, listen to me," he continued, as Iravati was about +to reply. "Believe that I feel the deepest sympathy with you in this +fatal moment; still I must not neglect to remind you what a daughter +of our noble race owes to her honour and good name. At the same time, +I will tell you, though in confidence, what I have discovered, which, +though it cannot heal the wound you have received at once, will in +the end bring consolation. A splendid future awaits you, Iravati; +that which every woman in the whole of Hindustan would look upon as +the most enviable lot can be yours--Prince Salim. I suspected it some +time ago, and when I gave him the opportunity, he acknowledged all +to me. Prince Salim loves you, and asks you for his wife." + +"I know that," said Iravati. + +"You know it! and how?" + +"From the Prince himself, this very day." + +"And your answer?" + +"I refused his flattering offer." + +"What!" cried Salhana, in the greatest astonishment and +anger. "Refused! Are you out of your mind?" + +"I believe not; but I am engaged to Siddha." + +"Well, what has that to do with it? you are still free to choose; +you are not yet his wife." + +"No; but, what is to me the same thing, I have sworn faith to him, +and he has not released me from my promise." + +"Let that be. Before, this might have had weight; but now he has +himself broken faith, and so released you from your word." + +"So, perhaps, might others think, who have been brought up with +different ideas. Mine forbid me to do as you wish. And if these +opinions now stand in your way, you must blame yourself, Father, who +have had me brought up in them. Above all--I will make no secret of +it--I still love Siddha, in spite of all; and after him I can never +love another." + +"There is no necessity for talking of love! It is enough that Salim +loves you, and that you can make use of the influence you have over +him. But this you do not choose to accept, simply from devotion +to antiquated and exaggerated habits of thought, and from a silly +passion for one unworthy of you. Think what you throw from you if +you persevere in your foolish refusal. A kingdom is offered to you, +to which the whole world can scarcely show a rival; and you throw it +from you with contempt, for the sake of a dream--a whim!" + +"It may be that I am wrong," said Iravati, with forced calmness, while +her father became more and more excited; "but your representations +cannot convince me. I have already heard them, and still more forcibly +put, from the Prince, without being shaken in my resolution." + +"Your resolution is, that you will resist your father. But it appears +to me that hardly agrees with the principles to which you are so much +devoted, and which teach that obedience from a child to a father is +one of the first duties." + +"Certainly; but not when this duty comes into conflict with a still +higher one. However much it grieves me not to obey you, in this case +I may not, and I cannot." + +"Do you not know that a father has right over his daughter, and in +cases of necessity forces her to obey?" + +"I know it well, but also know that here compulsion would avail +nothing. If I let myself be forced into a marriage with Salim, +I should lose all value in his eyes, and so my influence over him +would be as nothing. That he himself knows; but he will not think of +force. If he did, he would not need your intervention. Akbar's heir +is powerful enough to crush both your will and mine, if he chose." + +Salhana clenched his hands, and impatiently bit his moustache. Beaten +on all sides, and by whom? A simple girl, whom until now he had only +known as the gentlest and most submissive of daughters. All his great +plans and glittering prospects destroyed by this wilful and stubborn +child. He who had dreamt not of a viceroyship alone, but to attain to +the highest place next to the Emperor. He already saw himself in Agra, +next to the throne as Grand Wazir, ruling Prince and land through his +daughter; sovereign ruler over kingdoms and peoples--if not in name, +at least in reality. + +"Well," he cried at last, as he placed himself in a threatening +attitude opposite Iravati; "you will not listen to reason, and you +do not fear compulsion; but there may be something that you fear--the +curse of a father!" + +"The sorrow that is already laid upon me would be increased twofold," +she answered; "but I would strive for courage to bear my burden +without faltering. That must happen which is written by fate." + +"You are courageous," said Salhana, coldly and sarcastically; +"or you try to be so. But are you so sure that your obstinacy will +not injure this Siddha, whom you acknowledge that you still love, +and that the Prince may not avenge your refusal on him?" + +The last blow seemed to reach its aim. Iravati, in despair, lifted +her hands on high and then let them fall powerless at her side, +while her head sank on her breast. With a hateful, triumphant smile, +Salhana watched her. The victory at last was his, and the strength +of the invincible one broken. + +But the proud girl raised her head again, and looking Salhana full +in the face, she said, first in a faltering voice, which soon became +steady: + +"What you have said, Father, is cruel, horribly cruel, and I can +scarcely believe that you really mean it. But even should it be a +threat in earnest, it has not the power to make me forsake the sacred +duty that is laid upon me. If Siddha stood before us, and saw me +hesitate, and violate my promise to save him from danger, he would +despise me, and thrust me with good right from him. My life I will +sacrifice for him, for it is his; but not my honour, that belongs also +to him. His death will be mine; but what is fated we cannot avoid. Let +vengeance strike the guiltless, but neither Salim nor you will gain +anything by it. You will have lost a daughter and your brother a son, +that would be all; and your ambition would in no way be advanced. But +let us break off a conversation that may end in causing me to lose +the respect I owe you. Think, my Father, that I am your daughter, +and one of a noble and ancient race, who cannot but be alarmed where +duty or honour are concerned,--or the man I love." + +For a moment Salhana stood silently looking at Iravati, standing +proudly and almost defiantly before him. + +Their positions were changed; the hitherto submissive daughter now +commanded, and forced the haughty father to subjection. Without a word, +he turned and hurried away, with a fierce expression of foiled rage +on his dark countenance. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"TAUHID-I-ILAHI." [97] + + +As usual, when evening closed in, a gaily coloured crowd thronged round +the shops and houses of one of the smaller bazars of Agra, situated +on the river. Here and there dice-players sat in open verandahs round +their boards; and there passed drunken [98] soldiers armed with various +weapons; a little retired from the crowd reposed solitary opium-eaters, +lost in blissful dreams; and there also were grave Muhammadans deep +in earnest conversation, and deigning for once to take a turn amongst +the despised Hindus engaged in their social pleasures. + +"Yes, Ali," said one of these to his companion, "with Akbar and +his court things go from bad to worse. Evening after evening I +know that these blasphemous meetings take place. Yesterday, about +midnight, I passed by the palace, and what do you think I saw? All +the Emperor's windows were brilliantly lit, sparkling with many +lamps and wax tapers. But for what? For no feast such as a prince +might celebrate. No; all was still as death, excepting a solemn song, +or rather hymn. Akbar himself has, I have heard, composed several of +them; and however well they sound, they have nothing to do with our +religious service to the praise of the Great Prophet." + +"And what does this betoken?" said Ali. + +"What it really signified," was the answer, "I cannot exactly say; but +there is no doubt but that the light and singing were in connection +with the new teaching that Akbar is trying to introduce in the place +of that of Islam, and into which he initiates his confidants--a kind +of fire and sun worship, which in an evil hour he has taken from the +ancient Parsees, and also from the unbelievers here. May Allah have +mercy on them!" + +"What kind of religion is it?" asked Ali. "Though I have heard of it +more than once, yet I do not exactly know what it is." + +"Nor do I very exactly," replied Yusuf; "but that it is very bad +is proved by the opposition it meets with from all the faithful, +especially from a man like Abdul Kadir, who is very learned and much +esteemed by Akbar himself. From personal experience I have lately +become acquainted with things still more disquieting than those of +which I have already told you. Not long since I saw a man steal from +the palace secretly, and as if afraid lest anyone should see him; +a man whom you must know, but whom you cannot meet without a cold +shudder of horror--Gorakh, the so-called Yogi. Now," continued he, +sinking the whisper in which he spoke to a still lower tone, "do you +know for what I hold that man? If not Shaitan himself, he is certainly +his assistant; and with him Akbar has made a compact." + +Yusuf was silent, regarding his comrade with horror. "Protect us, +Allah!" he suddenly cried, pointing to a figure approaching by the +river-side; "there he is in person! May the waters of the Jamuna +swallow him up!" + +And, in truth, there was the Durga priest, approaching a group of +Hindus and Persians engaged in lively conversation. + +"What I say," said one of these last, "is that we ought not, and +we cannot, bear longer the scorn and ridicule which is openly and +continually shown to our holy religion by Faizi and Abú-l Fazl, +not to mention a still higher name; and I cannot understand how you +people--although yours may be a different religion--how you can calmly +look on at the destruction and overthrow of what you, as well as we, +must hold sacred." + +"But to that we have not yet come," said the Hindu. "It is well known +that the Emperor and his followers do not think much of your Koran, +and perhaps as much might be said of your religion. But so far I +have heard nothing of destruction and overthrow; our temples are +untouched, and no one interferes with our religious practices; while +you Muhammadans in old days did nothing but torment and persecute us. + +"As you well deserved, you sons of----" + +"Come, men, no disputes," said a Persian soldier, interrupting them; +"quarrels will not aid us." And he gave a sign to the angry Muhammadan. + +"Let it be so," he answered, turning his back on the Hindu, and, +accompanied by two friends, passed on his way. + +Now Gorakh joined in the conversation: "It was well that you were +present, Mubarak," said he; "open disputes may be dangerous. Most +Hindus hold to the side of the Emperor; but if for the moment they +are not to be won, when fortune changes they will come over to us. In +the meantime what progress have you made?" + +"The greater part of our mansabdars are already won," answered +Mubarak; "and they will openly declare on our side directly the +signal is given. Those that go with the army will turn round at the +right moment, and those that remain here at Agra will do the same, +and they can depend on their troopers." + +This conversation had been listened to with eager interest by two men +who had joined the group of speakers, and to whom, by the greeting +they exchanged, they appeared to belong; but with still deeper interest +they listened when Gorakh, in a low voice, replied: + +"These last days have brought some changes in our plans; we must not +wait to strike the blow until Akbar has reached the north, for it is +always possible that in spite of the desertion of part of his troops +he may gain a victory. Such reports from Kashmir would spread a panic, +and we should find that there was little or nothing we could do here; +so we must somewhat hasten matters, and put our plans into execution +when Akbar is on the road, but too far off to return to Agra in a +few days' marches on hearing that Salim is declared Emperor and has +strengthened himself in the fortress; then there is no doubt that +the malcontents in the army will turn against Akbar. Take care, +then, Mubarak, and you others, that our people are warned in time, +and hold themselves in readiness to carry out our plans, although +the time is advanced." + +After talking a little longer the conspirators separated, each going +his own way, and leaving the last comers together. + +"This is weighty news," said one. + +"It is indeed," replied the other; "and if I am not mistaken it will +make things easier for Akbar. How unfortunate that we cannot at once +make our report to Abú-l Fazl; but we must wait till night, it may +be dangerous to go to his palace before then; and also, I believe he +is now with the Emperor, and we should not find him." + +"I think," said the first, "that it will be wiser for us now to +separate; we shall meet at midnight at the house of the Wazir." And +greeting his companion, he turned up a side street, while the other +continued along the river-side. + +However fearful and profane the rites may have been that were supposed +to have taken place in the private apartment of the Emperor--leading +the pious Yusuf and his followers to believe that Akbar had concluded +a compact with Shaitan--on that evening, at any rate, a right-thinking +Mussulman would have seen nothing remarkable, though he might have +taken fresh offence at the conversation if he had been able fully to +understand and follow it. + +Faizi, Abú-l Fazl, and the Brahman Kulluka, who had but lately returned +from the north, were with the Emperor. + +"No further report from your spies?" he asked his ministers. + +"Not since yesterday," answered Abú-l Fazl; "but I expect them at +midnight, and understand that they have news for me." + +"Is it not sad," said Akbar, "that one must make use of such +people? Oh! why are men thus forcing us to have recourse to such +means?" + +"It is," replied the Minister, "a necessary consequence of our present +form of government, which cannot be altered. Malcontents, whether +they are so with justice or not, have no means of redressing their +wrongs when all the power is vested in one, and that one pronounces +their complaints to be groundless. The ambitious and fortune-seekers +make use of them as tools to attain their own ends, and they easily +allow themselves to be so employed." + +"But I never refuse to listen to the complaints of my subjects," +said Akbar; "and if they are just, I redress them as far as lies in +my power." + +"If they are just!" repeated Abú-l Fazl. "Yes; but who decides +that? The Emperor and his councillors?" + +"But what would you have, then? We have heard of states and people +in other parts of the world, where things are managed differently; +but then, the condition of those people is very different from that +of ours. How would it be possible among the many kingdoms and races +subject to our rule to give any real share in the government to the +people themselves, even if their character, their manners and customs, +made it possible?" + +"That is quite true," said Abú-l Fazl; "and I have already said that +I regard further changes as neither desirable nor possible. When +I alluded to the present state of affairs, it was only to show how +unavoidable is the use of means that we are forced to adopt in order +to avoid what is still worse. So far as these men are concerned whom +we contemptuously call spies, they are less to be despised than one +supposes; at least, the two I have now in my mind are honourable men, +respected by others, and devoted to us heart and soul. It is true +that they are well paid, still that is not necessary, they would be +faithful to us without that; and they have indeed rendered us good +service. They discovered Salhana's plot, and, what is not of less +importance, the secret intrigues of Gorakh the Yogi." + +"Yes," remarked Faizi, mischievously, "of that philosopher who for +some time gloried in the favour of His Majesty, while he unfolded +the mysteries of the Yogi teaching; but not much came of it, so far +as I know." + +Akbar coloured as the remembrance was brought back to him how with +all his wisdom he had almost, though but for a moment, been entirely +taken in by the cunning deceiver. But at the right moment Kulluka +interposed, and continued the conversation by saying: "It is indeed to +be regretted, but it is wiser to have little to do with this Gorakh. My +former pupil, Siddha, has communicated to me things about him which +show that caution is necessary. And yet he knows more, perhaps by +tradition, of the ancient and now almost forgotten teaching than we +shall ever discover." + +"There you see," said Akbar, triumphantly, to Faizi, "that our +friend Kulluka, who is so well acquainted with all the learning +of the Brahmans, does not look upon the Yogi system as so utterly +unimportant." + +"I will willingly allow that it contains much that is valuable," said +Faizi, "if our wise friend says so, from whom we have learnt so much +that is worth knowing. But excuse me, Kulluka, if I ask what it is +you expect from this system of days gone by? So far as I know, it is +nothing but a foolish mysticism, promising an impossible absorption of +the individual in the supreme, brought about by charms and enchantment, +or, to speak more plainly, by clever feats of jugglery." + +"I do not think so unfavourably of the system of Patanjali," [99] +answered Kulluka; "although I do not for a moment believe it can boast +the possession of absolute truth. The union with, and resolution of +the mortal into the immortal, of human existence into the spiritual, +according to the Yogi view, is in itself not so great a folly. But no +doubt this teaching is erroneous when it seeks, through absorption +or union, to solve the mystery of the existence of the mind of +man, by which in a kind of ecstasy the mortal is absorbed into the +immortal. If this absorption were possible, it would in truth be +self-annihilation. I do not think that the fundamental idea is to be +so entirely rejected, or at least a part of it, of which all this is +the result. Is it not a truth that, just because men find themselves +so weighed down and bound within narrow limits, their spirits know +no higher exaltation than that to which they rise in those rare +moments when they lose the sense of their personality in nobler +or higher and more comprehensive ideas? Provided the ideas remain +no empty abstraction, but take their being from strong human life, +from knowledge, art, and the contemplation of the social existence +of men, what, I ask, can you place higher than so to lose the finite +and self-seeking I in the universal good? From the place whence the +individual drew the true spirit of life, to that place it should +return if it in truth accomplished its destiny." + +"These are words after my heart," said Akbar. "This same thought, +that of self-denial, animates our own philosophical systems as well +as the new doctrines that these missionaries from the West have come +here to preach. But is there not another subject to which the thoughts +of men should be directed, especially those of philosophers? However +true and exalted this doctrine of self-abnegation is, what does it tell +us of the eternal union of spirit and matter which pervades existence?" + +"Indeed," answered the Brahman; "he would be unworthy the name of +philosopher who did not take as a chief subject of philosophical +thought the contemplation of life and morals proceeding from it. But +who will ever solve for us the enigma of life?" + +"No one, certainly," answered Faizi; "at least not at present. What +future knowledge, in distant centuries may contribute to its solution +we cannot even guess. But for the present should we not content +ourselves with the conviction, shared by all wise men, both past and +present, and expressed by many of them more or less clearly, that there +is in the universe an eternal life without end and without beginning; +a life and being through which everything is bound together or brought +into union, of which the highest law is development--the development +of the lower steps or forms of existence into those still higher. And +what are we ourselves--we men? Always the same as that which surrounds +us--a revelation of the universal being, each destined, in his own +circle and according to his powers, to take his part in the general +development. In proportion as we can clearly keep before our eyes the +higher and more universal aims, so will narrow feelings of self-love +retire to the background, making room for unselfish devotion to the +good of our fellow-men, of society, and of the state." + +"Very well put, my worthy Faizi," said Akbar; "but true as all that +may be, does it content you? Do you not long for something else, +something more?" + +"Assuredly," was the answer. "That one idea, in its abstruse +generalization, does not satisfy. We would understand it more clearly, +and learn to apply it; we would strive after the knowledge of immortal +life and of the original compact by observing their manifestations +here; and to attain this knowledge all those strive who devote +themselves to philosophy." + +"You do not quite understand me," said the Emperor; "but I will allow +all that you have said. What I meant was: has the universal being, +of which you speak, its origin in itself, or in another still higher +intelligence?" + +"Intelligence and thought," was the answer, "are necessary attributes +of this being, as well as that which we are accustomed to call matter +or extension. [100] Both declare themselves in infinite manifestations; +and how is it possible that that which is an attribute of a thing +can at the same time be its cause?" + +For some moments a deep silence reigned. The Emperor sought for an +answer, but shook his head and said nothing. + +"My brother," at last said Abú-l Fazl to Faizi, "your reasoning +is perfectly logical, yet it contents me as little as it does our +venerated Emperor. What have you, and what have we, to do with this +conception of soul and matter? What can it give us?" + +"Well," answered Faizi, smiling, "it need give you nothing if it is +true; and if it is true, you should own it, though it may neither +content nor please you. I mean to show that my idea gives or possesses +a value in life only in so far as it awakens in us devotion to all that +we regard as good and true; and what can you ask for more than this?" + +"You are right," answered Abú-l Fazl; "but I spoke not so much for +myself and for us, as for those of less cultivation and enlightenment, +who cannot