As the squint-eyed world lies in wait and searches for opportunities for promoting the cause of the wicked, wounds are continually being inflicted on the good and pure, but they are preserved by the Divine protection from the calamity thereof, and acquire eternal felicity in spite of the ill-intentioned. The Divine decree too has issued that whenever unstinted joys and lofty blessings are to be bestowed on anyone, he is in the first place to be made the recipient of griefs and pains, so that he may the better render thanks for his favours, and that such sorrow may be the (evil-averting) rue for his world-adorning beauty.

An instance of this occurred when the cortége of H.M. Shahinshah after arriving [[313]] in Delhi had proceeded on the day of Bahman, Divine month, corresponding to Wednesday 28 Jamada-al-awal, to visit the shrine of Shaikh Nizamu-d-din Auliya. May his grave be holy! He was returning from there to his dwelling, and when he reached the cross­ways (chahar-su) one of the death-destined ingrates was standing near Maham Anaga's Madrasa. When H.M. had gone on beyond him, the latter discharged an arrow against that qibla of the world. It struck H.M.'s right shoulder and penetrated about the length of a span. A cry rose from heaven and earth, and devoted followers fell upon that wretch. They wished to examine him and not to kill him at once, but H.M. indicated that he should be speedily put to death, lest a number of loyalists should fall under suspicion. In an instant they cut him to pieces.

Though the hearts of the loyal and the minds of the superficial men of the world were perplexed as to the remedy, that spiritual and temporal king preserved his composure and comforted the faithful. He bade his followers extract the arrow. I have heard from the glorious tongue (Akbar's) that at first he thought someone had unwittingly thrown a fragment of a stone from a roof. In spite of such a wound he remained as before on his horse and proceeded to his palace. As the Divine protection and the prayers of the saints were guarding him, the wound was not serious, nor was lesion great. Skilful leeches who possessed Jesus' breath attended to the plastering and curing of it. Especially Khizr Khwajah Khan and Hakim 'Ain-al-mulk joined together in treating the fresh wound and healing it by dry bandaging (khushk-band). Every day they administered a fresh fatila (packing of a wound). In the course of a week a cicatrice formed, and there was perfect restoration to health.

    [[314]] One of the strange things was the story of the king's dog. It was a bitch and called Mahuwa (beloved?). It was in the palace at the time of leaving Agra. It showed signs of distress and sadness from the day of this horrible occurrence, and before the news came it had refrained from eating and drinking, and remained so for seven days. Such loyalty and fidelity did it show! Whoever glories in the adorning-beauty of this chosen one will not regard this occurrence as wonderful. Above all, what is astonishing when it is the case of a dog, whose species is famed all over the world for fidelity?

    Though H.M. the Shahinshah from his farsightedness and reticence did not give time for the examination of the circumstances of that evildoer, yet so much was ascertained as that this presumptuous iron-hearted one was a slave of Sharafu-d-din Husain Mirza's father, and that his name was Qatlaq Faulad. That rebel (Sharafu-d-din) had sent him from Jalaur with evil designs to be a companion of Shah Abu-l-ma'ali. When the latter fled from India and went towards Kabul he sent this inauspicious one upon this business. In order to [cause] his own destruction he (Faulad) placed the arrow of strife on the bow of fate and prepared the materials of eternal ignominy, and did not perceive how impossible it is for evil thoughts of wretches to enter the protected sanctuary of him who is befriended by God. On the contrary, whatever evil thought they have entertained recoils upon themselves in ruin and destruction.

How does it come to them? It comes by leaving to them no trace of honour or reputation, and no particle of life, or fame, or home. Accordingly, just observers who critically examine the record of the flawless sovereignty of this holy lord, well know the condition of the opponents of this God-given dominion. (They know) how they become the subjects of a thousand­fold calamities, and go down to the abyss of destruction. If I reckoned them up one by one, a separate book would be necessary. However, everywhere in this noble record there has been reference made to the condition of those blind-hearted ones, and to the retribution of their deeds.

    [[315]] When H.M. was perfectly recovered he proceeded on 11 Bahman, Divine month, corresponding to Friday 6 Jamada-al-akhira, 21 January, 1564, to Agra the capital. He made the journey by slow marches. Although the wound had been cicatrised, and quite cured, yet out of consideration for the fact that the wound was yet recent, and that he could not endure the motion of a horse, he made most of the journey in a litter (sukasan), which is the boat of dry land. When the shadow of his light-nourishing umbrella cast its rays on the territory of Agra, mankind received fresh life and hastened to the acme of devotion, and had the bliss of going forth to welcome him. They scattered gifts among his followers, and offered thanks­givings for the Divine boon of his safety. H.M. on the 20th Bahman, Divine month, corresponding to Sunday 15 Jamada-al-akhira, alighted at the palace. He busied himself in the administration of justice, and made fitting regulations for the founding of empire and the cherishing of subjects. The talented of the seven climes at the auspicious glance of the Shahinshah emerged from their retirements and took part in active life and became constituents of increasing dominion. The evil received their punishment and hastened to the hiding of annihilation. The world was cleansed of the rubbish of the immoderate and enjoyed the equability of spring.

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