To Humāiūn, whom I remember with much longing to see him again, health; on Saturday,* the first of the former Rabi, Biān Sheikh arrived in company with Beg Kīneh, and the letters which he brought made me acquainted with all the transactions in your quarter.* Thanks be to God, who has given you a child; he has given to you a child, and to me a comfort and an object of love. May the Almighty always continue to grant to you and to me the enjoyment of such objects of our heart’s desire! Amen, O Lord of the Two Worlds! You have called him Al amān; may the Almighty prosper what you have done. You who are seated on a throne ought to know,* that people in general pronounce it, some Al amān (the protected), some Ilāman (protected by men*). And besides, that there are few names which are preceded by Al (the). May the Great Creator grant, that both in his name and in his constitution, he may be happy and fortunate; and may He bestow on me and on thee many years and many kerns,* rendered happy by the fortune and fame of Al amān.* Indeed, the Almighty, from his grace and bounty, hath accomplished our desires in a manner not to be paralleled in the revolution of time.
Nov. 24.On Tuesday, the 11th of the month, having received some information that the men of Balkh had invited Kurbān, and introduced him into the city, I sent orders to my son Kāmrān and the Begs at Kābul to march and form a junction with you,* when you might proceed to Hissār, Samarkand, or Merv,* as might be deemed most advisable; hoping, that through the mercy of God, you might be enabled to disperse the enemy, occupy their countries, and make your friends rejoice in the complete discomfiture of your foes. With God’s favour, this is the season for you to expose yourself to danger and hardship, and to exert your prowess in arms. Fail not to exert yourself strenuously to meet every situation as it occurs; for indolence and ease suit but ill with royalty.
(Persian verse)— Ambition admits not of inaction;
The world is his who exerts himself,
In wisdom’s eye, every condition
May find repose, but royalty alone.*
—If, through the divine favour, you subdue and secure Balkh and Hissār, your men must have the charge of Hissār, while Kāmrān’s remain in Balkh. If the grace of the Most High bestow Samarkand also upon us, you must take the reins of government in Samarkand; God willing, I shall make that country* an imperial government.* If Kāmrān thinks Balkh too small a government, let me know, and I will, by the divine grace, remove his objection, by adding something from the neighbouring territories. You know that you always receive six parts, and Kāmrān five; you must always attend to this rule, and unfailingly observe it. Remember too always to act handsomely by him.* The great should exercise self-command*; and I do hope that you will always maintain a good understanding with him. Your brother, on his side, is a correct* and worthy young man, and he must be careful to maintain the proper respect and fidelity due to you.
I have some quarrels to settle with you.* For two or three years past, none of your people has waited on me from you, and the messenger whom I sent to you did not come back to me for a twelvemonth. This, remember, is undeniable.*
In many of your letters you complain of separation from your friends. It is wrong for a prince to indulge in such a complaint,* for there is a saying:
| (Persian verse)— | If you are fettered by your situation, submit to circumstances. If you are independent, follow your own fancy.* |
There is no greater bondage than that in which a king is placed, and it ill becomes him to complain of inevitable separation.*
In compliance with my wishes, you have indeed written me letters, but you certainly never read them over; for had you attempted to read them, you must have found it absolutely impossible, and would then undoubtedly have put them by.* I contrived indeed to decipher and comprehend the meaning of your last letter, but with much difficulty. It is excessively confused and crabbed.* Who ever saw a muamma (a riddle or a charade) in prose? Your spelling is not bad, yet not quite correct. You have written iltafāt with a toe (instead of a te), and kulang with a be (instead of a kāf). Your letter may indeed be read*; but in consequence of the far-fetched words you have employed, the meaning is by no means very intelligible. You certainly do not excel in letter-writing, and fail chiefly because you have too great a desire to show your acquirements.* For the future, you should write unaffectedly, with clearness, using plain words, which would cost less trouble both to the writer and reader.
You are now going to set out on an expedition* of great importance; you should therefore consult with the most prudent and experienced of the noblemen about you, and guide yourself by their advice.
If you are desirous of gaining my approbation, you must not waste your time in private parties, but rather indulge in liberal conversation and frank intercourse with all about you.* Twice every day, you must call your brothers* and Begs to your presence, not leaving their attendance to their own discretion; and after consulting with them about any business that occurs, you must finally act as may be decided to be most advisable.*
I have formerly told you that you should live on the most confidential footing with Khwājeh Kalān*; you may act in regard to him with the same unrestrained confidence that you have seen me do. By the mercy of God, the business of the country around you may by and by become less oppressive,* and you may not require Kāmrān. In that case, your brother may leave some of his trusty men in Balkh, and himself repair to me.
During the time that I resided in Kābul, I transacted much momentous business, and gained many important victories; on which account, considering the place as lucky, I have chosen it for an imperial domain.* Neither of you must in any respect aim at the possession of it.
You must attempt, by the utmost courtesy of manners, to gain the heart of Sultan Weis, and to have him about you, and to direct yourself by his judgement, as he is a prudent and experienced man.
You must pay every attention to the discipline and efficient state of the army.*
Biān Sheikh is acquainted with everything, and will be able to give you what verbal information you may require.*
I once more repeat my earnest wishes for your health.* Nov. 26. Written on Thursday, the 13th of the first Rabi.*
I likewise sent Kāmrān and Khwājeh Kalān letters to the same effect, written with my own hand.
Dec. 2.On Wednesday the 19th, I convened the Mirzas, and Sultans, and Tūrki and Hindi Begs, and having consulted with them, finally settled that this year I should march somewhere or other at the head of my army*; that before I set out, Askeri* should advance towards Pūrab (or the East Provinces); that, after the Amīrs and Sultans beyond the Ganges had brought their troops and joined Askeri, I might then march on any expedition that seemed to me to be best.* Having written to communicate these plans, Dec. 5. on Saturday the 22nd, I dispatched Ghīaseddīn Korchi to Sultan Juneid Birlās, and the Amīrs of the Pūrab,* requiring them to meet me in twenty-two* days; I instructed him verbally to inform them, that I would send on to Askeri the artillery, guns, and matchlocks, and all kinds of warlike arms and ammunition, to be ready before the troops could take the field*; and orders were given to all Amīrs and Sultans on the farther side of the Ganges to join Askeri, and march wherever, under the favour of God, it might seem expedient. That they should consult my partisans in that quarter, whether there were any affairs there that required my presence; that if there were, immediately on the return of the officer who had gone to summon the chiefs to the appointed meeting, I would, God willing, mount without delay, and join the army. But if the Bengalis were peaceable and quiet, and if there was no matter, in that quarter, of such importance as to demand my presence, that they should inform me by letter,* as, in that case, I would halt, and turn my force in some other direction.* That my adherents and friends must also consult with Askeri,* and, with the divine blessing, decide on the general course expedient to be followed in that quarter.
Dec. 12.