comprehend all this, and yet seek for something more and +higher than daily experience brings them. Would it not be possible +so to dress up these abstract ideas as to make them more acceptable +to the multitude?" + +"Our friend Faizi," said Akbar, "now says what I myself have often +thought. If it is not possible to discover new images or emblems +for these conceptions or notions proclaimed by Faizi, can we not +receive those of ancient days which were not peculiar to solitary and +independent religious systems, but which sprang from the religious +and poetical spirit of the people themselves?" + +"I understand your meaning," replied Faizi, as Akbar was silent; +"you allude, if I am not mistaken, to the new doctrine or teaching +which the Emperor wishes to introduce, and with which some of his +trusted friends are already acquainted. Is it not so?" + +"In truth," answered Akbar, "you are not mistaken. But allow me to +make use of this opportunity to say something further about it. To +you Faizi, and you Kulluka, I am indebted for much elucidation, +and the turn that our conversation has taken, which gives me the +chance of expressing my meaning, is indeed welcome to me. Listen, +then. For a long time I have sought for some form in which a rational +religion might be expressed, and which would at the same time +content philosophical thinkers and those of less enlightenment. At +last in some measure I found what I sought in making acquaintance +with the images of the ancient Persians, but above all, Kulluka, +of those of your philosophical poets of old days. I mean those +so well known to you--Sun and Fire. The contemplation of the most +striking manifestations of light and warmth may at first appear empty +and worthless; but more carefully regarded, they contain an exalted +truth, which perchance the knowledge of coming centuries may, through +its results, exalt to the highest place. See," continued Akbar, as +he turned to the open gallery of the apartment, and pointed to the +slowly-sinking sun, "there the glorious representation of all light +and life in this world leaves us, to return to-morrow in sparkling +glory. Earlier races regarded him as a god, and addressed prayers and +adoration to him; while to the wise of old he was the exalted image +of the principles of life, and the all-pervading force that is shown +in endless manifestations. For are not light and warmth the givers +of life, without which nothing could exist? In the light of the sun, +moon, and stars, the flash of lightning, and the fire that we ourselves +kindle on the hearth, we see the most common manifestations of this +force--now beneficent, and now fearful and destructive. Everywhere +is this force present--in the earth and planets, in man and animals, +in light and water--though we may not always remark it. And if it is +really thus, would it be considered as a mere poetical fancy if we +chose this force as the emblem of the unity and the life of which, +Faizi, you have just spoken? Our friend Abú-l Fazl is not only one +with me in this, but is anxious that I should try my new teaching, +or, if you will, the teaching I have borrowed from those of old days, +among the people, and see if they would not accept it instead of +the many superstitions that are now so general. A name was necessary +to distinguish this teaching from others; and though a name cannot +express the full meaning, that of Tauhid-i-Ilahi, 'the unity of the +Deity,' did not appear inappropriate. Ceremonies and public services +are entirely excluded, unless you can call public service a simple +symbolical adoration of the sun during the day and in the morning, +and of light during the night, by means of appropriate hymns. Touching +this," concluded the Emperor, "I have already imparted to you somewhat, +but I have never before fully declared it to you. The time has now +arrived: tell me frankly, what is your opinion?" + +Neither of the friends appeared willing to comply with this request +at once. At last Kulluka broke the silence. + +"Wise Prince, pardon us if we are not at once ready with our answer; +your important communication requires a moment's thought. In the plan +declared by you there is much that is tempting, and also, according +to my humble opinion, much that is serious. The justness and grandeur +of your images, borrowed for the greater part from our old poets +and philosophers, I shall be the first to admit; but, may I ask, +is there not great danger? These symbols once introduced amongst the +people and accepted by them, would soon lose their original meaning, +and in the end would sink to nothing but an outward and mechanical +religious service. We must well consider that this same teaching, which +you wish to proclaim, once actually belonged in truth to the faith of +more than one people; and what did it become? Not only in these later +days, but in ancient times, to which you refer, doubt arose respecting +the object of worship, and then, as now, many a pious mind asked: 'He +who gives life, He who gives strength; Whose command all the bright +gods revere; Whose shadow is immortality, Whose shadow is death; who +is the God to whom we shall offer our sacrifice?' [101] Even then, +Surya, the sun, and Agni, the fire, did not satisfy men as emblems of +the representation of life and force; and shall a happier future await +the Tauhid-i-Ilahi than that of the sun and fire worship of old days?" + +Akbar gave no reply. "And you, Faizi," he asked, "what is your +opinion?" + +"I have little or nothing," he answered, "to add to what my worthy +friend has already said. The doubt to which he alluded, as prevailing +in the days of old, has been still more clearly expressed than in +the passage quoted by him from the Vedas. Another poet puts it still +more forcibly: + + + 'Who knows,' he says, 'who knows the secret, who proclaimed it here? + Whence, whence this manifold creation sprang; + The gods themselves came later into being; + Who knows from whence this great creation sprang? + He from whom all this great creation came, + Whether His will created it or was mute? + The most High Seer that is in highest heaven, + He knows it, or perchance even He knows it not.' [102] + + +So it seems that doubt is as ancient as religion itself. But let +us leave that on one side, and also the hate and opposition that a +reformer must always expect from his contemporaries, the appearance +of which we may already remark here and there where the new teaching +has already been made known to the people. This an Akbar will not +fear. But there is another danger that Kulluka referred to, which +cannot be put so lightly on one side: the danger that a name once +given, whether it be Allah or another, may become a personality +to the uncultured, and be regarded as a personal representation, +distinct from the Immortal Being; and then, naturally, all is at an +end with your object--the unity of the Deity. And what will you have +introduced, and what perhaps will you have made?" + +"But, Faizi," asked Abú-l Fazl, "what would you do to make the people +wiser and more reasonable? How would you bring about this reformation +of ideas that the Emperor desires?" + +"The great philosophers," was Faizi's answer, "of China, and all great +civilisers have long ceased to profess any religion; but they have made +a real beginning as regards the cultivation and the enlightenment of +the people, and one which we have too much lost sight of. This is, +above all things, the education of the people. There is the only, +but perfectly certain means. It is true that the results do not soon +appear; but those who put their hands to a great work seldom see the +end, which surely comes at last; while each announcement of a new +teaching, whether supported by the authority of revelation or not, +though for a time it may flourish, in the end is sure to degenerate." + +"There seems to be much truth in what you have said," was Akbar's +answer; "and I will take it all into my most serious consideration. It +may perhaps be best to restrict the new teaching to the circle of +our own friends, in case we find its introduction among the people +to be opposed by insurmountable difficulties. Still you will not +expect that I should at once give up my favourite project. We will +talk it over again. But enough for to-day; state affairs now call +for our attention. I thank you, my friends, for all you have said: +you, Abú-l Fazl, for the support you have lent me; and you, too, +for your frank and well-meant opposition." + +After having taken leave of the Emperor, Abú-l Fazl returned to his +palace, accompanied by his friends, to receive in their presence the +report of the two spies. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ASSASSINATION. + + +It was on a bright fresh morning when Siddha, accompanied by two +horsemen, took his way to Fathpúr, charged with the delivery of some +letters, too important to be trusted to the hands of an ordinary +messenger. The sun shone brightly, but its beams did not burn. In +the trees sang many coloured birds, and squirrels and small monkeys +sprang from bough to bough. All nature seemed awake and full of joy; +and even the peasants met with on the road had exchanged their usual +heavy tread for a lighter one, as if they also shared in the joy that +reigned around. + +But Siddha, once so full of mirth and hope, took no part in +it. Sombre and lost in thought, he rode on silently, followed by his +attendants. He seemed, indeed, another man from what he was when +he first arrived in Agra and joked with Parviz and his friends, +listening with sympathy to the confidence of the former about the +noble daughter of the Treasurer. With surprise Parviz had remarked the +change, though discretion withheld him from making any inquiries; and +still more deeply did Siddha himself feel how different all with him +now was. How different from the day when Kulluka had seen him spring +forward gracefully on his steed, as though he would conquer the world, +calling on the loved name of his future bride! How different when +a single kiss from Iravati was bliss to him--before he had learned +to long for the passionate embraces of a Rezia--when his conscience +was pure, and he had no cause for shame in having made himself guilty +of treachery, faithlessness, and ingratitude! Sombre indeed were his +reflections, for now more than ever suspicion crossed his thoughts. Was +Rezia really faithful to him, or did she only treat him as she did her +husband, who, far more than he, deserved her love? In truth, did Salim +only come to her for state reasons, or were there other motives for +his visits? And then the conspiracy, in which Siddha had become more +and more entangled. Now that he thought it over it began to assume +quite another character; it was not entirely for the defence of his +fatherland, but appeared to be directed to very different ends. And +had not Rezia, on her own confession, deceived him more than once? and +what reason had he now for believing that this time she indeed spoke +the truth? Into what new entanglement had he now fallen? and for the +perpetration of what crime did he allow himself to be used as a tool? + +An exclamation from one of his troopers awoke him from his reflections, +and looking in the direction to which the soldier pointed with his +lance, he saw in the distance a group of horsemen engaged in combat. + +"Forward!" cried Siddha, putting spurs to his horse; and followed by +his companions at full gallop, he turned towards the combatants. As he +approached, to his astonishment and alarm, he recognised Abú-l Fazl, +and in the man who sought to cut him down with his sabre Nara Singh, +a Raja whom he had met more than once with Prince Salim. Directly the +Raja's followers caught sight of the new comers, a detachment rode +to encounter them. Siddha attacked the leading man of the troop, who +soon lay with his horse on the ground, pierced by Siddha's lance. He +then drew his sword, and with one blow emptied another saddle. He had +harder work with the third, who was an accomplished soldier, and well +acquainted with the use of the sword; and while the two troopers were +busy with their opponents, others came riding up to the assistance of +their comrades. The affair began to look very critical for our three, +when Siddha by a fortunate blow placed his enemy hors de combat, +and was just ready to receive the new comer, when the retreat was +sounded, and they at once turned bridle; but at the same moment that +he had felled his opponent and seen the others hurrying up, Siddha +beheld Abú-l Fazl throw up his arms into the air, letting his sabre +fall, and then sink from his horse to the ground. The next moment +Nara Singh had called off his soldiers and retreated at a gallop +over the plain. Siddha's first impulse was to pursue the murderers; +but on second thoughts he saw that he, with his two men, one of whom +was wounded, could do little, while the Minister's four servants lay +stretched out dead on the field, and Abú-l Fazl, above all, required +his aid. + +Springing from his horse, and flinging the reins to one of his +followers, he knelt by the side of the wounded man, and loosing his +clothes, sought to staunch the blood that flowed from a deep wound in +his chest. To his joy Abú-l Fazl opened his eyes, and recognised him; +but his joy was of short duration. + +"Your help, my brave Siddha, comes too late," he said, in a faint +voice; "my work for the Emperor and his kingdom is over. One last +command I give you: if you suspect who the murderer is, keep his name +from Akbar." + +"Nara Singh," answered Siddha, "was, I see clearly, only a hireling; +the real murderer is--" and here he hesitated to say the name. + +"Salim," continued Abú-l Fazl; "I had already been warned against him." + +Exhausted, the dying man sank back in Siddha's arms; but shortly after, +consciousness returned, and he found the strength, though his voice +was scarcely audible, to send a last greeting to his imperial friend, +whom he had so faithfully served all his life. "Say to Akbar that my +last thought was of him, and tell him I die in the firm conviction +of the truth of those principles of which we have so often spoken, +and so lately as yesterday. The glory of the sun I shall hardly see +more, though I feel that the light still lives in me, but that also +will be soon extinguished. I do not complain; I believe that I have +been in a position to do some good to my fellow-men, though less than +I wished, and so I die content. Strive, my young friend, so to live, +that you may one day say the same. And now farewell," whispered the +Wazir, after a short pause, gently pressing Siddha's hand. His head +sank on his breast, and Siddha soon felt that his arm only supported +a corpse. [103] + +At about the same time, but far away from this spot, another drama was +being played, which, though in some respects different from the tragedy +of the Wazir, in others resembled it closely. Among the mountains of +the Himálayas, especially near Badari-natha, a burning heat had for +some time reigned. At evening, the beneficent heavenly time, dark +rain-clouds appeared, promising drink to the thirsty earth, but they +were again driven away by the evil Vritra, the dark demon; and the +next day the burning rays of the sun returned to dry up and parch +all vegetation. At last the mighty Indra, monarch of the heavens, +rose up and prepared himself for the strife. Again at evening the +clouds gathered, and again the demon strove to disperse them; then +Indra seized his lightning, and flung it among the mountains with +so mighty a blow that it re-echoed, rattling and thundering from +all sides. Vritra felt the stroke, but would not at once abandon +the combat, and only a few heavy rain-drops fell here and there on +languishing nature. Again fell the mighty blow, while the mountain +tops and valleys were lighted by one dazzling blaze; gigantic trees +were cleft in two, and heavy masses of rock were flung down into the +ravines. Then the rain fell heavily, and brooks and mountain streams +began to swell and rush downwards to the valleys. At last the fearful +battle was over, rain ceased to fall, lightning flickered through the +twilight, and no sound broke the silence except the rushing of waters. + +Then Gurupada, the hermit, left his dwelling, to enjoy the fresh +air laden with fragrance. He seated himself beneath his verandah, +overgrown with roses and jasmine. He sat there enjoying the peace of +nature and the new life which the refreshing rain had called forth; +while he thought of the ancient epic of the clouds, with Indra the +slayer of Vritra [104] as its hero, which floated before his mind, +as if it had been a poem of yesterday. Then sombre and disquieting +thoughts forced themselves upon him. The accounts that Kulluka had +lately brought from Kashmir and Agra filled him with anxiety respecting +the future of his dearly-loved country. "And so," said he to himself, +"it must in the end come to what I have so long feared, and hoped to +have averted by many years of self-inflicted banishment. A strange +ruler is on the point of seizing on our unhappy country, and the +road is smoothed to him by our own fatal disunion. He is right from +his point of view: he must restore order in a neighbouring State when +the anarchy continually causes disturbances in his own empire; and if +this cannot be accomplished while the independence of that country +is respected, then must it be forced to subjection. But is there in +truth nothing that can be done? No, no," continued he. "Kulluka's +proposal that I should return, and, perhaps supported by Akbar, +take the government from the hands of my weak brother--no, that +would not do. My return would only be a temporary remedy, even if +it were that. And I have become too old and unpractised in the art +of ruling again to reign, and, above all, there, where youth and +energy are required. Life cannot last much longer; I am weary and +long for rest; I have long sighed for union with the immortal Brahma, +whence we take our short independent existence, and to which we shall +return again." And Gurupada slowly closed his eyes as he stretched +himself upon a soft bed of fresh moss. A flash of lightning, that for +a moment lit up the valley and all around, awoke and called him back +for a few moments to his reflections. + +"And perhaps it is as well that things should indeed go as they seem +fated to do. A renewed party warfare, of which the end can never +be foreseen, would impoverish our people, and bring our country +to ruin. But should it be subjected to a wise and just government, +its industries and commerce would revive, and its former prosperity +return. Akbar is a prince who knows how to make his subjects happy; +and to-day many people bless him who formerly resisted his rule. Yet +it is hard for a country to see itself deprived of a liberty which +has been its boast for centuries. Ah, that it might be spared me to +see this happen to my own country!" So saying, he laid his head down +again, with a sigh, and, half listening to the rushing of the brook, +fell into a light slumber. All seemed in the deepest rest far and +near; there was nothing to disturb the old man's sleep, except that +every now and then he became aware of the humming of an insect, and +felt it brush his cheek gently; and then a strange, unaccountable +feeling crossed him that he was not alone. Again he looked up, but +could see nothing, and even the insect seemed to be driven away by +his sudden movement. In a short time it returned, then flew away, +and again returned, until the sleeping man took no further notice of +it, and gave himself up entirely to slumber. This was not so heavy +but that the slightest cause would again awaken him. Suddenly he put +one hand to his neck and seized a cord that had been flung round it; +with the other he felt around him, and touched a cold, slippery body +that had been rubbed with oil. Having freed himself from the cord, he +seized his assailant with both hands, but in vain; he slipped through +his fingers and appeared to escape. The stillness of night was broken +by a sharp cry, answered by a growl, and close by Gurupada saw two +fiery balls gleam. In another moment a flash of lightning showed him +his tiger Hara, with its powerful claws fixed in the body of a man +who lay stretched on the ground. + +At the sound of this cry the servant hurried from the house with +a torch, the light of which showed Gurupada that his sight had not +deceived him; and he at once understood what had happened. The man +that lay there had attempted to strangle him; but, just in time, he +had felt the cord; and the tiger, driven by some instinct, had followed +the Thug as unobserved as he himself had approached the hermit. + +"Back! Hara," cried Gurupada, springing forward and seizing the tiger +by the neck; "back, I say." + +At first the animal would not move, and then, slowly and unwillingly +obeying the voice of its master, it drew out its claws, and retreated +growling, for a few paces, and laid itself down. + +With the help of the servant, the hermit lifted the fallen man from +the ground, where a blow from the tiger's paw had laid him; and finding +that life still lingered, they placed him carefully on the moss. + +"I know this man," said Gurupada, after having closely examined +him. "In the days of my power I showed him many favours and +benefits. What could have driven him to this treacherous attack?" + +On hearing these words, the wounded man looked up, and gazed +attentively and earnestly at the hermit; then murmured, with +astonishment, "Nandigupta! is it possible!" + +"Nandigupta, in truth," was the answer. "What induced you to seek +my life?" + +"My lord and prince," said the Thug, with a firm voice, "I swear +to you by Siva and his holy consort that I knew not who you were, +and had long thought you dead. Had I known it, I should never have +had the strength or courage to fulfil the behest of Durga, however +great the punishment of her anger might have been. But, happily, +she herself did not desire your death, and sent this tiger to take +my life in the place of yours. Blessed be her name!" + +Exhaustion prevented his saying more. With the servant's help, +Gurupada washed and bound, as well as was possible, the terrible +wound caused by the tiger's claws, and having given him drink, +and seeing he began to recover a little, Gurupada asked further, +"What drove you to this deed? and if you did not know who I was, +who told you that Durga desired my death?" + +"Gorakh the Yogi," was the reply. + +"Ha! the villain!" murmured Gurupada; "then there must be more +behind. So you have become a Thug," he continued. "I am sorry to see +you so led away and