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44
SIYAR-UL-MUTAKHERIN.

sage which the prince's eunuch had brought, fell a laughing, saying that his master having seen what had befallen Azim-ush-shan and Jehan-shah, had better beware of his own conduct. The intelligence of the state of the court acted on Refi-al-cadr as if he had awoke from a dream. He ordered the great kettle-drum to be beaten, and instantly placed himself at the head of his troops. This movement having put Zulficar-khan upon his guard, he ranged the army in battle-array, and sent a trusty eunuch, with orders to cause Jehandar-shah to be mounted by any means whatsoever upon an imperial elephant. Jehandar-shah was immersed in intoxication, himself bare-headed, with his clothes in the utmost disorder, and with hardly any knowledge of what was going on around him. In that condition he was seated upon his elephant and brought to the field of battle, while Zulficar-khan marched to oppose Refi-al-cadr. This prince advanced at full gallop, and charged the troops of his rival with heroic valour, that deserved a better fate. He penetrated through the thickest of his foes, and fell covered with wounds. The few troops he had about his person were almost all slain, and himself being wounded, and left nearly alone, he took up his sabre and buckler, alighted from his elephant, and after having performed prodigies of valour, he undauntedly drank of the bitter draught presented him by death.