Page 155 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

AN IMPERIAL DESPOT IN DRESS AND UNDRESS 155

would make him satisfaction. The prince (Khurrum),
Noor Mahal, and he, he added, were all one, and as for
bringing him anything to procure his favour, it was a
ceremony and unnecessary, for he would at all times hear
Roe: he would be welcome empty-handed, for his poverty
would not be his fault. He concluded by saying that Roe
should not be angry as he meant well.
During the imperial harangue Roe maintained a stolid
silence that was more eloquent than words. As he con­
tinued silent, Jehangir directly asked him whether he was
pleased or not.
Thus challenged, Roe diplomatically replied that his
Majesty’s content pleased him. At this juncture, seeing
Terry, who had accompanied Roe, Jehangir called to him—
“ Padre, you are very welcome, and this house is yours
and esteeme it so : whensoever you desire to come to me
it shall be free to you and whatsoever you require of me
I will grant you.”
After this digression, Jehangir turned again to the ques­
tion of the presents and adroitly extracted an assent from
Roe to his act of misappropriation by enumerating each
article and asking whether he would wish to have it back.
First there were the dogs, the cushions and the barber’s
case, he (the Emperor) was delighted with them. They
need not be returned ?
Roe, of course, could only answer, “ No.”
Then, continued the Emperor, there were two clothes
chests, “ very mean and ordinary,” for whom were they ?
He was told that one was intended for himself and the other
for Noor Mahal.
“ Why then,” said he, " you will not ask for that I
have, being contented with one.”

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