blinded. Was I the only one pointed out to you +by Gorakh as a chosen sacrifice?" + +Pain for a few minutes hindered the wounded man from replying, though +his countenance betrayed nothing of what he was suffering. At last +he answered and spoke very steadily, with pauses between his words, +"The First Minister of Kashmir, Salhana's brother, is also chosen; +but his death is entrusted to my brother, who is also well known to +you. Should he fail, then I am to carry it out." + +"And has your brother started for Kashmir?" + +"He left me yesterday a little distance from here, and took his way +towards the north." + +"On foot?" + +"Yes." + +"Are any others acquainted with these orders respecting the Minister +and me?" + +"No one else knows. Only when it is known that we have failed will +the task be entrusted to others." + +Gurupada signed to his servant, and went on one side with him. + +"Go," he said, "and saddle your horse at once. You must instantly +set off on a journey." + +A low, suppressed groan called him back to the side of the wounded man. + +"My lord," he murmured, "I have only a few minutes to live; and I ask +you to add one more favour to the many I have enjoyed at your hands: +say that you forgive me." + +"I forgive you, unhappy man," answered Gurupada; "I know you were +nothing but a tool in the hands of others." + +"Then I die happy, and with a foretaste of bliss enter into immortal +life, assured of the grace of the goddess both to you and me, +through the wonder she has worked in receiving me as a sacrifice in +your place. Holy Trinity, holy Durga!" cried he, in a louder voice, +and stretching out his arms as though animated with fresh strength; +"receive me into the temple of your glory! I come!" With these words +he fell back motionless, and the faithful follower of the Goddess of +Destruction was no more. + +For some time the hermit remained gazing at the lifeless body, to +which, in the wavering light, its emaciation, dark colour, and forehead +marked with the red and white symbols of Siva, gave a ghostly aspect. + +"To what," he muttered, "cannot religion or fanaticism lead! it +turns otherwise good and quiet people into criminals, murderers, and +mad-men. Still this man is in no way to be pitied; he died as a martyr, +in the full conviction of being received into endless happiness. But +the hypocrites, the shameless villains, such as Gorakh, who make use of +such simple souls as tools wherewith to execute their accursed plans, +what of them? What do they deserve but a war of destruction? Yet no," +he continued, shaking his head, "that would not be right. No mercy +where a crime has been committed or attempted; but no persecution +when it is only threatened. Who can place the limit where a religious +sect becomes dangerous, and where it is not?" Here the return of the +servant interrupted his thoughts. + +"Help me," he said, "to carry this man who lies here. He is dead, +but I do not wish that Hara should devour him, which otherwise he +certainly will do; and when we have finished, then to horse. Hasten you +to Kashmir, to warn the Minister of what we have learnt; and endeavour +to trace out the brother of this man, whom you well know. Seek to +hinder him in his undertaking, and to prevent his communicating with +any of his associates. If you can, also discover where Gorakh is; +do not spare him for a moment: the wretch doubly deserves the cord +he prepares for the necks of others." + +"But, honoured master," asked the servant, with hesitation, "must I +leave you entirely alone here in the wilderness? It seems that your +place of refuge is now discovered, and there may be fresh attempts +on your life. Must I leave you, just at this moment when I might be +of service?" + +"My best friend," answered Gurupada, smiling, "do not disturb yourself +about me. What is my life in comparison with the greater interests +that depend on the speedy execution of your mission? I am here as +safe as with you for my guard, at least as long as Hara lives. You +have seen how brave a guard he is. I would not advise any more of +these marauders to show themselves in the neighbourhood. Hara now +knows those kind of people, and is not inclined to allow them to come +here in peace. Is your horse ready?" + +"Yes, lord." + +"Well, quickly away. First, help me with our work here." + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PARTING. + + +The tidings of Abú-l Fazl's death had made an overwhelming impression +on the Emperor. It seemed to him as if everything that had until now +been his support was suddenly failing him. He who had been so strong, +who had never known faint-heartedness when threatened by the fiercest +storms, who had braved the greatest dangers, and had always come back +victor from the strife, now felt his strength crippled, and as though +he were almost powerless among the many disturbances that were again +breaking out in his empire. All he was capable of in those first days +was to order the arrest of Nara Singh, the murderer; but this order +it was impossible to carry out, as the Raja had fled and found a +safe refuge far away, to await the time when Salim should ascend the +throne and load him with favours. However, it was not possible that +a man of Akbar's character could remain bowed down under the burden +of sorrow, however heavy it might be. For some days he shut himself +up entirely, and admitted no one except Faizi and some of his most +trusted friends; but with time courage returned to him to receive +others who sought audience either respecting their own affairs or +those of the state. Among these was Padre Aquaviva, who, before his +departure, wished to take a personal leave of the Emperor. + +"So you are going to leave us again, worthy Father?" said Akbar, +as the Jesuit was ushered into his presence. + +"I must do so, Sire," answered Aquaviva; "our Provincial summons me +back to Goa. But I cannot depart without expressing to your Majesty +my heartiest thanks for the honour and favours that have here been +shown us, though I hesitated to ask an audience after your serious and +bitter loss. A worthy man, a true friend, and a faithful servant was +Abú-l Fazl, and the memory of such a man is certainly a comfort in +the midst of the sorrow that his loss causes. But," added he, after +a moment's pause, "this would not be to me a sufficient consolation." + +"Not enough!" repeated Akbar in surprise. "What more would you demand?" + +"I should wish for the certainty that he died with a purer soul, +and with happier expectations than was possible." + +"Abú-l Fazl," answered the Emperor, in an earnest but calm +voice,--"Abú-l Fazl was as pure of soul as any of yours can be, +without saying more, and he died as I would wish to die." + +The Jesuit waited, expecting Akbar would add something more, but he +was silent; and the tone of his reply clearly showed that to ask for +further explanation would be imprudent. + +"Do you expect to return soon?" asked Akbar, after a few minutes +silence. + +"That will depend on the orders I receive," answered Aquaviva. "So +far as I am myself concerned, with sorrow I am compelled to confess +that my mission here has been a failure." + +"How a failure? Have you not received here the fullest protection, +and been shown all respect and fitting honour? and have you not enjoyed +the most complete liberty to preach what you will, and to convert whom +you can? Do you reckon that as nothing? Here, where a few years ago, +under my predecessors, any preaching of your doctrines would have +met with the punishment of death." + +"Sire," answered the Padre, "we should indeed be ungrateful did we +reckon such important privileges as nothing. Yet I must repeat that +our mission is a failure as respects its principal object. You know +well with what glorious hopes we came to Agra; the reverent interest +you took in our holy writings, and in the ceremonials of our Church, +had filled us with hope that in the end the light of truth would +sink into your noble heart and deep-thinking mind; we had hoped, +and almost expected with certainty, that the Church of Christ would +greet in Shah Akbar one of, if not the most famous of her sons. These +hopes and expectations we cannot now flatter ourselves were anything +but idle; so, cannot we say with truth that our mission has failed in +its highest aim? Still, it may be that here and there in our teaching +there are difficulties which your philosophers cannot now solve, +which closer study and research will throw light upon. I think of +the great benefits that the Church has showered upon the West, and +which would not here be wanting did she possess like power." + +"With reason," said Akbar, "you now leave on one side the real +dogmatical questions, for about them we shall never agree, and for +the moment I feel no inclination for their discussion. You speak of +benefits; I believe, willingly and with reason, that your Christian +doctrines have done much for the world--more, perhaps, than any other +religion--in the application of the principles of universal love +of our fellow-men, and self-sacrifice; however, as we have already +shown you, this is not exclusively taught by your doctrines, which, +if they have done much good, have also done much that is evil. Have +you not introduced the greatest intolerance that the world has ever +known? Have not you, you priests, in the West exalted yourselves +to tyrannize over the consciences of your fellow-men? Have you not +doomed hundreds and thousands to the stake because they differed +from you on some point of faith? And you call these benefits! Then, +indeed, you have strange ideas of doing good; and your love for your +fellow-men is of a strange kind. Tell me," he continued, turning +a penetrating look on Aquaviva, "tell me, how would you treat me, +Akbar, whom you now honour so highly, were I a Christian subject of +one of the princes who obey your commands? Would you not thrust me +into a dungeon, and, if I remained hardened in my unbelief, deliver +me to a judge to be condemned to the fire and stake?" + +Perplexed, the Jesuit drew back. Such a question he had not expected; +and what could he reply? Certainly it could not be denied that in +all probability Akbar would be so treated were he in the situation +he imagined. + +"Sire," at last he stammered, "that is not the case; and how can Akbar, +the mighty Emperor of Hindustan, think of himself as the subject of +one of our princes?" + +"Certainly it is not so, fortunately for me! but your answer shows +that my hypothesis was well grounded. Now another question: what would +you do with me, Emperor of Hindustan, as I am? You wish me to be as +one of your princes, who are submissive to your orders, and to use +me as a tool for the maintenance of your clerical tyranny. Naturally +you are very anxious for my conversion. Well, I tell you, once for +all, you will never see it; not even if I entirely accepted your +Evangelists, and were really publicly or privately to embrace them. I +could have nothing to do with your present Church, well knowing what +fatal consequences to a State would follow on its monarch taking such +a step." + +"Then," said Aquaviva, "nothing remains to us but to pray to our +Lord that He by a miracle will bring about that which our zealous +and feeble efforts have been unable to accomplish. And this prayer, +I feel certain, will not remain unanswered. Reflect, O powerful ruler, +that against Him the great of the earth are as nothing, and that He +can punish those who withstand Him. He, and He alone, will triumph, +and the gates of hell will avail nothing against the rock of Peter, +while Christ and His Church will endure until the end of the world." + +"That may be your affair," cried Akbar, losing a little of his usual +patience; "mine is to watch over the liberty and rights of my people, +and to defend them against you, as against the mullahs or priests +of any other creeds. Remain here, or go, as it best pleases you; +preach as seems good to you, and build churches. You shall enjoy +the same privileges as Muhammadans in their mosques and Hindus in +their temples. There is, however, one warning which I must give you: +the moment I find you attempt to introduce any persecution amongst +your converts or others, as already has been the case on the coast +of Malabar, that moment shall you be banished from my kingdom, never +to set your foot within it again." + +With suppressed wrath Loyola's follower listened to these proud words; +but what could he do, what could he say? He had no complaint to bring +against this invariably tolerant prince, and to defy the formidable +monarch would have been sheer madness. Nor would there have been a +martyr's crown to gain by doing so. If he, a helpless missionary, were +to use threatening and injurious language, the Emperor would not harm +a hair of his head,--only send him and his to Surat, [105] and from +thence in a ship to Goa, where he would be landed with the utmost +courtesy. Perhaps he would not even take that trouble, but simply +laugh, "I have the door, show it him." Miserable and ignominious +situation for a member of that order elsewhere so powerful and so +feared, before whom the people trembled, and princes and popes were +forced to bow their heads in submission! + +Akbar interrupted the reflections of the disappointed and silent +missionary. "Worthy Father," he said, in his usual friendly tone, +"it indeed grieves me to be obliged to speak with so much frankness and +harshness in maintaining my authority in the combat you have yourself +invited; and I do not wish to see you depart in anger. I have learnt +much from you and yours, the knowledge of which was very welcome to me, +and for that I am grateful. If I cannot fulfil your wishes, believe +that it grieves me; and if on some points we differ from each other, +do not imagine that causes me to respect you less highly. If you will +leave us, so be it; but let us part in friendship. Let our parting be +in the spirit of the noble Founder of your religion, who said well, +that He came not to bring peace but a sword, and yet strove to lay +the foundation of a kingdom of peace and love amongst men." + +If Aquaviva a few moments before had bent his head before the might +of the Emperor, another power now subdued him, that of Akbar's moral +greatness. The religious fanatic, the passionate zealot, himself felt +this, and it was with a trembling voice that the defiant, fearless +apostle spoke a few words of farewell to him who stood there obdurate +of heart, his eye blinded to the light of truth, and his ear deaf to +the warnings of the one Holy Church. + +"Forgive us, noble prince," he said, moved in spite of himself, +"if we have said what was displeasing to you, and seemed ungrateful +for the many benefits we have received in your kingdom, or at your +hands. Ascribe it to the fervour for our faith which animates us, +and which is certainly not less strong than the enthusiasm which leads +you to devote your life to the welfare of your people. Though you may +yourself set no value on our prayers, yet be assured wherever we may +go they will always be offered up for you." + +Silently Akbar returned the reverent greeting of the Padre, as he +slowly left the room, his fingers moving nervously, as if he were +telling his beads. + +In one of the passages of the palace, where a single lamp shed a dim, +uncertain light, he suddenly stumbled against a man, who answered his +excuses by a suppressed curse. "Cursed Christian dog," he muttered, +as he hurried on. It was Abdul Kadir Badaoni, who was on his way to +the Emperor, into whose presence he was ushered by servants, and who +greeted him by saying, "You see I am always ready to speak with you. I +made no difficulty about receiving you when this morning you requested +an audience, although the sad circumstances in which I am placed have +caused me to see but little of my friends in these last days." + +"Sire," began Abdul Kadir, with apparent respect, but in a tone of +unmistakable anger, and without paying the least attention to the +friendly manner in which the Emperor had received him, "I come to +bid you farewell; the time of my departure draws near." + +"You also, my worthy friend?" asked Akbar. "And what obliges you to +leave us so suddenly?" + +"Unwillingness," was the reply, "to remain here and witness what is +to me a daily scandal, and grieves me to the soul; and unwillingness, +also, to take part in the treachery and conspiracies with which I see +you surrounded, and in which, against my own wishes, I must share were +I to linger here. Akbar, your empire approaches its fall! I warned you, +when yet there was time, to save yourself; now, perhaps, that time is +passed. I know not what is decided on, and I do not wish to know. The +resistance you have aroused by your foolish and criminal scorn of our +holy religion is, I consider, too powerful to be turned aside. Think +of the ambition of Salim your son, and the secret alliance of other +and not less ambitious people, who know how to lead him away, so that +they may become masters of the rank and appointments now withheld from +them. Think of all this, and you will agree with me that the state +of affairs is at best extremely threatening to the continuance of +your reign; but, as I said," he continued, not remarking the slight +smiles that his dark forebodings had called forth on the lips of the +Emperor, "I will not remain to be a daily witness of what here occurs, +and is talked of far and wide. The holy Koran you have scorned and +trampled under foot; you deride the great Prophet; you indulge in +godless practices, learned from impious fire-worshippers; you receive +openly at court, and privately in your own apartments, our bitterest +foes--the Jews and Christians--you treat them with honour and load +them with favours--such a one I have just seen leaving your palace; +you receive Indian charmers and magicians, and all such people +as Shaitan himself has sent here. In truth, Jalalu-dín Muhammad, +you do honour to your name! Jalalu-dín, the glory of faith! Bitter +irony of destiny that gave you such a title, which you were destined +to insult in so shameful a manner. And now, again, as if all that +were not enough, as if you would fill up the full measure, see, +see the exaggerated honours paid to the memory of this Abú-l Fazl, +this arch enemy of the true faith! He, with his brother Faizi, the +denier of God, tempted you to this injustice and to the desertion +of our holy religion; and this is the man whom you publicly honour +and exalt above all. If his life was no warning to you, then may his +death be so before it is too late. You have been told, doubtless, +all that was beautiful about his last moments; but believe me that +the truth has been withheld from you. I, however much it may cost me, +will draw back the veil, and tell you how Abú-l Fazl died. Hear, and +shudder at the terrible account which is known to everyone excepting +yourself. As long as speech was left to him, Abú-l Fazl did not cease +to blaspheme his God in a manner to awaken horror in all who heard him; +then he began to yelp or bark like a dog; his features were contorted +and his lips blue, as though he already felt the first pangs of that +eternal punishment that awaited him." + +"Those are lies, shameful lies!" cried Akbar, suddenly awakening +from the composure with which, until now, he had listened to the +fanatic's ravings. "Shameful scandal, of which you religious zealots +are alone capable, when you leave reason in the lurch and seek to +throw blemishes on a noble character. How Abú-l Fazl died, and what +were his dying words, I know from one I can trust; therefore spare me +your idle inventions. I will not hear them. I have listened patiently +to the insolent words you have dared to use towards me; I have shown +you an indulgence that perhaps no prince in my place would have done, +and you have misused it, which I will not suffer. Attack me, insult my +dearest convictions, revile me, Akbar your Emperor,--it is well; all +that I will pardon. But do not calumniate my truest and treacherously +murdered friend, or I will make use of my power to silence for ever +the tongue that has attacked in so cowardly a manner a hated opponent +who can no longer defend himself." + +"Take my head," said Abdul Kadir, as, undismayed, he looked the Emperor +in the face. "You know that I have ever desired to give my life for +you. If my death can do you no service, it may at least appease your +unjust wrath. I have said what I believed to be the truth, whether +you believe it or not. I did my duty, and you can do yours, or what +you are pleased to consider as such." + +"Enough," said Akbar, recovering from his indignation; "I desire your +life as little as your death. Go hence unharmed, but do not dare ever +again to come into my presence." + +Without a word of greeting, Abdul Kadir turned round, and with a proud +and defiant look strode towards the door; but as he laid his hand on +the curtain that hung before it, the Emperor called him by his name, +and the proud Muhammadan turned round in surprise. + +"Abdul Kadir," he said, "do not let us part so. We have known each +other too long, and learnt to respect each other too highly, to part +in such a manner. For I know, in spite of our difference, your respect +and esteem are mine--even your vehemence proves it; and I, on my side, +do not only look upon you as a learned and wise, but as a brave and +honourable man, which in these days is of far greater value. I would +not willingly see any one leave me in anger, and you least of all. Go; +I understand that it is necessary you should do so, and that it cannot +be otherwise; but do not go with wrath in your heart: think on the +long years that we have passed together in peace and friendship, +and forget the cause that makes our parting unavoidable." + +As Akbar began to speak, Abdul Kadir's countenance still retained +its defiant expression; but by degrees this softened at the generous +words of the forgiving prince, and though he said nothing, his whole +bearing spoke, as Akbar held out his hand. He grasped it warmly, +and a tear fell on it as he bent his head. Then he turned and went, +never to return, for he also was one of those whom the Emperor +would see no more. Akbar remained for some time gazing towards the +curtain that had closed behind his friend of former years. At last, +with faltering step he approached the open gallery, and gazed out on +the gardens, with their softly falling fountains, lying in profound +peace under the silvery moonlight. Then, wearied out, he sank on one +of the marble seats, and covered his face with his hands. + +Thus, they all forsook him one after another: Abú-l Fazl cruelly torn +from him, the Christian missionaries departing in anger, and now Abdul +Kadir bade him farewell for ever; and all this happened in the moment +when, above all, he needed the support of true friends--in the midst +of dangers and difficulties, when even his own son rose against him, +and strove to wrench from his hands the sceptre he had so long wielded +for the prosperity and welfare of his subjects. And all this for the +sake of religion! For that Salim took up arms in the name of the true +faith was certain; and it was generally believed that Nara Singh had +been a tool in the hands of religious fanatics. + +"Religion," said Akbar to himself, "what is it, then? Is it a +blessing bringing peace and joy to the soul of man, showing him +his utter nothingness, leading him to humility and adoration, and +awakening in him the love of his fellow-man, and the desire to live +for the good of others? Or is it a fatal thing, making man prouder, +more overbearing to others, the deeper his convictions are rooted; a +madness that at times masters the greatest and noblest, forcing them +to hate and curse, and that brings crime, murder, and bloody strife +amongst the people? Would it be fortunate, or unfortunate, should the +human race with one consent cease to possess any religion? Unanswerable +question! Full of the greatest contradiction, and yet to which every +one would be ready to reply without thought. Without religious worship +all are agreed that there can be no salvation for man, no order in +society. But when the question of the choice of a religion arises, at +once the flames of conflict break out; and each man cries 'Mine, and +mine alone!' Swords leap from their scabbards, and steel and violence +are to decide what is truth. Is it possible that some day a religious +system may arise that will content all, and unite the human race in one +bond of love? Were they idle and foolish dreams with which I flattered +myself when I believed that I had found it? Alas! it is hard to lose +friends, but harder to lose cherished illusions that are dearer still." + +A hand laid gently on his shoulder made Akbar look up. By his side +stood Faizi, to whom was allowed the privilege of approaching the +Emperor unannounced. + +"Akbar," said Faizi, "awaken from your sad and useless musing. Must I +be the one to say to you, be a man!