[[181]] He (Bairam) turned his face
towards the sublime court, and in Aban, Divine month corresponding to Muharram
968, he flung a handkerchief round his neck and made the prostration of
shame and contrition. He laid his dust-strewn head at the sphere-traversing
feet of H. M. the Shahinshah, partly with pain, partly with shame for his
crimes, and partly with joy at his pardon, and wept aloud. H. M. the Shahinshah
accepted his excuses, and with his sacred hand raised Bairam Khan's head
from the ground of humiliation and embraced him. He took the cloth from
his neck and wiped from his face the tears of penitence and the dust of
shame. With his gracious lips he inquired about his health and bade him
sit on his right hand, as had been the rule when Bairam Khan was prime
minister (vakil). He bade Munim Khan sit down beside him, while the other
officers took their places according to their rank. With his gracious lips
he uttered such words of kindness and favour, that the dust of bashfulness
and the mist of shame disappeared from his brow. Yet the word remains true,
'Though the crime be forgiven, shame abideth.'Thereafter he rose up and bestowed on Bairam Khan a glorious robe which he was wearing over his own breast, and gave him permission to go to the Hijaz. In accordance wsith vigilance and foresight, which are the basis of every act, especially of acts of sovereignty, he gave him as companion Tarsun Muhammad Khan and Haji Muhammad Khan Sistani. They were to be his guides to the confines of the empire, and were to conduct him safely over the dangerous roads. They returned from the territory of Nagor. One day Bairam Khan reproached Haji Muhammad Khan Sistani, saying, "No one's opposition and infidelity hurt me so much as yours; you forgot all your old obligations." Haji Muhammad Khan replied, [[182]] "You in spite of all the claims to loyalty which H. M. Jahanbani Jinnat Ashiyani [Humayun] possessed, and all his nurture of you, and all the kindnesses which you had received from H. M. the Shahinshah, showed yourself a rebel and drew the sword, and then occurred what has occurred. If I have left your society, what is there extraordinary? and what have I done?" Bairam Khan felt ashamed, and made no rejoinder. I have heard on good authority that Bairam Khan continually during that journey felt the pain which these forcible [=forceful?] words had given him. ===========
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== Akbar-nama
vol. 2 == Abu'l-Fazl == Glossary
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