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SIYAR-UL-MUTAKHEKIN.
39

his defeat? did flight avail Shujah?[1] If I am yet destined to reign, the scriptural sentence, 'Many a time did a small number prevail over a multitude,' shall be verified in my person; nor is victory and success yet so far distant from us."

To all this Amin-ed-doula rejoined that he had no more than twenty troopers with him, for that every one else was gone. "Very well," said the prince coolly, "let me have one-half of these twenty, that I may rush with them on that wretch Moiz-ed-din; and with the other ten do you rush on that other wretch Khujista-akhter." The general was in despair on hearing these words. The king was yet speaking, when Khwaja Hussein, since Khan Douran, was heard to say from behind, "General, I am going to Bengal; take my advice, let us go together." "Never;" answered the general: "so long as there is breath in Azim-ush-shan, I will never desert him." He had hardly said this when a cannon-shot having struck the king's elephant full on the root of the proboscis, made him furious. The animal turned about, and ran to the water-side; his driver lost his seat, and fell on the ground. Jelal-khan Lody, who sat behind, laid hold of the ropes, and sliding down on the ground,

  1. Dara Shekoh and Shujah were the brothers of Aurengzib, whom he opposed, defeated, and slew, after they had fled from the field.