--I, who, in comparison with you, +am so weak? But it is necessary that I should so speak. I do not feel +less keenly the loss of my dear brother, than you the loss of a true +councillor and a much-loved friend. It is necessary that we should +both rouse ourselves, and not allow grief so to overwhelm us as to +make us weak in the face of dangers that still threaten the kingdom; +therefore I dare to say to you, show yourself again a man. To be +so cast down is unworthy of you; and if Abú-l Fazl could know it, +he might perchance acknowledge for the first time in his life that +Akbar is not faultless." + +"My true and noble friend," said Akbar, "I thank you from my heart +for your frank words. To exchange thought for action is indeed now +necessary. However, you perhaps are mistaken as to the nature of +the thoughts in which you found me sunk; the memory of your brother +had only a share in them." And then Akbar recounted the farewells +of Aquaviva and Abdul Kadir, and the reflections to which they had +given rise. + +"In all that," said Faizi, after a moment's reflection, "I recognise my +magnanimous Emperor, and my philosophical and idealistic friend. You +know what are my feelings on the subject you have touched upon. I do +not set much store by what men are wont to call religious worship, +when by that they mean an unlimited mystical feeling devoid of all +reality, and still less when it depends on unproved propositions +and dogmas that take their rise in imagination. However right men +may be when they call me atheist, they are not so when they deem me +an unbeliever. On the contrary, I believe much; but my faith rests +on firm ground, on that of experience itself. Among other things, +I believe, as I have said more than once, in the law of gradual +development, not in material life alone, but especially in the soul +and mind of man. In this development I see the solution of the great +problem that you, like all other reformers and founders of religions, +most wish to discover. Think where we men began, and how far we have +already progressed, and think at what point we may yet arrive! We were +nothing better than animals, and after the lapse of some thousand +years we are reasonable beings; and when thousands and thousands +of years have rolled by, where shall we be? Shall we not--not only +some of us, but all, perchance--have attained a clear insight into +the immortal and necessary union of things (or union of spirit +and matter) through continued search and through the development of +knowledge. Then, content and resting on this knowledge, should we not +dispense with the dreams that we now accept under the well-sounding +name of religious worship, which, well-considered, is only a means to +satisfy our self-love, by assuring us of salvation in a future state, +which no mortal can put on one side." + +"Your spirit soars high," said Akbar, "and your eye sees far--to me +it seems too far and too high. I think of the present; the future +brings me but little consolation." + +"But," asked Faizi, "do I lose sight of the present? Does it not +belong to the first maxim of my faith--or, if you prefer it, to my +philosophy--that men should fulfil to the uttermost the duties laid +upon them? Truly, contemplation and knowledge are idle when for their +sake reality is thrust on one side. If philosophy did not teach us to +devote our powers to the living present, then were it nothing but a +phantasy and an idle delusion of the soul. To work with zeal and energy +for the end we propose to ourselves, is a very different thing from +wishing for impossibilities, and falling back discouraged at our want +of success. And so it is with religion, or, in a more limited sense, +with the religion of the people, or the conviction of the people +respecting the invisible world. This does not develop suddenly at a +sign from some inspired reformer, but slowly in the course of ages; +and in all cases it must be preceded by an indispensable condition, +that of the cultivation and enlightenment of the people, and this +is not possible unless they possess the means--not possible without +prosperity. And in that which concerns the first foundation of +enlightenment and cultivation, has Akbar just cause for self-reproach +and discouragement? Can he say that he has not done enough, or at +least much, for the welfare of the people entrusted to his rule? Look +back, my Emperor, on what you have accomplished, and, leaving your +theological contemplations on one side, judge if the consequences of +what you have done are not the best encouragement to continue with +energy the work that is already begun." + +Faizi was right, it was no flattering speech of a courtier, when +he praised the social reforms that the Emperor had introduced and +continued with success. The experience of following centuries bear +out his words. Of Akbar's religious dreams scarcely a trace was left +after his death, but his land system has remained the foundation on +which the successive rulers of Hindustan have built, and at one time +it was proposed, by an able and intelligent Englishman, to introduce +this system into our Dutch Indian possessions, where it would have +borne good fruit. This, however, fell to the ground through the +dulness and want of knowledge of our Governors." + +"You are right, Faizi," said the Emperor, rising to his feet and +lifting up his head as though animated with new life; "we must work, +not dream, work as long as the day remains, unwearied, and without +pausing. You must stand by me now that I have lost my greatest +support; and I think I may promise that you will be as content with +Akbar as he with you. But now for one more emblem; averse to them as +you are, this will find grace in your eyes. See yonder faltering, +mighty apparition! in that I recognise the condition in which for +days my soul has been bowed. But to-morrow the sun again rises, and I +will once more show myself, not as I am, but as I should be. That is +the duty of a prince. So long as the impulse does not come from the +people, the prince, with his councillors, should be the fountain of +light and life in the State. If at times I forget this,--then, Faizi, +call, as Abú-l Fazl did, the holy duty of a prince before my spirit, +and speak to me as you have done this night." + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DISCOVERY. + + +The Emperor, at the head of his troops, had set out for the north, +and all accounts reported that he was already at some distance from +Agra. Siddha was still waiting for orders to join his detachment, +which had marched among the first; what wonder, then, if he had +sought to shorten the time of waiting by repeated visits to Rezia +Gulbadan! One evening he turned his steps towards her dwelling, +although he could not flatter himself it was with the same eagerness +as formerly. He had begun more and more to distrust her; and these +repeated visits were partly to obtain more knowledge of her secrets +and of the conspiracy. He little suspected that that evening would +disclose to him more than he cared to know. Arriving at the little gate +in the wall, he found, to his astonishment, that it was not shut as +usual, and, in all probability through carelessness, the key had been +left in the lock. He could therefore enter without giving the usual +signal. Carefully closing the door behind him, he ascended the path +with rapid steps. As he drew near the verandah he found fresh reason +for surprise. Just at that moment a man entered, whom, at first, he +did not recognise, but, as he withdrew into the thick shadow of the +many plants, the lamplight showed his uncle Salhana, who, scarcely +greeting Gulbadan, cried in the utmost excitement, "We are betrayed, +shamefully betrayed! The Emperor," he continued, as Gulbadan listened +in terror, "is acquainted with all our plans. How, I know not, but +it is too true. I have positive information from Gorakh, who, as you +know, accompanies the army in disguise. Akbar not only knows of our +undertaking from the beginning, but his spies have informed him of +all the changes that have taken place in our plans. Cunning as he is, +he let it come to our ears that he had seen through our first plan, +without letting us know that he was also acquainted with the second; +allowing us to think that he had fallen into the trap. Now he and his +army have marched as though really for Kashmir. That is all very well, +but he will suddenly turn round, and by forced marches surprise us +here at Agra, when we believe ourselves to be in safety. I am only +just warned in time to prevent Salim, on the settled day, from being +proclaimed Emperor; but that will not avail us much. When Akbar knows +all, he will not spare us, although he may not catch Salim in the +act; and nothing now remains for us but to have recourse to the most +extreme measures." + +"And what are they?" asked Gulbadan. + +"Gorakh and his followers," answered Salhana, "can aid us, and +they must. Before the Emperor has time to reach Agra his life must +be taken." + +At these words a shudder ran through Siddha, and he laid his hand on +the hilt of his dagger, and was about to step forward, but restrained +himself in time. + +"Salim must know nothing of this," continued Salhana; "nor must we tell +him when the deed is accomplished. He may, indeed, have his suspicions, +but he will conduct himself as though he knew nothing; nor will he +hold us in less honour. To-morrow I go to the army to arrange all +with Gorakh, who has told me how I may recognise him in his disguise; +and in the meantime you must take care that Salim is warned. I myself +will not visit him, for fear of rousing suspicions. Tell me, on what +footing are you now with him?" + +"I have not seen him here for a long time," answered Gulbadan; "and +the reasons for his continued absence are unknown to me. However, +I am not uneasy: I know, cost what it may, he will have me for his +Sultana; and that shall be when he is Emperor, not before." + +"And while waiting, you occupy your time with that nephew of mine I +entrusted to your care, is it not so? A brave young man, and one in +whom you seem to find pleasure." + +"For a time; but now he begins rather to weary me; and, well +considered, he is not of much use. Without ceasing, one has to +discuss with him over and over again all kinds of ideas of honour +and duty. When he has served our turn, I shall show him the door, +and all the more, as he may stand in the way of my plans with Salim." + +"What is that?" suddenly asked Salhana, turning towards the garden +side of the verandah: "I think I hear a movement; is it possible that +some uninvited guest may have found his way in?" + +"Impossible," answered Gulbadan; "the door in the garden wall is +locked, is it not?"--Salhana had forgotten that in his haste he +had left it open.--" And from the other side there is no danger, +for Faizi started this morning to join the army. Go by this path, it +will be more prudent, as you might meet Siddha in the neighbourhood +of the garden wall." + +"All, then, is settled, is it not?" said Salhana. "You undertake Salim +and those here in Agra, and I charge myself with Akbar; and if I am +fortunate, we and his people will shortly be freed from his rule." + +With a slight greeting Salhana then disappeared behind a curtain, +taking a side path unknown to Siddha, so that to follow him, according +to his first impulse, was impossible. + +The best course now was to return at once, and ensure the failure +of the plot by warning the Emperor before the conspirators suspected +anything. But his longing to show Gulbadan that he had ceased to be +her despised tool was too great to be resisted, and with one bound +he was in the verandah and standing before her. + +"Cursed snake!" he cried, "you caused me to become a traitor; but +do not flatter yourself that your accursed plot and that of yonder +ruffian will succeed. I, who begin to weary you, will hinder it." + +"Ha! you have been listening, then," said Gulbadan, an expression +of hate and malice crossing her hitherto gentle face, depriving it +of all its beauty; "and now you intend to betray us,--but that shall +never be." Before Siddha could guess her intention, she flew towards +him, aiming a blow at his heart with a dagger. He half-mechanically +sought to ward off the blow, but his arm fell helpless to his side +at the sight of a figure that appeared to rise from the ground behind +Gulbadan, and who seized the murderess' hand in an iron grasp. + +Gulbadan turned round hastily, and sank with a cry of horror to +the earth. Behind her stood Faizi, and behind him two servants with +drawn swords. + +"Mercy!" she implored, returning to her senses, while Siddha stood +motionless, gazing at the scene before him. + +"Mercy, my lord and master!" And with her head bowed down so that her +dark locks swept the ground, she crept on her knees towards Faizi, +who stepped back as she strove to approach him more closely. + +"Back!" he cried; "do not touch me. Bind that woman," he said, +turning to his followers, "and take her to my castle of Mathura. There +let her be closely watched; and should she ever make an attempt, +however slight, to enter into communication with the outer world, +then carry out the sentence from which to-day I spare her. Never +again will I see her, nor a single hair of her guilty head." Then +he turned and spoke to the fallen one who knelt at his feet; but his +words were not such as to lighten her punishment. "Hope gives life," +he said; "and you, whose name will never more pass my lips, perhaps +flatter yourself with a vain expectation. You think you can reckon +on the protection of one more powerful than I, or who will one day be +so. You think that Salim will stand by you, and release you from your +imprisonment. This is a vain hope. He whom you have also deceived +imparted to me your connection with yonder man; and this was Salim +himself, whom you imagined safe in your toils." + +As he spoke, Gulbadan had raised her head, and listened with attention; +but at his last words, with a cry she sank senseless to the ground, +her arms stretched out in front of her. + +"Do your duty," said Faizi to his followers. And she was hastily +conveyed from the apartment. "And now you," said he, approaching +Siddha, as he drew his sword from the scabbard. + +"I have forfeited my life," replied Siddha. "Strike! I ask nothing +better than death from your hands." + +"That I understand," said Faizi, thoughtfully, and letting the sword +sink slowly back into its sheath; "and I am not inclined to fulfil +your wishes. Others in the same case would think differently. A +Musalman would lay your head before his feet; a Hindu would have you +strangled; and a Frank, most foolish of all, would challenge you to +fight. But I choose none of these. You may live, and depart unharmed +from hence. Live, with the remembrance of the ill you have done, +and of the manner in which you, who call yourself a nobleman, have +repaid a true friendship. The remembrance of this shall never leave +you, though you may become famous and rise high in rank; and however +highly you may be honoured and respected, yet you will always cast +down your eyes before any honourable man, remembering how in your youth +you treated a friend. This is the punishment I lay upon you! Now go." + +Obeying an imperious sign from Faizi, and bowed down with shame, +Siddha turned, and with faltering step took his way through the +garden and still open door. For a time he wandered on unconscious +of all around him. In spite of the lateness of the hour, he saw some +labourers busy lading a boat; and as though it were his own affair, +he stood narrowly watching their every movement, now wondering how +they would manage to convey in safety some heavy bale over the plank +that connected the vessel with the shore, and now shaking his head +at their awkwardness. Then some soldiers attracted his attention, +who sat drinking and playing dice by the wavering light of a torch, +and he began to wish to join them in drinking and playing. But at that +moment one thought drove out all others, the remembrance of the plot +to murder the Emperor. Had Faizi heard all, so that he could warn +Akbar? But these questions he was unable to answer. Then why not +go himself, without a moment's further waste of time? Salhana was +to start the following morning, and another starting at once could +easily precede him. + +Siddha wasted no more time in thought, but hurried to the quarter of +the city where his detachment was; and giving over the command to +another officer, he turned to his own dwelling, and ordered Vatsa +to saddle the bay--the bay given him by Faizi, and which, after +discovering Rezia's true name, he had never dared either to ride +or return, though now, in the service of the Emperor and empire, +he mounted it. + +"Prepare to follow me to the army," he said to Vatsa, as he led the +horse out, "but at some distance. Start in an hour's time, ride hard, +and if necessary deliver the message with which I entrust you." He then +imparted to him as much as was necessary touching the plot against +the Emperor, and ordered him to seek Akbar at once if he should not +find his master with the army. Having said this, he struck spurs to +his horse, and set off at a gallop. + +A hurried journey, neither allowing himself nor his horse necessary +repose, soon brought him to the army; and no sooner had he reached +the camp than he sought an audience with the Emperor, which, after +a short delay, was granted him. + +"What do you do here?" asked Akbar, in a stern voice. "Who has given +you leave to desert your post in Agra? It may go hardly with you if +you cannot answer to my satisfaction." + +"Sire," replied Siddha, "if I had nothing worse than this to answer +for, I might call myself happy; but I come to accuse myself of the +greatest crime a soldier can be guilty of against his prince--that +of treason." + +"I suspected as much," said the Emperor, "and therefore gave you +orders not to leave your post; and now you yourself come to assure +me of your treachery. Good; speak further." + +As shortly as possible, without withholding anything, Siddha recounted +how, led away by Gulbadan, he had deceived his friend and benefactor, +and become a traitor to his Emperor. During this recital Akbar paced +up and down with slow steps, his countenance expressing nothing of +what his feelings might be; but as Siddha ceased, he stopped before +him, and said, sternly, "Your crimes deserve death." + +"That I know well," was the answer; "and I come to receive my +punishment at the hands of your Majesty," + +"Why did you not seek safety in flight, when you suspected that your +treason was discovered?" + +"Crimes demand their penalty; and how can I go forth into the world +while it remains unpaid, an object of contempt to myself and others?" + +"But how is it that you have come so suddenly to this +determination? For this there must be some cause. I suspect you have +not told me all; something is still wanting to your story." + +"You are right; but what I have still to tell could not be said until +my doom was pronounced. Now I can proceed. The power which, in spite of +myself, that woman so long had over me was suddenly broken. The bandage +fell from my eyes, and at last I saw clearly what I was, of what I had +been guilty, and what punishment I deserved." And now followed more +in detail the description of the scene that had taken place on the +last evening he had seen Gulbadan, and of the plot he had overheard. + +Still no expression was visible on the Emperor's countenance; but, +as he again walked up and down, his step was more hurried. When the +story was ended he remained for some time silent, and then said, +"With reason you seem to have thought that your last communication +might have some influence over the sentence that I had to pronounce +on you. You have rendered a great service to me and to my kingdom, +and you are mistaken if you imagine that the sentence I pronounced +was an irrevocable one. To say that a crime deserves death, is not to +say that no mercy can be shown to him who is guilty of it; and yours +is a case in point. Without your further communication, I might have +recalled what I said, and shown you mercy. You have sinned deeply, +Siddha, against me, and certainly not less against my friend. You are +not a criminal, you have been the victim of an overwhelming temptation, +and