A few days after his Majesty's arrival, Mirza Kamran came from the Rose-scattering Garden and paid his respects to him.  We paid our respects on the evening of the day he came.  He took notice of this insignificant one, and was kindly pleased to say:  "I did not know you at first, because when I led the army (whose footprints are victorious) to Gaur Bangala, you wore the high cap, and now when I saw the muslin coif/1/ I did not recognize you.  And oh, my Gul-badan, I used very often to think of you, and was sometimes sorry, and said:  'I do wish I had brought her!'  But at the time of the disaster I was thankful I had not, and I said:  'Thank God I did not bring Gul-badan!'  For although 'Aqiqa was young, I have been consumed by a hundred thousand regrets and cares, and have said:  'Why did I take her with the army?'"

A few days later he came to see my mother.  He had with him the Holy Book.  He commanded the attendants to retire for awhile, and they rose and there was privacy.  Then he said to ajam (Dil-dar Begam) and this insignificant one, and to Afghani aghacha, and Gul-nar aghacha, and Nar-gul aghacha, and my nurse:  "Hindal is my strength and my spear; the desirable light of my eyes, the might of my arm, the desired, the beloved.  May what I do be right!  What shall I say to Mirza Muhammad Hindal about the affair of my Shaikh Bahlul?  What was to be has been!  Now there is no anger in my heart against Hindal.  If you do not believe it . . . " He had lifted up the Holy Book when her Highness my mother, Dil-dar Begam, and this poor thing snatched it from his hand.  All cried, "May what you do be right!  Why do you say such things?"  [[138-139]]

Hamida-banu Begam says it was his Majesty who wrote and sent the following verse to the mirza.  I had heard that he sent it to Shir Khan by the envoy.  This is the verse:

Although one's image be shown in the mirror,
It remains always apart from one's self.
It is wonderful to see one's self in another form:
This marvel will be the work of God.

The Emperor's blessed heart was cast down.  He fell asleep in a sad mood, and saw in a dream a venerable man, dressed in green from head to foot and carrying a staff, who said:  "Be of good cheer, do not grieve";  and gave his staff into the royal hand.  "The most high God will give you a son who shall be named Jalalu-d-din Muhammad Akbar."  The Emperor asked:  "What is your honourable name?"  He answered:  "The Terrible Elephant, Ahmad of Jam"; and added:  "Your son will be of my lineage." [[145]]

N O T E S

/1/ This change appears to indicate that Gul-badan, who is about eighteen or nineteen years old, has been married.