IV. THE PERSIAN BRIDE
The story of Mihr-un-Nissa is one of the romances of Indian history. Her father was of a good Persian family, but was reduced to poverty and sought to retrieve his fortunes by emigrating to India. On the way Mihr-un-Nissa was born at Kandahar, and so great was the poverty of the parents that the infant was exposed on the high road. A merchant compassionately adopted her as his own child, and he added to his kindness by employing the mother of the infant as nurse. And so the infant Mihr-un-Nissa came in extreme poverty to the land of promise which, a quarter of a century later, she ruled as the Empress Nur-Jahan, or the Light of the World.
The merchant who had adopted the infant Mihr-un-Nissa introduced her father to business in India, and to the Court of the Emperor Akbar. The girl's father soon rose to wealth and distinction, and her mother had access to the women's apartments in the palace. She made good use of her opportunities, and often took her girl with her; and many were the Begums and Princesses who welcomed the bright-eyed girl with smiles of favour. But as Mihr-un-Nissa bloomed into womanhood other eyes marked her matchless grace.
Prince Selim saw the beautiful Persian girl in his father's household and was captivated. The fascination grew into an irresistible passion, and the heir to
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