I know myself what it is to be so tried. But your feeling of honour +was not destroyed, and sprang again into life as soon as you awoke +from your dream. I do not in the least palliate what you have done, +nor consider your fault a light one; but I am of opinion that you do +not belong to the class incapable of improvement, and who, for the +sake of society, cannot be allowed to live. I believe that your future +actions will wipe away the memory of your misdeeds, and your conduct +of to-day assures me that you will never again be guilty of treachery +towards me. I therefore give you your life, and leave you in possession +of your rank. Do not let me be deceived in you a second time." + +For some moments Siddha found it impossible to reply, but knelt before +the Emperor and kissed respectfully the hem of his robe. + +"I thank you, Sire," he said at last, as the Emperor signed to him +to rise, "not for life, that was no longer of any value in my eyes, +but for the opportunity granted me in some measure to make up for the +ill I have done. And if I may ask another favour, it is that I may +at once be allowed to take part in the war that is now being waged +in the north against the robber bands." + +"This favour I will also grant," said the Emperor; "but first I +will entrust you with another task. Some of the most faithful of my +own life-guards shall be placed under your orders; go with them to +meet Salhana, seize him, and bring him here in the greatest secresy, +so that Gorakh may know nothing of his arrest." + +At a sign from the Emperor the audience was at an end; and no sooner +had Siddha received the command of his troop of guards than he was +again on the road. Sooner than he had expected, he met his uncle, who +appeared to have travelled in great haste, and was accompanied by two +followers. These were soon disarmed and prisoners. Salhana defended +himself for some time, but was at last overpowered, and, to his anger, +pinioned by order of his nephew, whom until that moment he had held in +such contempt. A veil was flung around his head, so that no passers-by +might recognise him, and he was hurried by his captors to the camp. + +In the Emperor's tent his bonds were loosened, and he was left alone +with Akbar and Siddha. + +"Your treachery, Salhana," said the Emperor, "and your latest plans +are known to me; your nephew has told me all. Prepare to die,--the +executioners await you." + +Flinging a glance of rage and hatred towards Siddha, Salhana threw +himself at Akbar's feet, touching the ground with his forehead. "Spare +my life," he implored. "Punish me, gracious Prince, as you will; +but let me live, and I will confess all, and tell all that I know." + +"Salhana," replied the Emperor, contemptuously, "I knew that you were +a traitor and a villain; but I had still to learn that you were also +a coward. As for your confessions, they are worthless; I already know +all that you can tell me excepting one thing, where and how is Gorakh +to be found?" + +"This I can tell you," cried Salhana, welcoming with joy this ray of +hope; "I can tell you exactly how to find him, and then----" + +"I will grant you a shameful life; but should your information prove +false, then, you understand, the sword awaits you." + +Salhana now eagerly gave all particulars by which Gorakh might be +recognised in his disguise. + +"Have this man closely watched," commanded the Emperor, turning to +Siddha; "and you yourself, with your men, go in search of Gorakh, +and when you have found him, hang him on the nearest tree." + +This order was executed without delay. They were soon on the track +of the Durga priest, and before long he was their prisoner. + +"Ha! my young friend," said he, with his hateful laugh, recognising +Siddha; "and is this the way you repay the interest that I have shown +in you? However, let it be; but show me one courtesy, that can cost +you nothing. Tell me, who is my betrayer? It can only be Salhana; +am I not right?" + +"You are," answered Siddha; and then, turning to his followers, he +said, "Forward! take this man outside the camp, and carry out the +sentence pronounced by the Emperor." + +"And what is the sentence?" asked Gorakh. + +"The halter," was the reply. + +"Good," he said; "that is in my line." + +It was needless to bind him, for, without the slightest attempt at +escape, he calmly walked between two soldiers. + +For some time Siddha did not turn to look at him, nor did his guards +observe his actions very closely. But as they left the camp, and Siddha +turned to give some orders to his followers, he saw the Yogi busied +in marking characters on a long leaf that he held in his left hand, +and must either have picked up on the road, or have had concealed in +his clothes. In another moment he held it high in the air, waving it +as though it were a fan. + +"Come," cried Siddha, impatiently, "leave that juggling alone, it can +help you no further, and throw that leaf away; we have had enough of +your magic." + +Gorakh obeyed, but not before he had laughingly made two more signs +in the air. He then threw it on the ground, and they proceeded on +their way. A few moments later the lifeless body of the priest hung +from the bough of a tree. + +In the meantime two men, from their appearance the servants of some +nobleman, had witnessed the arrest, and, unnoticed, had followed +at some little distance the troop that was conducting the doomed +man to his place of punishment. As soon as the soldiers had passed +the place where Gorakh had flung away the leaf, the two men sought +eagerly in the sand, and soon found the object of their search. It +was a dry leaf, on which were hastily written a few words with some +sharp-pointed instrument. After reading it together, one concealed +it carefully in his garment, and they hurried back to the camp. + +There, as soon as the news of Gorakh's death reached the Emperor, +Salhana received the promise of his life; but was given in charge to +some soldiers, who were to guard him closely. When the war was ended, +then should it be decided what was to be done with him. Imprisonment +in some fortress or other, he understood well, would be his lot so +long as Akbar reigned. But when Salim ascended the throne, without +doubt he would be set free; and then, perhaps, too, he would have an +opportunity of wreaking his vengeance on Siddha. + +He was not so closely watched but that it was possible to approach him; +and one evening it happened that the servant of a splendidly dressed +person that passed by, slipt a rolled-up leaf into his hand. What +could it be? A secret communication from one of his friends, from +Gulbadan perhaps, pointing out some means of flight. "Salhana," ran +the hastily written note, "the Emperor who has doomed me shall not die +to serve you; Durga chooses for her victim you, who have betrayed me." + +With a cry of terror, Salhana's arms fell helpless to his side, and +the leaf dropped to the ground. He knew but too well the meaning of +those few words, and he knew that his sentence was irrevocable. The +last order of the Durga priest would not be neglected; rather +hundreds of his followers would be sacrificed than leave that command +unfulfilled. Was there indeed no hope, no chance for him? In truth, +as good as none. If he were but in Agra or in some fortress! where +it might not be so easy to penetrate to him as here in the open +field. But he was in the rear of the army, which only progressed +slowly. He implored his guards to keep good watch by him, as his +life was threatened by assassins; but they only laughed at him, and +he heard them say to each other, "That would be no great loss." Then +he prayed to be allowed to have a light at night, and this request +was only met with ridicule at his cowardice. He had not another +peaceful moment. During the march he imagined that behind every bush +he saw some dark figure lurking, that watched and followed in his +footsteps. When they halted to rest he remained on his guard, keeping +his eyes on the jungle and trees around. And then the night--the +long, frightful, endless night! He did his best to remain awake, +listening to every sound, and feeling around him in the dark; but at +times sleep overcame him, and he awoke with a start of terror, and +felt his throat, thinking he could not breathe. Sometimes he fancied +the cord was round his neck, and about to be drawn tight; then he +had to convince himself, by feeling with his fingers, that it was +only imagination; and at last to put his hand to his throat became +quite an involuntary movement. Then the question rose before him, +whether he should not take his own life, and so end his martyrdom; +but he dared not, his courage was not sufficient to plunge a dagger +into his own heart; and then there was still the hope, however slight, +that he might arrive safely at Agra. But slowly and still more slowly +marched the army. At last the Thugs took upon themselves the task +Salhana dared not perform, and freed him from his suffering. Early +one morning his guard found him lying dead in the tent that had been +pitched for his shelter during the night. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +AMENDMENT. + + +In the meantime affairs at Agra followed the course which Akbar +and his councillors had foreseen, especially after having received +Siddha's communication. It had been feared that Salim might be warned +in time of the return of the army, and would not be caught in the +act, in which case great difficulty would have arisen in convicting +the Prince of treason; but now that the message from Gorakh, the +chief of the conspirators in the army, had been intercepted; and +that Gulbadan had been deprived of the means of warning Salim, the +chance had greatly improved. In truth, though reports did reach the +ears of the conspirators of the return of the Emperor and his army, +yet as they were not confirmed by any tidings from their accomplices, +these reports were considered as an attempt on the part of Akbar's +friends to prevent the conspiracy from being carried out. + +On the appointed day, Salim took possession of the imperial palace, +and caused himself to be openly proclaimed Emperor. At the same +time he dismissed many of the principal officers, appointing others +in their places. Alarm and surprise became general throughout the +town. Rich people closed their houses, and tradesmen their shops, +and Agra, so populous and full of life, appeared a city of the +dead. The reports of Akbar's return had found more belief among +the people than among the conspirators, and they feared a terrible +struggle when Salim, having strengthened himself in the fortress, +should be able to offer a formidable opposition to his father. But +when the Prince demanded admission to the fortress, to his no small +astonishment the governor refused compliance, shut the gate, and +directed his artillery on the town. The governor, faithful to Akbar, +had, with his knowledge, chosen the side of Salim, so that the latter +had thought himself certain of the fort. And now the reports of the +movement of the army gained strength, and it was said that it was +within an easy day's march. Placed, as it were, between two fires, +and finding himself deserted by others who had aided his rebellion, +Salim saw that his only hope was instant flight. But it was too late; +the advanced troops had already closed all the entrances to the town, +and as Salim attempted with a few followers to leave it, he was taken +prisoner by a division of cavalry, and, though treated with respect, +carried back to the palace where he had been proclaimed Emperor. A few +days later he received an invitation to appear before Akbar, who had +then returned to Agra--his prince, his father, and his judge! Salim +was brave, still he felt his courage sink, being fully conscious of +his guilt. He knew that Akbar could be generous, but still that he +could be severe in inflicting punishment when it was necessary for the +welfare of his kingdom. His well-grounded fear gave way to surprise, +when, left alone with the Emperor, he found him stretched on a divan, +supporting his head on his hand, the other hand hanging wearily over +the side. He did not alter his position as the guilty one entered. + +"I have long delayed seeing you, Salim," began Akbar at last, throwing +a hasty glance at his son, who stood covered with shame before +him. "I dreaded this interview, and wished that it might be spared +me." For a few moments he was silent, then half raising himself, +and holding his arm up in the air, he burst into a passionate and +bitter complaint. "My son, my son," he cried, "that I should have +lived to see this! To what have false friends and a false ambition led +you? You knew how dear you were to me, and how, when it was possible, +I sought to forestall your slightest wishes, and how I loaded you with +honours and treasure; you know, too, you have heard more than once, +both from your mother and myself, how I, then childless, prayed for +the gift of a son, and how, when the prayer was granted, I celebrated +it by the foundation of Fathpúr, where I had so often offered my +prayers to Allah. But had I known what awaited me at your hands, +my prayers had not been so earnest, nor my joy so great when they +were granted. Ah! was it impossible that for once you should place +some restraint on yourself, and wait with patience for your father's +death before you ascended your throne? was it impossible to return +in the slightest degree the love that I had always cherished for you, +and which had surrounded you with benefits?" + +Salim knew not how to reply, as his father for a moment ceased to +speak. He felt this reception deeply, so different from what he had +expected, and the loving though melancholy words addressed to him, +in spite of his errors; for Salim was not bad, nor hard-hearted, but +weak and easily led; and on him rested the curse of despotism that +Akbar had escaped,--the curse of the despot, and of him who is to +become one,--that of placing his own will in the way of right and duty. + +"But no," continued the Emperor, "you would not, or rather you could +not. You have never possessed the power of restraining yourself in +anything; how, then, should you in this? For a time I saw with joy +that you had given up your drinking, but for how short a time did +this improvement last! You, who in my place wish to rule over others, +cannot rule yourself. Had you only better understood your position, +then your own interest would have shown you the right path. You +would have seen that the straightforward fulfilment of duty would +gain the respect and love of your future subjects; while actions +such as those you were guilty of, only rendered you contemptible in +their eyes, and when you had gained your wish and were their ruler, +their obedience would be due to fear or self-interest, so foolishly +and blameably have you lost their respect, and covered yourself and +me with shame. If I could but have prevented this! I attempted it, +when, following the counsel of Faizi, who was always well inclined +towards you, I sent you to Allahabad, not suspecting that Salhana was +a false traitor and one of the most dangerous of the party that was +seeking to mislead you. Enough; the attempt to save you from your +evil companions failed, and things continued their course. Then it +became necessary to prove publicly that neither craft nor force could +avail against Akbar, and that the reins of government remained in the +Emperor's hands. You have forced me to it, and on your head rests the +blame of what has happened to-day. You have done yourself much injury, +and grieved me deeply, more deeply than you can comprehend. May you +never learn from experience what a father feels when, sword in hand, +he is forced to meet his son as an enemy." + +This sad experience was not spared Salim, and in his old age the +day came when the words of his father returned to his mind, and when +Shah Jahan, his dearly-loved son, not only opposed him in the field, +but defeated him more than once. When his father ceased speaking, +his conscience awoke from its long sleep, and he recognised that +crime to its fullest extent, which false councillors had palliated +and made light of. Overcome by his feelings he flung himself on his +knees before his father. + +"Rise up," said the Emperor, at last, after having for some time +silently regarded his son; "and listen. That I possess full right to +inflict punishment upon you, you less than anyone can dispute. But +I require from you no further humiliation than that which you have +already undergone. I do not wish it, because it would damage your +future rule, shaking that respect which men will owe to you when you +succeed me on the throne. If I punished you further publicly, I might +as well declare you disinherited, and choose one of your brothers +as my successor; but that I neither will nor can do. I hold you too +dear to take such a course, so long as it can be avoided; nevertheless +all depends on you. Tell me frankly, do you wish to work with me for +the good of my kingdom, or do you feel no inclination and no strength +for it? In the one case I will charge you with an honourable, though +it may be laborious share; in the other, you can remain at my court, +and there endeavour to learn as much of the art of government as is +indispensable for your future. I leave the choice to you." + +"My father," replied Salim, "I feel that I deserve neither of the +generous offers you make me, and I should not complain if my last +deed excluded me from the succession to the throne; but if indeed +you leave me the choice, then, without hesitation, I choose the +first. However difficult and dangerous may be the task entrusted to +me, I will strive my utmost to fulfil it. You have indeed laden me +with favours and honours, perhaps too many; my time has been thrown +away in idleness, while you spent every day, from morning to evening, +labouring for the good of the State; and then miserable idleness led +me away to listen to the temptation of traitors, who pictured to me +the fame that would be mine when power was once in my hands. Now, +give me some work, however lowly, and I may perhaps be able to make +up for the evil I have done." + +"You judge yourself justly," said Akbar, "and to know oneself is +the first step in the right path. I acknowledge that I am not myself +free from blame for leaving you without employment, in the midst of +luxury and self-indulgence. But enough of this. The rich and fruitful +Bengal has not long been subject to my rule, and does not yet enjoy +the privileges of a settled government. Go, and help me to carry out +my principles of government there also. You shall reign under me, +but almost as an independent king, until the day when, after having +won the respect and love of your people, you shall in peace succeed +to the empire of the whole of Hindustan." + +Tears of joy and gratitude sprang to Salim's eyes, as he respectfully +kissed the Emperor's hand before leaving him, full of fresh courage +and a new love of life. The reconciliation between father and son was +sincere, and Akbar foresaw that the peace and friendship between them +would never again be disturbed. + +Though joy reigned in Agra as the time passed by, in Allahabad +there was sorrow, at least in Iravati's heart; for the new governor, +in a few words, had imparted to her the news of her father's death, +but withheld from her all particulars, while he begged that she would +remain in the castle as long as she pleased. She had never been aware +of the crime of which Salhana had been guilty; and though she had not +loved her father very dearly, still she had always held him in the +highest respect, and, forgetting his recent treatment, she mourned him +truly. In the midst of her grief another event happened, which gave +her a fresh shock. Not long after the tidings of Salhana'a death had +reached her, Kulluka the Brahman was announced. His faithful servant +had been his only companion on his perilous journey from the north. + +"Noble lady," he said, when admitted to Iravati's presence, "I accepted +a sad task when I undertook to deliver a message, sad both for you +and me. I bring you a token that you know well": and feeling in his +girdle, he drew out a finely-woven veil, and laid it in her hands. It +was the same she had thrown to Siddha when for the last time she had +seen him beneath her balcony. + +"I understand all," she cried, turning deadly white; "he is no more." + +"When I left him," answered Kulluka, "he was still alive, but I fear +the worst, and I doubt whether I shall ever more see my former pupil +in life." + +"But say, what has happened?" asked Iravati. "See, I am quite composed, +and can listen calmly to all you have to tell." + +Then Kulluka recounted all that he knew of Siddha's last encounter. The +Emperor had granted his earnest wish, and allowed him to march with +his Rajpúts against the rebels in the north. There for some time, +among the mountains so well known to him, he carried on a war which was +both successful and glorious; he sought rather than avoided dangers, +and had been victor in many a daring adventure, from which even the +bravest of his followers had shrunk. At last, however, the insurgent +bands, as he was traversing a mountain pass, managed to cut him off +from the main body of his troop. After a long and hard struggle, in +which many of the enemy fell before his sword, covered with wounds, +he sank from his horse to the earth, while most of his followers lay +either wounded or dead around him. Vatsa, who had never left his side, +instead of attempting useless revenge, let himself slip from his horse, +and lay motionless as though dead. A few moments later the troop +arrived and drove back the enemy, and Vatsa sprang to his feet and +found to his joy that his master still lived. With the help of some of +the soldiers the wounded man was laid on a rude, hastily constructed +litter, and carried to a Buddhist cloister in the neighbourhood. "At +that moment," continued Kulluka, "I was myself in the cloister, +when the soldiers arrived with their sorely wounded leader. The good +monks gladly afforded him all the help in their power. Among them +was one learned in medicine, who assured me that neither skill nor +care should be spared to bring him back to life. After a time Siddha +regained consciousness, and seeing me, made a sign of recognition; +but it was some minutes before he gained strength to speak. 'Friend,' +he said, 'I am going to leave you, I feel that I cannot recover. Do +me a service.' I looked inquiringly to the monk learned in healing, +but he shook his head. He also seemed to have little or no hope. He +strove to enjoin silence on Siddha, but Siddha heeded not. 