DARBAR HALL
honours, and then came the turn of Raja Man Singh. All eyes were turned towards that veteran warrior as he stood before the Emperor.
"Great Raja of Amber," spoke the Emperor with his simple natural eloquence, "little can I do in recognition of thy lifelong service, thy matchless valour, thy unequalled wisdom. None among my many brave and faithful servants is so rarely seen in Court—none is so frequently heard of for his deeds in the remotest parts of my Empire. Thou hast confirmed our rule in Kabulistan and Zabulistan in the West, thou hast wrested Bengal and Orissa from the determined Afghans in the East, success has ever attended thy great endeavours."
"Monarch of many nations," spoke Man Singh in his gruff voice, "I am ill fitted to speak, but gratitude dwells in my heart. My sword is thine, great King of Kings, but a greater sword than mine annexed to thy Empire the rich and prosperous Province of Bengal. I but followed on the footsteps of him who is gone."
"I forget not those loyal servants and faithful friends who are gone," resumed the Emperor in a voice tremulous with feeling. "Warrior and Financier, the late Raja Todar Mull was an ornament of this Empire, which he did much to extend and to cement. In his old age he retired from work and wished to live and die on the banks of the Ganges as a pious Hindu. But the Empire needed him; he came again, served, and died. He is beyond any reward which a master can bestow on a servant; for a friend that is gone the Emperor hath his tears."
Two drops coursed down the aged cheeks of Akbar
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