DURING the period that Hoormuz, through the vicissitude of fortune and treachery of the skies, dwelt in the body of Jehaundar and sat on the throne of empire, as his disposition was mean and grovelling, various unworthy acts were committed by him, which disgusted the minds of the people; so that in a short time the hearts of the subject were estranged, and sedition, which had long slept, raising his head from the pillow of security and repose, returned to the work of mischief, and the signs of confusion became apparent in the empire.
Bharam Khan, generalissimo of the army, and who had the greatest influence among the nobles, unable to bear the improper conduct of the impostor, preferred the security of his own honour to the path of loyalty. By degrees moving the chain of opposition, he entered the way of rebellion; and many disaffected chiefs, fond of disturbance, regarding participation with him as a mean of raising their fortunes and consequence, flocked to his party. As his influence increased, so did his ambition; till at length having, by the success of his arms and favour of his stars, brought half the empire under the circle of his controul, he, with the approbation of his adherents, assumed the crown of royalty, and became exalted like the cypress in the grove of sovereign power. Observing the rules of clemency and impartiality, which are the best measures for administration, towards the weak and helpless, he attached the people to him; and exalting in their affections the standard of superiority, sounded the drum of victory over Hoormuz in the fields of conquest. The impostor, from his low genius and want of spirit, being unable to oppose the rebel, withdrew the hand of endeavour; and esteeming the provinces yet left to him as a competence, ornamented his sleeve with the embroidery of dishonour.
When at length Jehaundar, under the heavenly auspices, having erased the characters of the wicked Hoormuz’s existence from the tablet of life, became fixed on the throne of royalty, inspired by princely honour; and not thinking it becoming the spirit of heroism to leave his rightful inheritance to the usurped possession of another, he resolved, that clearing the garden of empire from the thorns and weeds of confusion, he would give to the courts of royalty the brightness of security; and having cast the bodies of the rebellious into the pit of annihilation, and become, without the degrading rivalry or participation of another, sole possessor of the crown and throne, would clasp the charming bride of sovereignty to his bosom.
With this view, having summoned a secret council, composed of the well-affected and most intelligent nobles, he requested their deliberations on the posture of affairs; when in the mirror-like bosoms of the wise, this reflection appeared to view, namely, that first a firmaun, containing assurances of favour, should be issued to Bharam Khan, admonishing him to return to his duty and allegiance, and warning him to quit the wilds of error for the paths of obedience. If, upon its arrival, under the influence of his wakeful stars, relinquishing the ways of obstinacy, he should prostrate the forehead of humility on the footstool of submission, our object, observed the council, will be gained; but if not, it will be necessary to hurl the lightning of punishment on the storehouse of his disloyal existence, and quench the flames of rebellion by the water of the sword.
Jehaundar approving the advice of his prudent counsellors, commanded a quick-minded secretary to pen the firmaun authoritative as fate, and when ready, dispatched it by a confidential servant of the heavens-resembling court to Bharam Khan.