'I must +speak,' he said; 'Kulluka, take the veil that you will find there +with my armour, take it as quickly as possible to Iravati, and tell +her that she was never so dear to me as now that death is near. Go at +once, and do not wait for my death; let me die knowing that she has +received this token from your hands.' He then shut his eyes and spoke +no more. I did not hesitate to fulfil his last wish; and taking the +veil, and leaving Siddha to the faithful care of the monks and Vatsa, +I at once set out." + +"I thank you," said Iravati, "for the service you have rendered us +both. But Siddha still lived, he was not dead when you left him? Then +I know what I have to do." + +"To do?" asked the Brahman. "What can you do?" + +"I shall go with you to Siddha," answered Iravati calmly. + +"You!" cried Kulluka in astonishment; "a weak, helpless woman attempt +to pass through mountains and forests swarming with bands of insurgents +and robbers, without a strong escort!" + +"You did not fear," was the answer, "to expose yourself to these +dangers to fulfil Siddha's wishes, and I fear them as little. Do +not be afraid that you will find me a hindrance; I am not so weak, +and am well accustomed to mountains and forests. No," continued +Iravati, as Kulluka made fresh objections, "do not attempt to shake +my resolution, you will not succeed; and if you will not take me, +then I will travel, accompanied by a servant. Do you think that +I have come hastily to this determination, and that I shall draw +back? I have more than once thought of the possibility of such an +event as has now happened. I have often compared my life to that of +Damayanti, and have determined that she should be my example. And +what is my self-sacrifice to hers? Alone and despoiled of everything, +she wandered through the wilderness, seeking her faithless consort. I, +at least if you allow it, go under the protection of a man of tried +courage, and where he can force his way I can follow." + +"His arm will never fail when you need his protection," cried Kulluka; +"and though his arm may be stiff, it still has strength enough to +wield a sword. I both honour and respect the resolution to which you +have come. Now prepare for the journey, and you will find me ready +to undertake it with you." + +Without delay Iravati gave orders to her servant to hasten all the +necessary preparations for the journey, while in a few words she +told her the reason for undertaking it. The faithful Nipunika was +not a little shocked when she heard the recital, but as she made an +attempt to dissuade her dearly loved mistress from the undertaking, +Iravati insisted on silence. + +"Let me go with you," entreated she. + +"No," replied Iravati, "that is impossible; to protect one woman is +enough for Kulluka and his servant. I have told you of my plan, which +for the present must be a secret, in order that, in case I should not +return, some one may know where I am, and what I am doing in Kashmir." + +"But would it not be better to ask the Governor for an escort?" + +"No, for a few armed men would awaken suspicion; and the Governor +cannot spare a strong detachment. We three alone have a far better +chance of accomplishing our journey in safety." + +It was not, however, possible to depart at once, for Kulluka's horses +were so fatigued by the distance they had come, that rest was necessary +until the following day. Iravati found the hours of waiting long +and wearisome: she sat, still dreaming over the one subject that was +master of all her thoughts. Suddenly, with a terror which she could +not explain to herself, she looked up as she heard the step of some +one approaching, and in the next moment the man whom of all others +she least expected to see, stood before her--Salim. + +"You here!" she cried. + +"I am on my way to Bengal," answered the Prince, "and have arrived +at a fortunate moment, to hinder you from carrying out a plan too +wild and foolish ever to have found place in the mind of a sensible +woman. Through love to you your servant has disobeyed your orders, +and begged me to interfere, which I have promised to do." + +"Do not trouble yourself, my lord, with my plans, I entreat," said +Iravati. "I am no longer a child that knows not what it does; and in +any case, it is not your duty to watch over me." + +"But I shall do so, for the sake of your welfare, and also--why +should I not say it frankly?--because I cannot bear to see you go +to my hated rival, who is himself untrue to you. I cannot bear the +idea of your showering caresses on this man, if you find him living, +when you have rejected me; and therefore I shall make use of my power, +and force you to remain here against your will." + +"You can do so, Salim," answered Iravati, "but you will not. You know +well that instead of gaining by so cowardly an exercise of your power +you would only lose; you would not win me, nor hasten Siddha's death +by one moment; and this action would draw down upon you my deepest +contempt instead of the respect which, until now, I have felt for you, +although I could not give you my love. Do you desire this? And not my +contempt alone, but also your own. Will you behave as a weak woman +who is not master of her own heart, and give way to unreasonable +passion? or do you wish to behave as a man who knows how to rule +himself, and who, by so doing, shows me he is worthy to reign over +others? Choose for yourself; I ask no favour." + +With hasty step Salim paced up and down, while within his breast +there was a bitter struggle between duty and passion, honour and +self-will. To allow her, whom he had vainly striven to win, to go to +his accursed rival was hard, almost beyond his powers. Still she was +right; the exercise of his might would avail him nothing, only cause +him to lose her respect, which he prized above everything. And then +her last words, recalling his noble, generous father's exhortation, +which he had so deeply felt! Self-control, self-denial, the first +duties and virtues indispensable to a prince--never before had he +considered them seriously; and after his promises to lead a new life, +should his first action be one which Iravati, with justice, called +a cowardly exercise of power? + +"Iravati," he said, at last, "I submit, as I did before, to your +will. What it costs me I need not say. Enough, I obey. Alas! as I +said before, why did I not know you earlier? You would have made a +different man of me; but this is all over, and I will endeavour to +submit to the inevitable. Go, then; though I cannot but consider your +resolution as rash, still I admit it to be courageous and noble. One +thing more. It is not impossible that you may still find Siddha living, +and then I understand only too well that you will be reconciled, and +keep the faith you have sworn to him. I shall look upon this with envy, +but neither seek vengeance on you nor on him whom you hold dear. Let +it be said that the weak and selfish Salim controlled himself, +and that the future ruler of Hindustan can rule his own heart. If, +sooner or later, you or Siddha Rama have need of my protection, +I give my princely word that it shall not fail you. Only one favour +I ask of you, though you will receive none from me. Although it may +be that we shall never meet again, do not refuse me your friendship, +and do not think with anger and contempt of a man whose crimes towards +you were caused by the deep love he felt for you." + +He awaited no answer, but hurried away. "My father!" he murmured, +"for once at least you have cause to be content with your son." + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +FAIZI'S CURSE. + + +In a Buddhist monastery among the mountains, Siddha lay stretched on +his sick bed, while Iravati watched by his side. Her joy had been great +at finding him still alive when, after her long and dangerous journey, +she at length arrived; but this joy had been tempered by the doctor's +assurance that his state was a most critical one. When she was admitted +to his room, she found him still senseless; and who could say whether +he would ever regain consciousness, or recognise her before his death? + +After a long time of anxious watching, a slight improvement gave +rise to hope, and Iravati was warned that if she would continue to +tend the wounded man, she must allow herself more rest. Kulluka and +the monks persuaded her to take short walks; and it was not without +pleasure that she at times visited the little temple belonging to the +monastery when the bell called the believers to prayer. With earnest +attention she listened to the words of the chief priest when he spoke +of the gradations of human life, and how sorrow fell on all, and how +rare were the visits of happiness, and how the greatest bliss for man +was to be freed from all human ties and to attain Nirvána. [106] In +these teachings Kulluka found much with which he could not agree, and, +in other circumstances, would perhaps have remarked to the priest that +to live for the good of others was a nobler aim of life than to remain +sunk in idle contemplation. But opposition was perhaps superfluous. The +practice of these Buddhists was better than their teaching; for though +they took no part in the turbulent life and sorrows of the world, +still they did not spend their time in idleness. Unwearily they +wandered amongst the mountains, visiting all the poor inhabitants, +scattering their good deeds and consolation wherever misery was to +be found, without respect of nationality, religion, or caste. + +One evening Iravati was seated by Siddha's couch, while the doctor +watched him from the other side, when he slowly opened his eyes, and, +throwing a hasty glance around him, seemed to recognise Iravati. He +softly murmured her name, and again closed his eyes. The doctor made +a sign to Iravati to withdraw, which she unwillingly obeyed, and +hastened, with a heart full of joy, to seek Kulluka, and to impart +to him the glad news. The next day the improvement still continued, +and the patient could even speak. But Siddha made but little use of +this power even when Iravati was with him; and though he knew her +and his friend, he did not seem to remember any of the events that +had happened,--a mist seemed to hang over his mind. Almost without +consciousness he would sit, gazing before him, and only Iravati's +voice could arouse him from this stupefaction. This still continued, +even after his bodily strength returned and he was again able to +take exercise. + +Once it happened, as he strolled with Iravati in the neighbourhood of +the monastery, that some word of hers, or some object on which his +eye fell--she herself could not tell which--seemed to awaken memory +in him. Suddenly he stood still, gazing with wonder around him, and +passed his hand over his face. Then shaking his head, he walked on, +and then again stood still, gazing inquiringly at the high mountain +tops, then at the blue sky, and at the valleys and woods that lay +around. A deadly pallor crept over his face, and with a wild look +he turned to Iravati. Memory had returned in its full strength, +but how? and, perchance, was not forgetfulness both better and happier? + +"Go, go!" he cried, at last. "What are you doing here, unhappy one, +with me? How can you bear that I should approach you--I, the faithless +traitor, laden with the heaviest curse that was ever laid on man?" + +Iravati listened in breathless terror. She did not understand all, +though more than enough. She attempted to speak, but her voice failed +her, and overcome with sorrow, she sank at his feet. + +"The curse!" repeated Siddha, wildly; "the curse of Faizi--'Live with +the memory of what you have done; and though you may attain all your +heart desires, yet shall you always cast down your eyes before an +honourable man.' And should I dare to raise them to you, pure and +innocent, whom I betrayed as basely as I did my noble friend! Go, +I say, far from here. A figure stands between you and me. It is that +of Faizi. He stands there, threatening as when he spoke my doom." + +As Iravati raised her head, she saw him cover his face with his hands, +as though he dared not look at her. "Come," she said, "let us go in; +you have done too much, and so false visions torment you. Come, then." + +"Visions," answered Siddha, bitterly; "would that they were! But, +no. I am now again myself; my strength has returned, and with it +the recollection, the terrible recollection, more real than ever. I +never yet felt the full meaning of Faizi's words; but now that I again +see you, I comprehend them. Before the Emperor, and even before the +meanest of my soldiers, have I cast down my eyes with shame; but never +as now. Vainly I sought an honourable death. Iravati," he continued, +"you do not know with whom you speak; you do not know my last crimes." + +"I do know," she answered, "though perhaps not exactly what happened +between Faizi and yourself; but I have gathered sufficient from the +words you have let fall." + +"And yet you still speak to me," cried Siddha. "You do not turn from +me; you even come to tend my last days." + +"Did I not give you my word, Siddha? and was I not bound to keep +it until you yourself gave it to me back? and that you have never +done. Did you not send me by Kulluka the token that told your last +thought was mine? and I felt that I had taken duties on me, although +no marriage ties bound us." + +"Then I now release you from your promise," said Siddha. "It is true +that no sooner did I awaken from that miserable blindness than my love +for you returned with a strength that until then I did not know. You, +you can be true to me, and fulfil all your duties. But you can love +me no more." + +"I love you now, as I always did," replied Iravati. + +"You seek to convince yourself that you do, from an exaggerated +feeling of honour; but it is not possible that you should do so, +and the day would come when you would regret that you had not known +yourself better. There can be no love where there is no respect. The +woman must look up to the man, and unhappy is the union where he is the +weaker. Go, and forget me; I am not even worthy of your remembrance." + +"Then you thrust me away?" + +"I have no right to thrust you away, nor to release you from your +word. I only do so in order to give you rest, and to spare you any +self-reproach that you might feel at leaving me of your own free will." + +"Listen to my prayer, Siddha," said she, entreatingly, and laying her +hand on his arm. "I will not dispute what you say, I will not wish +or require anything as my right. I only implore you to listen to the +wish that is dearest to my heart. I do not ask any promise for the +future. I give you the fullest liberty; but let me remain with you +for the present, even if it is for a short time. It is impossible +for me to part with you now." + +"No, and never!" answered Siddha, sternly. "No hesitation, no weakness; +once for all, leave me and forget me." And pushing Iravati, who went +on before him, he prepared to hurry away, so that he might never +again see her whom until this moment he had never loved so tenderly. + +"Let it be so," said Iravati, rising up, with an injured feeling of +self-respect, and speaking with a firm voice; "let it be so, you are +perhaps right. You make yourself unworthy of my love. Once, in spite of +your promises, you have been unfaithful to me, but that I had forgotten +and forgiven; for I knew you had been led away by temptation unknown +to me. But now you drive me from you, not because I have committed +any fault, but because you are too proud to confess to your wife that +you have once been weak and unable to withstand temptation. Leave me, +then. Without you my life is without value; but a forced love no woman +can seek, not even from the man she loves. And now, to the memory of +the crime you have been guilty of against a friend, add the memory +of a woman whom you loved, yet sacrificed to your selfish pride." + +Siddha hesitated. Should he go, or stay? The latter he would gladly do, +but how could he reconcile it with honour? "Who shall decide?" he said, +striking his forehead with his hand. "There is truth in what you say, +though it is in conflict with what I consider right. Yet," continued +he, "another, who is wiser than either of us, shall decide between us." + +"You mean Kulluka?" + +"No, not him. Highly as I prize his opinion, I know beforehand that he +would only try to secure our happiness, and, to do so, would decide +that you are right. He would not be impartial in his judgment. There +is another; but do not ask me further. He alone can I trust to decide +between us; and he will advise me. Listen, then, Iravati; let me +depart hence as speedily as possible. Perhaps I shall return soon, +perhaps never. Should I return, then my life shall henceforth be +devoted to you. If not, then understand that you will never see me +more, and that you are freed from all ties that bind you to me. Do +not raise objections, but have patience with me, such as, till now, +you have always shown." + +Before Iravati could reply to this new and unexpected proposal, +Siddha had disappeared to seek his servant, and to order his horse +to be saddled, so as to set out on their journey, his destination +being unknown to her. + +Iravati hastened to Kulluka, and told him all that had passed, and +Siddha's extraordinary determination; but the guru, seeing that it +was better to let Siddha take his own way and not to oppose him, +tried to console Iravati with the hope that she would soon see him +again. In the meantime Siddha had taken leave of the Buddhist priest, +giving him a rich present for the benefit of the monastery, and then, +followed by Vatsa, had ridden away. + +Again the last rays of the setting sun fell on the slopes of the +Himálayas, and again Siddha, accompanied by Vatsa, followed the +path that led to the valley where the habitation of Gurupada was +situated. He was received by the old servant, who quickly recognised +him, and without delay led him to his master. + +The hermit welcomed his young friend with pleasure, but saw with +concern the change that had taken place in his appearance. His face, +once so full of joy and life, was now pale, and had assumed a sad +and dark expression; and his whole bearing had lost its former +elasticity. In but a short time the youth had become a man, and not +one full of life and strength, but one bowed down under the weight +of sorrow, which Gurupada's sharp sight told him was the heaviest +that falls to the lot of man, that of self-reproach. + +"Most revered," said Siddha, after the first greetings; "or let me +rather say, most gracious prince----" + +"No," interrupted the hermit; "continue to call me Gurupada, for I +am nothing more." + +"I obey," said Siddha, "and I see with joy that you have not forgotten +me. Perhaps you still remember the last words you said to me, when, +after a short visit to your hospitable dwelling, we took our leave." + +"I made you promise," replied Gurupada, "to seek me again if it should +ever chance in your life that you should need the counsel of a true +friend; and I understand that this is the reason which now brings +you here. If I may judge from your looks, the cause of your coming +is a very bitter one." + +"You are right," said Siddha; "and when you have heard all, you will +wonder that my appearance does not more clearly proclaim my feelings." + +"Come now," said Gurupada, "to the other side of the house; there we +will seat ourselves, and talk quietly of all that has happened." + +Siddha gladly accepted the invitation, and after having, at the +earnest request of the hermit, partaken of some refreshment, he began +to recount all that had happened until the moment of his parting with +Iravati in the cloister. + +Gurupada listened with the deepest attention and interest; and +when the tale was finished he remained for some moments silent, +sunk in thought; but at last, looking at Siddha, he said: "In truth +you have laden yourself with a heavy burthen, but not so heavy as +that a man cannot bear it. That you allowed yourself to be led away +by Gulbadan is not to be defended, although it may be excusable; +but that you did not part from her, after discovering who she was, +was an inexcusable offence against your friendship with Faizi. Your +original faithlessness towards the Emperor was partly the result of +an error; but to remain in his service and to conspire against him +was a crime. I do not judge your conduct more leniently than you do +yourself; on the contrary, I judge it still more harshly. You believe +that the tale of your faults was closed when you confessed your +crimes to the Emperor. But you deceive yourself, you began to commit +another, which may be just as unfortunate as those which preceded it, +although you were led into it by an error. The greater part of mankind +imagine with you that repentance is a virtue, and that by penance +and self-punishment alone can sin be washed away. But few errors +are so ruinous in their result as this, when penance consists in the +penitent's withdrawal from the circle in which he can labour usefully, +and when also he punishes others as well as himself. And this is what +you would do. First, you sought death on the field of battle, which +was the simplest place, as you would not lay violent hands on your +own life. But what good would your death have produced, or how could +it undo the ill you have done? Unable to find an honourable death, +you declare your intention of living a solitary life in the jungle, +devoted to prayer and penance; but for what? How could this serve +yourself or others? And then Iravati, your bride! you desert her, not +because she is faithless to you, but because you have cause to feel +shame in her presence. Thus you punish her more than yourself. Do +you call that duty and virtue? No, my friend, such a course would +end in being worse than an error. You look at me with astonishment; +but the course you propose would be one of pride and defiance, +because you know that you have lowered yourself. Iravati was right; +you were too proud to bind yourself to a woman who knew all your +weaknesses, and who had nothing to reproach herself with; and it is +indeed pride that prompts you to fly the world. You fear to meet some +one acquainted with your former evil deeds. You dare not look a man +in the face, for fear of what he may know of you. Is that, I ask, +virtue and courage? is it not, rather, a cowardly weakness?" + +"But Faizi's last words," said Siddha. + +"I foresaw that objection," continued Gurupada; "and I do not deny +that it has a certain weight. But let us beware of exaggeration. That +Faizi should have acted and spoken as he did is easily to be understood +in his place. You probably would have done the same; and he, were he +in my place, and had to decide impartially, would doubtless say as I +do. A man need not spend his life bowed down in humiliation because +in an evil hour he has been guilty of a shameful deed, when his after +life has been spent so as to gain the respect of his fellow-men. Now +listen to the counsel you ask of me, which I willingly give. You +have arrived at the full consciousness of the wickedness of your +conduct, and you have accused yourself before the Emperor, before +Iravati, and before me. That was well done; but the knowledge and +clear insight of your evil-doing must not be the last step, but the +first, in the right path. It should restrain you from all errors, +not only those of the same class that have already led you astray, +but also from others. It should teach you to keep better watch over +yourself, your impressions, your passions. You should have greater +dread of deeds which you could not confess to others without shame; +and in the end you should attain to a state of mind which will make it +impossible for you to act against duty or honour. But this cannot be +if you seek to avoid temptation by flying from it. Resist temptation, +and begin in the first place by conquering your own pride. Therefore +take Iravati for your wife, and render yourself worthy of her. Go to +the Emperor, and pray him to entrust you with some work by which you +may serve your country; I doubt not but that he will willingly grant +your request. I understand that you desire to avoid Faizi, and that +is well; you owe it to him to spare him any meeting, and Hindustan is +large enough to keep two men apart. In Kashmir, or in other places, +you may render as good service as in Agra itself. Think over this, +and, after reflection, let me know what your decision is.--No, no, +do not answer me at once," said Gurupada, seeing Siddha ready with his +reply; "take the repose of which I see you have need, and to-morrow, +when you have thoroughly weighed all I have said, tell me if you +still see difficulties in following the advice I have given." And +with a friendly greeting the hermit left Siddha to his own thoughts. + +The next day Siddha was ready to take farewell of Gurupada, perhaps +for the last time. For a long while the two men stood in earnest +conversation, and as at last the traveller turned to mount his horse, +he warmly pressed his host's hand, saying, with a trembling voice, but +with a countenance cleared from all trouble, "I thank you, Gurupada, +for the manly advice you have given me; I owe you a new life, and I +hope to bear myself in it very differently from what I have done in +the past, which I shall never forget. You have taught me what true +repentance is; may I never give you reason to think that your good +counsel has been given to one who is unworthy of it." + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE TOMB. + + +In the neighbourhood of the village of Sikandra rises that magnificent +building, the tasteful splendour of which is the pride of Hindustan, +while it awakens the admiration of all travellers, and is one of the +last memorials of the departed greatness of the Mughals. A wall with +many towers gave entrance, through a broad gateway of red marble, +to a path lined with shady trees, above which rose a building of +majestic height and of great circumference. This building excited +admiration, not alone by the stern beauty of its outline, but also +by the richly-wrought gateways, minarets, cupolas both high and low, +and open galleries, by which it was surrounded, giving it more the +appearance of a number of palaces and pleasure-houses than of a +monument. However, it was not destined for the abode of the living, +but to preserve the memory of the illustrious dead,--of Akbar +himself. [107] + +A few years after the occurrences already narrated, a silent pair +stood in this park: a powerful man, in rich attire, one hand resting +on the hilt of his sword, while the right was thrown round a lovely +woman who stood beside him, looking like the graceful ivy that clings +to the oak. It was Siddha Rama, accompanied by Iravati. They stood +lost in admiration before the tomb, and thought of the man of whom +they had so often spoken with the greatest reverence. + +Much had happened in these few years. Akbar was no more, and in his +place reigned his son Salim, who, in accordance with the wish of +his father as he lay on his dying bed, had girded on the sword the +Emperor had always worn, and who was now, under the name of Jahangir, +the Emperor of Hindustan. [108] That he was not to be compared to +Akbar was to be expected, still his reign was not bad; and it fell +to the lot of his successors--to Shah Jahan [109] and Aurangzíb +[110]--so to corrupt the formerly powerful empire, as that it fell +an easy prey into the hands of British conquerors. + +Salim had not entirely laid aside his evil habits, and Sir Thomas +Roe, the English ambassador, had an opportunity of seeing him in much +the same situation as Siddha had done, at the banquet given in his +palace. Still he was not the hopeless drunkard that he had appeared +to be. [111] To Iravati he had kept his word, and in spite of his +disappointment, found himself happy in his marriage with the wise +and beautiful Mahal, whose influence over him was great, and always +for good. + +That Kashmir must in the end submit, had long been foreseen; and after +the failure of Salim's conspiracy, it cost Akbar but little trouble +to penetrate through the ruined country and force it to come under his +rule. The weak king died, his unworthy sons were banished, and Siddha's +father was made Vice-King, Siddha receiving an important appointment, +with the understanding that he should succeed to the Viceroyship; +while Kulluka, faithful as ever, was always ready with counsel and +advice. It was not long before the people began to appreciate the +blessing and prosperity of a wise and settled rule. + +The hermit of Badari-Natha did not long survive the subjection of his +country. Once, when Kulluka went to visit him, he found the servant +alone. His master had become suddenly unwell. He died in a few days, +and was buried on the heights overlooking Kashmir. Hara, the tiger, +laid himself down on the grave, and growled fiercely when the servant +sought to entice him back to the house. He refused the food and water +brought to him, and in a few days was lying dead on the grave of his +friend and master. + +Parviz knew nothing of the affair with Gulbadan, and Siddha +occasionally received good news from him. He was happy in his marriage +with the daughter of the Treasurer, and though in high office, was +busy in arranging the literary and diplomatic papers of Abú-l Fazl, +his deeply lamented uncle. + +Abdul Kadir held himself aloof from public life, and though wiser, was +still an earnest enthusiast for the true faith. He sought consolation +for his many disappointments in writing his history, [112] in which +he complained bitterly of Akbar, and railed at Abú-l Fazl and Faizi, +although they had never harmed him. + +Padre Aquaviva did not return to Agra, but others came to continue +his work, with as little success. Though three centuries have passed, +the conversion of Hindustan remains the dream of western zealots. + +Whether the faithful Vatsa espoused the talkative but good-hearted +Nipunika, history says not; but it is very probable that they followed +the example of their master and mistress. The happiness of these two +was unbroken, though dark memories often arose in Siddha's mind. But by +degrees he had learnt not to allow himself to be weighed down by them, +and to hide his regrets from Iravati. He had remarked how deeply it +grieved her when his countenance was clouded with gloomy thoughts of +the past, the cause of which she well understood, for he had confessed +all to her. Soon after their marriage she had given him a son, whom he +loved nearly as much as herself. He understood how great a treasure +he had won, when he heard of Salim's wishes, and what her answer had +been; but when he expressed his admiration, she only replied that in +her place every woman would have acted in the same manner. + +Siddha remained long lost in thought before Akbar's tomb, when his +attention was roused by an approaching footstep. In dismay he stepped +back as he recognised who drew near; and the exclamation which broke +from him told Iravati what an unhappy meeting had chanced. + +"Faizi!" he cried. + +He who, lost in thought, was passing them, suddenly stood still, and +then drew back, as he recognised the man who had so deeply injured +him. But, changing his mind, he slowly advanced, and as he saw Siddha +preparing hastily to withdraw, he said: + +"Remain, and listen to me. Here, by the tomb of the prince who ever +more willingly forgave than punished his enemies, and who did not +know what hate was, I should feel no anger. I have often striven +to follow his noble example, and to forgive the wrong you have done +me. I could not, I had not the strength; but now, on this holy spot, +where accident has brought us together, I have found strength to do +what Akbar in my place would have done. I forgive you, Siddha." + +Deeply touched, and with bowed head, Siddha stood before his noble +enemy, while Iravati gazed with admiration on the man who in such a +strife had been victor over himself. + +"Look up," continued Faizi; "no longer avoid the sight of your +former friend. The words that I addressed to you in my anger were +not undeserved, but to a man of your character they were a fearful +and perhaps too severe a punishment; and I know from Kulluka what an +influence they have had on you, and to what wild actions they nearly +drove you. From our friend I learnt that in the first place you were +not the tempter, nor in the beginning did you know who the tempter +was. Her great influence and power I know well myself; but she is +no longer to be feared. In her captivity she herself made an end to +her guilty life. Enough of the past, especially in the presence of +her whom I must greet as your noble consort. Let the past, then, be +forgotten by us. What I have since heard of you, has made you again +worthy of the respect and friendship of a man of honour. Take, then, +my hand, as of old." + +It was Iravati who clasped it, while Siddha could scarcely conquer +his emotion. + +"I thank you," she said, "from my heart, for your generosity. What +you have said has lifted the dark cloud that overshadowed our married +happiness, and the leaden weight is at last removed which for so long +has weighed my Siddha down." + +"I seek for words," at last said Siddha; "but words to express what at +this moment I feel are not to be found. Once I thought myself comforted +and strengthened by the words of a wise man, and as though I were born +to a new life; but now I feel the new birth for the first time. Your +friendship, Faizi, was always most deeply prized by me, and all the +bitterer was my self-reproach, and the harder my punishment, to lose +it so shamefully, and through my own fault. The friendship that you +give me back so nobly, I esteem as the highest gift I could receive." + +"Our present accidental meeting," replied Faizi, "must be of short +duration, and in all probability it will be our last. That I have +withdrawn from the service of the State is already known to you. Salim, +or, as he likes better to be called by his proud title, Jahangir, +never looked upon me or my brother with a favourable eye; besides, I +should find it hard to serve him, for reasons which you need not that +I should explain, and so I withdrew myself from public life, and lived +retired at Agra. But now Shah Abbas, King of Persia, has invited me to +his capital, and to occupy myself there with literary studies. [113] +This invitation I have accepted. I start for Ispahan to-morrow, and I +may remain there. But I could not leave this country without a farewell +visit to the last resting-place of my princely friend--the friend who +was everything to me, Siddha, more than life or happiness; and had you +sinned against him, I do not believe that I could ever have pardoned +it. But you have shown that you honoured and prized him, though you +never had the opportunity of knowing him intimately, as but few did, +both in his greatness and his weaknesses, which were still loveable." + +"It is true," rejoined Siddha, "I never learnt to know him closely, but +I have known enough to awaken my deepest admiration and reverence. I +knew another prince whose life has ended, to whom I owed a debt of +gratitude, and his memory is dear to me; but if I was asked which +was the greatest, I am now convinced that the secluded philosopher, +who had said farewell to all worldly joys, was surpassed by the +philosopher on his throne, who in the midst of the wildest divisions +and disturbances knew how to preserve the same evenness of character +and uprightness of mind. In truth Akbar deserves his name." + +"And that shall be said by all coming generations," replied Faizi, +"both in the East and West. The title of 'the Great' has been given by +favourites and flatterers to many a prince, but with little right. To +be truly great means that a ruler knows how to govern himself as +well as others, and to give up his life to sorrow and trouble for the +welfare of his fellow-men; and it was in this that he who rests yonder +was great. There have been princes, and there still may be more, +whose names in the world's history will be better known than his; +and it is possible that there may be those who will win still higher +fame, but seldom in history can one point to the name of a ruler +who, in the midst of his greatness, knew, like Akbar, how to remain +a man in the most beautiful and noblest meaning of the word. And +now," concluded Faizi, clasping the hands of Siddha and Iravati, +"farewell. Think of me sometimes, when I am far from here. You can +do so now without bitterness; and this also takes from me a burden +which I have often found hard to bear." + +For some time after Faizi had left them, Siddha and Iravati remained +in the park. At last they left the spot where they had come to render +a last silent homage to the memory of the Great Emperor. + +"So they all pass away," said Siddha, musingly, as they turned towards +home; "all we have learnt to know and reverence. He who has just +left us, in all probability we shall see no more. But such men as +Akbar, Faizi, and Abú-l Fazl do not die when death ends their lives +here; they live in the memory they leave us, and in their works. The +thought of them animates those who come after them; and is not that +true immortality?" + + + + + + + + London: Printed by W. H. Allen & Co., 13 Waterloo Place. + + + + + + + +NOTES + + +[1] "Akbar: een Oostersche Roman," door Mr. P. A. S. Van +Limburg-Brouwer. 's Gravenhage: Martinus Nijhoff, 1872. 8vo. pp. 358. + +[2] "Akbar. Ein Indischer Roman. Deutsche autorisirte ausgabe aus +dem Niederlandischen des Dr. V. Limburg Brouwer," von Lina Schneider +(Wilhelm Berg). Leipzig: Heinrich Killinger, 1877. Small 8vo. pp. 346. + +[3] Published by J. de Laet in his "De Imperio Magni Mogolis." Leyden: +1631. + +[4] Prince Frederick has visited India three times. He made an +extensive tour in 1863-64, and again in 1867-69. After his first visit +he published a narrative of his travels, in three volumes, "Altes +und Neues aus den Landern des Ostens, von Onomander." Hamburg: 1859. + +[5] Mahmud of Ghazni, the first Muhammadan invader of India, reigned +from A.D. 997 to A.D. 1030. His dynasty lasted until 1183. The Ghori +dynasty lasted from A.D. 1192 to 1289. The Khilzi dynasty, from 1289 +to 1321. The dynasty founded by Tuglak Shah, from 1321 to 1393. Then +followed the inroad of Timur and subsequent anarchy; and the Afghan +Lodi dynasty lasted from 1450 to the invasion of Baber in 1526. + +[6] "Mogul" is the old form. Dowson and Thomas have "Mughal"; Blochmann +and Hunter, "Mughul." + +[7] Jauhar wrote his "Tazkiratu-l Wákiat" thirty years after the +death of Humayun. It was translated by Major Stewart, and printed +for the Oriental Translation Fund in 1832. + +[8] Humayun met this young lady, when on a visit to his brother +Hindal's mother. She was a daughter of a Seyyid, a native of Jami +in Khurasan. + +[9] Calotropis gigantea (Asclepiadaceæ). It is a shrub from six to ten +feet high, generally found in waste ground or among ruins. An acrid, +milky juice flows from every part of the plant when wounded, which +is used by native doctors for cutaneous diseases. The bark fibre is +spun into fine thread. + +[10] Kashmir was ruled by Hindu princes until the beginning of the +fourteenth century, when it was conquered by the Muhammadans. Owing to +distractions in the reigning family, Akbar sent an army into Kashmir in +1586. The king then submitted, and was enrolled among the Delhi nobles. + +[11] Akbar was also much interested in the gospels as explained to +him by Christian missionaries; and, as Colonel Yule says, he never +lost a certain hankering after Christianity, or ceased to display +an affectionate reverence for the Christian emblems which he had +received from his Jesuit teachers.--See "Cathay and the Way thither," +ii. p. 532, note. + +[12] This was in 1579. See "Blochmann," i. p. 185; "Elliot," v. p. 531. + +[13] For a plate of Indian arms and accoutrements in the time of Akbar +see the very interesting work by the Hon. Wilbraham Egerton, M.P., +published by order of the Secretary of State for India in Council, +"A Handbook of Indian Arms," p. 23. (Wm. H. Allen & Co., 1879.) + +[14] Mr. Blochmann has supplemented this list with biographical notices +of Akbar's nobles, of which there are four hundred and fifteen. These +notices are chiefly taken from the "Tabakat-i Akbari," the work of El +Badaoni, the "Akbar-namah," the "Tuzuk-i Jahangiri," and a manuscript +called "Maásir ul Umará" in the collection of the Asiatic Society of +Bengal.--Blochmann's "Ain-i Abkari," i. pp. 308 to 526. + +[15] See Hunter's "Orissa," ii. p. 5. + +[16] Namely the poll tax (jiziah), the port and ferry dues (mirbahri), +the pilgrim tax (kar), the tax on cattle (gau shumari), tax on trees +(sar darakhti), offerings on appointments (peshkash), trade licenses, +fees to darogahs, tahsildars, treasurers, and landlords, fees on hiring +or letting, for bags on cash payments, on the verification of coins, +and market dues. + +[17] Akbar's returns are in dams, forty dams making one rupee. + +[18] In 1877 the whole land revenue of India, including the Madras +Presidency and Burma, was £19,857,152. Of this sum £3,993,196 came from +Madras, and £835,376 from Burma, which provinces were not included in +the empire of Akbar; nor was a great part of Bombay (probably about +half) under Akbar's revenue system. In Bombay land revenue (including +Sind) in 1877 was £3,344,664; and half this sum £1,672,332. For a +rough comparison these three sums (namely the amount of land revenue +from Madras, Burma, and half Bombay) must be deducted from the land +revenue of 1877, and £807,102 (the revenue of Kabul) from the land +revenue of Akbar. This leaves £15,775,338 as Akbar's land revenue, +and £13,356,248 as the land revenue obtained by our Government in +1877 from the same provinces. + +[19] Many Muhammadan princes died of delirium tremens before the +introduction of tobacco, which took place towards the end of Akbar's +reign. Asad Beg says that he first saw tobacco at Bijapur. He brought a +pipe and a stock of tobacco to Agra, and presented it to the Emperor, +who made a trial. The custom of smoking spread rapidly among the +nobles, but Akbar never adopted it himself.--"Dowson," vi. 165. + +[20] "Memoirs of Jehanghir." + +[21] "Memoirs of Jehanghir," written by himself, and translated by +Major David Price for the Oriental Translation Fund, 1829. When I was +at Madrid Don Pascual de Gayangos gave me a copy of a very interesting +Spanish manuscript by an anonymous missionary (probably Aquaviva) +who describes the personal appearance and habits of Akbar. It +was left at the Asiatic Society, before Mr. Vaux's time, and was +mislaid. Don Pascual has also mislaid the original, so that the loss +is irremediable. + +[22] Colonel Yule compares Kublai Khan with Akbar ("Marco Polo," +i. p. 340), and Mr. Talboys Wheeler has drawn a parallel between +Akbar and Asoka ("History of India," iv. p. 136). + +[23] "History of India, as told by its own Historians--the Muhammadan +Period; being posthumous papers by Sir H. M. Elliot, K.C.B., edited +and continued by Professor Dowson." + +[24] "The Revenue Resources of the Mughal Empire in India, A.D. 1593 +to 1707," by Edward Thomas, F.R.S., pp. 54. Trübner: 1871. + +[25] Rudolf Aquaviva was born in 1551. He was a nephew of Claudio +Aquaviva, the fourth General of the Jesuits, and a grandson of +Giovanni Antonio Aquaviva, Duke of Atri, in Naples. The Dukes of Atri +were as famous for their patronage of letters as for their deeds +of arms. The missionary, Aquaviva, after his return from Agra, was +sent to Salsette, where he was murdered by the natives in 1583, aged +only thirty-two. Akbar, on hearing of his death, sent an embassy of +condolence to the Portuguese Viceroy, and to the Jesuit Fathers at Goa. + +[26] See my "Hawkins' Voyages" (Hakluyt Society), pages 396 and +403. Pineiro wrote an account of his travels. + +[27] See Colonel Yule's "Cathay and the Way thither," ii. pp. 529-591, +for the journey of Benedek Goes. The narrative is taken from a +work entitled "De Christiana expeditione apud Sinas, suscepta ab +Societate Jesu, ex P. Matthaei Ricii commentariis, auctore P. Nicolao +Trigantio." 1615. + +[28] See the "Histoire de la Compagnie de Jésus composée sur +les documents inédits et authentiques par J. Crétineau-Joly" (6 +vols. 8vo. Paris: 1844), ii. p. 510-12; also "Ranke Histoire de la +Papauté," iv. p. 159. Colonel Yule refers to the work of Jarric. + +[29] Johan de Laet was born at Antwerp in the end of the sixteenth +century and died in 1649. He was a Director of the Dutch West India +Company, had an extensive acquaintance with learned men, and had +special opportunities of collecting geographical and historical +information, of which he diligently availed himself. His chief work +was the "Novus Orbis seu descriptionis Indiae Occidentalis" (folio +1633). He wrote works on England, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, +and Italy, which form part of the collection known under the name of +"Les Petites Republiques," printed by the Elzevirs at Leyden. De +Laet also had a learned controversy with Grotius on the origin of +the American races. He edited Pliny and Vitruvius. + +[30] Fragments of Indian History, "Calcutta Review," July 1873, +No. cxiii. pp. 170-200. De Laet is quoted by Blochmann, and also by +Mr. Thomas and Dr. Hunter. + +[31] Fitch's interesting account of this visit to the court of +Akbar was published by Hakluyt.--See "Hakluyt Voyages" (2nd ed.), +ii. pp. 375-399. Besides the narrative of Fitch, there are letters +from Newbery, and the letter from Queen Elizabeth to Akbar. + +[32] "Het Ramayana," Gids, 1863. + +[33] "Javas Hervormers: een Historische Schets," 1866. + +[34] "De Avantoren van een Indisch Edelman," Gids, 1867. "Het Boek +der Koningen: eene proeve van Indische Geschiedenis," Gids, No. 6, +1867. "Vedanta: eene proeve van Indische regtzinnigheid," Gids, +No. 12, 1867. + +[35] "Oostersch Atheisme," Gids, 1868. "Eene Schoonheidskuur," Gids, +No. 8, 1868. + +[36] "De Maan der Kennis," Theologisch-Metaphysisch Drama, Gids, +No. 70, 1869. + +[37] "Poesie der Woestijn," Gids, No. 21, 1870. "De Kabbala," Gids, +No. 7, 1870. + +[38] "De Wijze van het Hemelsch Rijk en zijne school." + +[39] An obituary notice of Dr. van Limburg-Brouwer ("Ter Nagedachtenis +van Mr. P. A. S. van Limburg-Brouwer") was written by Dr. H. Kern, the +Professor of Sanscrit at Leyden, and published in the "Nederlandsche +Spectator," 1873. + +[40] Badari-natha is a place sacred to Vishnu in the Himálayas. The +Badari-natha peaks, in British Gurwhal, form a group of 6 summits +from 22,000 to 23,400 feet above the sea. The town of Badari-natha +is 55 miles N.E. of Srinagar, on the right bank of the Vishnu-ganga, +a feeder of the Alakananda. The temple of Badari-natha is situated +in the highest part of the town, and below it a tank, supplied from a +sulphureous thermal spring, is frequented by thousands of pilgrims. The +temple is 10,294 feet above the sea. + +[41] Deva, in Sanscrit, is a god, a divinity. + +[42] Siddha, in Sanscrit, means perfected, hence an adept. Siddhanta, +a final conclusion, or any scientific work. The Siddhas are a class +of semi-divine beings, who dwell in the regions of the sky. + +[43] Rama is a name in common use. Rama was the hero of the Ramayana +epic, and the form taken by Vishnu in two of his Avataras. + +[44] Sanscrit name. Kulluka Bhatta was the famous commentator whose +gloss was used by Sir W. Jones in making his translation of Manu. + +[45] Guru, a teacher. Pada, a word. + +[46] A common Sanscrit name. + +[47] Hara is the name of a branch of the Chuhan Rajpúts. It is also +a name of Siva. + +[48] The most popular of the collections of old Hindu tales was +the Kathâ-Sarit-Sâgara, or, "Ocean of the Streams of Narrative." It +originated in the desire of a queen of Kashmir to provide amusement and +instruction for her grandson. Somadeva, the Prime Minister, produced, +in consequence, this collection of tales in verse. + +[49] Nandi is the bull of Siva usually placed in front of +temples. Gupta is a concealed ascetic. The Guptas were a dynasty of +kings reigning at Magadha. + +[50] Iravati is the Sanscrit name of the river Raví or +Hydrastes. Iravat was a son of Arjuna. + +[51] Vishnu, the god, rides on a mythical bird called Garuda. + +[52] A spiritual teacher or guide. + +[53] Goraksh or Gorakh, a cow-herd. + +[54] Yogi, a follower of the Yoga philosophy. An ascetic. + +[55] Durga, a goddess, the wife of Siva, and destroyer of evil beings +and oppressors. Also called Kali. + +[56] The mystic monosyllable to be uttered before any prayer. It +is supposed to consist of three letters, a u m, combined, being +types of the three Vedas, or of the three great divinities, Brahma, +Vishnu, Siva. + +[57] From the hundred love sentences of the Amaru-Sataka, a poem +written by a king named Amaru. + +[58] Akbar's palace, in the fort of Agra, is built entirely of red +sandstone. It is a square building, 249 feet by 260 feet. In the centre +is a courtyard, 71 feet by 72 feet, on either side of which are two +halls facing one another. Every feature round this court is of pure +Hindu architecture. There are no arches, but the horizontal style of +construction everywhere. General Cunningham, as Mr. Fergusson thinks +erroneously, ascribes this palace to Jahangir. He describes it in his +"Reports," vol. iv. p. 124, and gives a plan (Plate xiii.). + +[59] Abú-l Fazl (called Allami) was a son of Shaikh Mubarak, son of +Shaikh Khizr, who came from Sind. Mubarak was one of the most learned +men of his day, and inclined to be a free-thinker. Abú-l Fazl, his +second son, was born on January 14th, 1551. He was a devoted student, +and his range of reading was very extensive. His elder brother, Faizi, +had been invited to the court of Akbar in the twelfth year of that +sovereign's reign, and by his means Abú-l Fazl was introduced in +1568, when in his seventeenth year. His abilities were immediately +recognised, and every year he grew in favour and power. He was +made Prime Minister and Mansabdar of four thousand, discharging +his duties with distinguished abilities and success. Both brothers +inherited the liberal opinions of their father, and carried them to +greater extremes. Hence orthodox Muslims reviled them as apostates and +free-thinkers. In them Akbar found congenial minds, with feelings and +opinions similar to but more decided than his own. The murder of Abú-l +Fazl on August 12th, 1602, is noted further on. He was the author of +the "Akbar-namah" (2 vols.), a history of his master's reign down to +1602, and of the "A'ín-i-Akbari." + +[60] The "A'ín-i-Akbari." + +[61] Faizi was the elder brother of the minister Abú-l Fazl. He +was the most popular poet of his time, and a great favourite and +constant companion of Akbar, who gave him the title of the Prince +of Poets. Our author, for the purposes of his story, makes Faizi, +the younger brother. + +[62] The story of Nala and Damayanti is a beautiful episode in the +"Mahabharata," which was translated into Persian by Faizi, and into +English by Dean Milman. Nala, King of Nishadha, had been chosen by +the lovely Princess Damayanti for her husband, but the vindictive +demon Kali was the enemy of Nala, and was determined to effect his +ruin. He perverted the king's mind by urging him to play at dice with +his brother Pushkara. Nala lost his kingdom and all he had, but refused +to play for his wife; and the royal pair wandered away destitute from +the palace. Nala, still instigated by the demon, deserted his weary, +sleeping wife, and left her exposed in the forest. She at length +found a hospitable refuge. Nala engaged himself as a charioteer, and +was eventually restored to his faithful wife. Freed from the power of +Kali, and fortified with a preternatural amount of skill in gaming, +he finally won back his kingdom. + +Our author, in writing the story of Siddha and Iravati, evidently +had in his mind the classic tale of Nala and Damayanti. + +[63] A brother of King Vikramaditya. He wrote a Sanscrit poem called +"Bhatti Kavya," relating the adventures of Rama, in twenty-two +cantos.--See Colebrooke's "Miscellaneous Essays," ii. 115. + +[64] History of the reign of Akbar. + +[65] The Sankhya system of philosophy was founded by Kapila. Its +aim was rest, or exemption from transmigration, to be attained by +looking steadily at the whole united universe, and recognising that +man, and all which is created, is transitory, but that beyond the +transitory is the eternal. The doctrine of Kapila is taught in six +Sutras or lectures. His main position is that absolute prevention of +all three sorts of pain is the highest purpose of the soul. The three +sorts of pain are evil proceeding from self, from eternal beings, +and from divine causes. Deliverance from these evils is attainable +by knowledge of the twenty-five true principles of existence. + +The Vedanta philosophy is intended to give the end and ultimate aim +of the Vedas. + +[66] A military title and rank, regulated by the supposed number of +horse the holder of the title could, if required, bring into the field, +varying from ten to ten thousand. + +[67] Humayun succeeded his father Baber in 1530. He was driven out of +India by the talented Afghan chief Shir Shah, and his son Akbar was +born in Sind during the flight. Humayun passed fifteen years in exile +in Persia. He recovered Delhi and Agra after the death of Shir Shah, +and died six months afterwards in 1556. Akbar then ascended the throne. + +[68] Akbar was the grandson of Baber, who was born in 1482, and died +1530. Baber was the great-grandson of Timur. + +[69] Mulla Abdul Kadir Muluk Shah of Badaun was born at that place +in 1540. He studied music, astronomy, and history, and owing to his +beautiful voice he was appointed Court Imám for Wednesdays. He was +introduced early in life to Akbar, and was employed to translate Arabic +and Sanskrit works into Persian. He was a fanatical Muhammadan and +looked upon Abú-l Fazl as a heretic, though he served under him. But +all references to the minister, in the works of Badauni, are couched in +bitter and sarcastic terms. He wrote a work called "Tarikh-i-Badauni," +which is a history from the time of the Ghaznevides to 1595, +the fortieth year of Akbar's reign. The prevalent tone, in writing +of Akbar his benefactor, is one of censure and disparagement. El +Badauni also translated the "Ramayana," part of the "Mahabharata," +and a history of Kashmir into Persian. He died in 1615. + +[70] Fathpúr Sikri was the favourite residence of Akbar from +1570 to the end of his reign. The chief glory of the place is its +mosque. Fathpúr Sikri is 12 miles from Agra. + +[71] Akbar's system is fully described by Abú-l Fazl in the +"A'ín-i-Akbari." The lands were divided into four classes with +different revenue to be paid by each, namely:-- + +1. Pulaj, cultivated every harvest and never fallow. +2. Paranti, lying fallow at intervals. +3. Checher, fallow for four years together. +4. Bunjar, not cultivated for five years and upwards. + +The lands of the two first of these classes were divided into best, +middling, and bad. The produce of a bígah of each sort was added +together, and a third of that was considered to be the average +produce. One third of this average was the share of the State, as +settled by Akbar's assessment. Remissions were made on the two last +classes of land. The Government demand might be paid either in money +or kind. The settlement was made for ten years. + +In Akbar's reign the land revenue yielded £16,582,440, and the revenue +from all sources was £32,000,000. Akbar also remitted many vexatious +imposts, including the poll tax on unbelievers, the tax on pilgrims, +ferry dues, and taxes on cattle, trees, trade licenses, and market +dues on many articles. + +[72] See note further on. + +[73] Alláhu Akbar, jalla jaláluhu: was the inscription on one side +of Akbar's rupee, and on the other the date. + +[74] Jayadeva wrote the "Gita-Govinda," a pastoral drama, in about the +twelfth century of our era. It relates to the early life of Krishna, +as Govinda the cowherd, and sings the loves of Krishna with Radha and +other of the cowherd damsels. But a mystical interpretation has been +put upon it. There are some translations in the "Asiatic Researches," +by Sir W. Jones. Mr. Griffith has translated a few stanzas into +English. He says, "the exquisite melody of the verse can only be +appreciated by those who can enjoy the original." A translation of +the "Gita-Govinda" of Jayadeva was also published by Mr. Edwin Arnold +in 1875. + +[75] Jasminum undulatum. + +[76] From Griffith's "Specimens of old Indian Poetry," p. 98. + +[77] From Edwin Arnold's translation of the "Gita-Govinda," p. 24. + +[78] Edwin Arnold's translation of the "Gita-Govinda," p. 28. + +[79] Amru-l Kais, was an Arabian poet and King of Kindah, living +shortly before the era of Muhammad. He was the author of one of the +seven Mullakats, or poems, which were inscribed in letters of gold, +and suspended in the temple of Mecca. Pocock and Casiri give an +account of the Arabian poets before Muhammad, and the seven poems of +the Caaba were published in English by Sir William Jones. + +[80] An Arabian poet who lived after Amru-l Kais.--See "Casiri," +i. pp. 71, 72. Casiri calls him Tarpha. + +[81] Akbar received a Portuguese embassy in 1578 from Goa, at the head +of which was Antonio Cabral. He afterwards wrote to Goa, requesting +that Jesuits might be sent to him with Christian books. Rudolf +Aquaviva, a man of good family, who was afterwards murdered at +Salsette, Antonio Monserrat, and Enriques (as interpreter) were +selected for this mission, and despatched to Agra. They were most +honourably received by Akbar, and great hopes of his conversion were +conceived. But there was no practical result. Some years afterwards, +in 1590, Akbar again applied for instructors, and in 1591 three +brethren came to Lahore. But after a while, seeing no hope of good, +they returned to Goa. + +[82] Kalidasa is the most popular poet of India. His "Sakuntala" +has been translated into English by Professor Monier Williams. His +best known lyrical poems are the "Cloud Messenger" and the +"Seasons." Portions of the latter have been translated into English +by Mr. Griffith. + +[83] Yoga (concentration) is the name of the second division of +the Sánkhya system of Hindu philosophy. It was first taught by +Patanjali. He asserted that the soul was Iswara (God), and that +man's liberation is to be obtained by concentrating his attention on +Iswara. Yoga is, therefore, the union of man's mind with the Supreme +Soul. When a man is perfect in profound meditations or "steadyings +of the mind," he gains a knowledge of the past and future, he has +the power of shrinking into the form of the minutest atom, and gains +mastery over Nature's laws. + +[84] Professor Wilson records instances of a Brahman sitting in the +air wholly unsupported for twelve minutes, and another for forty +minutes.--"Wilson's Works," i. p. 209. + +[85] These Englishmen were John Newbery and Ralph Fitch, merchants, +William Leedes, a jeweller, and James Story, a painter. They came to +India by way of Aleppo and Ormuz, and were sent prisoners to Goa by +the Portuguese Governor of Ormuz. At Goa they fell in with a priest +named Thomas Stevens, who was an Englishman, a native of Wiltshire, +and who afterwards wrote an account of his voyage. They also met +the Dutch traveller Linschoten. This was in January 1584. Stevens +interceded for them, and "stood them in much stead." In September 1585 +they reached Agra, and also visited Fathpúr Sikri. Thence Newbery set +out on his return journey through Persia. Fitch went to Bengal, whence +he visited Pegu and Malacca, and eventually took ship for Cochin and +Ormuz, in 1589. Leedes took service under Akbar, who gave him a house +and suitable allowances. Newbery had a letter from Queen Elizabeth to +"Zelabdim Echebar."--See "Hakluyt," ii. pp. 375 to 399, 2nd ed. + +[86] Pieter van der Broeche was the President of the Dutch factory +at Surat. He had an intimate knowledge of the commerce and exchanges +of the East, and of Akbar's revenue system; and was also a man of +great learning. He supplied much valuable information to De Laet, +which appears in the work entitled, "De Imperio Magni Mongolis, sive +India vera. Joannes de Laet. Lugduni Batavorum. 1631." Indian events +are brought down to 1628 in this work. + +[87] The Vedanta is the second great division of the Mimansa school +of Hindu philosophy. The name is from the Sanscrit Veda and anta +(end), meaning that it gives the end or ultimate aim of the Vedas, +which is a knowledge of Brahma or the Supreme Spirit; and of the +relations in which man's soul stands towards the Universal Soul. + +[88] Moses ben Maimon, or Maimonides, one of the most celebrated of +the Jewish Rabbis, was born at Cordova in 1133. He studied philosophy +and medicine under Averroes. He retired to Egypt, where he died at the +age of seventy. His chief work is the "Moreh Nevochim" ("Teacher of +the Perplexed") in which he explains difficult passages, types, and +allegories in the Old Testament. He wrote several other treatises on +the Jewish law, and founded a college at Alexandria for his countrymen. + +[89] Amír (corruptly Emir) is a Muhammadan nobleman of high rank. Umara +(corruptly Omrah) is the nobility of a Muhammadan court collectively. + +[90] The "Atharva Veda," in the opinion of Professor Wilson, is of +later date than the "Rig," "Yajar," and "Sama" Vedas. It contains +many forms of imprecation for destruction of enemies, prayers for +averting calamities, and hymns to the gods. + +[91] Raja Todar Mal, the celebrated financier and administrator, +was a Khatri and native of Lahore. His father died when he was a +child, leaving him no provision, and he entered life as a writer. He +was employed by the talented Afghan ruler Shir Shah, who drove out +Humayun, Akbar's father, and afterwards under Akbar himself. His +revenue settlement of Gujrat was highly approved by the Emperor; +and he was similarly employed in other provinces of India. Abú-l Fazl +says of him, in the "Akbar-nama,"--"For honesty, rectitude, manliness, +knowledge of business, and administrative ability, he was without a +rival in Hindustan." Todar Mal died at Lahore on November 10th, 1589. + +[92] See Blochmann's "Ain-i-Akbari," i., p. 266, for an account of +the ceremony of weighing the Emperor. + +[93] The Charak-puja. It is the swinging festival held on the sun +entering Aries. As a religious observance it is confined to Bengal; +but the swinging is practised in other parts of India as a feat of +dexterity, for obtaining money. The swinger is suspended by hooks +passed through the skin above each blade-bone, and connected by ropes +with one end of a lever traversing an upright post with a circular +motion. Charak means a wheel. + +[94] "Gulbadan" means rose-body. The Emperor had an aunt of that name, +own sister of his uncle Askari, who married Khizr Khan, Governor of +the Punjab. She made a pilgrimage to Mecca. + +[95] See note at p. 62. + +[96] A goddess, the wife of Siva, named Kali, from her black +complexion. The same as Durga. + +[97] "The unity of God." The divine monotheism of Akbar. + +[98] Tobacco was introduced in the reign of Akbar. Before that time +it was no uncommon thing for a Muhammadan prince to die of delirium +tremens. + +[99] The founder of the Yoga philosophy. + +[100] Uitgebreidheid (D.); Ausbreitung (German). + +[101] Rig-Veda. + +[102] "Rig-Veda," x. 129.--H. S. Colebrooke. See also Max Muller, +"Hist. Anc. Sansk. Lit.," p. 560. + +[103] Abú-l Fazl, in 1598, was sent by Akbar to the Dakhin. Salim +broke out in rebellion; and the Emperor, in his trouble, sent for +his trusty Minister. Abú-l Fazl hastened to rejoin his master. But +Salim, who had always hated the Minister, instigated a Rajpút chief +of Bandalkhand, named Bir Singh of Urchah, to waylay him. Abú-l Fazl +was murdered near Narwar, on the 12th of August 1602, and Bir Singh +fled from the wrath of Akbar, leading the life of an outlaw in the +jungle until the death of the great Emperor. + +[104] A favourite allegory in the Rig-Veda, connected with Indra's +power over the elements, is his war with the demon Vritra. "With +his vast destroying thunderbolt Indra struck the darkling mutilated +Vritra. As the trunks of the trees are felled by the axe, so lies +Vritra prostrate on the earth. The waters carry off the nameless body +of Vritra, tossed into the midst of the never-stopping, never-resting +currents. The foe of Indra has slept a long darkness."--"Rig-Veda," +Sukta xxxii. + +[105] Akbar came into possession of Surat in 1572. + +[106] There have been many discussions on the true meaning of +Nirvána. The best essay on the subject will be found in the "Pali +Dictionary" of Mr. Childers. + +[107] Akbar died in October 1605, aged sixty-three. There is grave +suspicion that he was poisoned at the instigation of his son Salim, +who ascended the throne under the name of Jahangir. He was buried +at Sikandra, about four miles from Agra, and a splendid mausoleum +was erected over his grave. The building was commenced by himself; +and Mr. Fergusson says that it is quite unlike any other tomb built +in India either before or since, and of a design borrowed from a +Hindu or Buddhist model. It stands in an extensive garden, and is +approached by one noble gateway. In the centre of the garden, on +a raised platform, stands the tomb, of a pyramidal form. The lower +storey measures 320 feet each way, exclusive of the angle towers. It +is thirty feet high, and is pierced by ten great arches on each face, +with a larger entrance in the centre. On this terrace stands another +far more ornate, measuring 186 feet on each side, and fourteen feet +nine inches in height. A third and fourth of similar design stand +on this, all being of red sandstone. Within and above the last +is a white marble enclosure, its outer wall entirely composed of +marble trellis work of the most beautiful patterns. Inside is the +tombstone, a splendid piece of arabesque tracery. But the mortal +remains repose under a plainer stone in a vaulted chamber in the +basement.--Fergusson's "Indian Architecture," p. 583. + +The Earl of Northbrook, when Viceroy of India, presented a rich +carpet to the tomb at Sikandra, to be placed over the stone which +covers the remains of the greatest ruler of India. + +[108] Salim, under the name of Jahangir, reigned from 1605 to 1627. His +mother was a Rajpút. He was cruel, avaricious, and debauched. He +suppressed the rebellion of his son Khusru with the most horrible +cruelties. In 1608 Captain William Hawkins landed at Surat, and was +received with great favour by Jahangir at Agra. But, after two years, +he failed in securing trading privileges for the East India Company, +and left Agra in 1611. The influence of Nur Mahal, his favourite wife, +was paramount over Jahangir; but he had no children by her. Of his four +sons, he kept the eldest, Khusru, in prison for rebellion. Parwiz, +the second, was a drunkard. Khurram, afterwards known as Shah Jahan, +succeeded his father. Shahryar was the youngest. In 1615 Sir Thomas +Roe arrived at the court of Jahangir, as ambassador from James I., +and remained until 1618. Jahangir died on October 12th, 1627, and +was succeeded by his rebellious son as Shah Jahan. + +[109] Shah Jahan reigned from 1628 to 1658. + +[110] Aurangzíb reigned from 1658 to 1707. + +[111] It was Nur Mahal who induced Jahangir to be more moderate in +his cups. + +[112] Best known as the "Tarikh-i-Badauni." + +[113] This invitation is, of course, not historical. Our author, as +he tells us in his Introduction, has prolonged the life of Faizi for +the purposes of his story. In reality, Faizi died before the murder +of his brother Abú-l Fazl. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Akbar, by P. A. S. van Limburg-Brouwer + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40155 *** |