Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/619

Rh clined on an embroidered sopha, in a plain dress. Her slaves sat in a circle around her, at work, attired in rich brocades. She slowly arose, in manifest confusion; and received the emperor with the usual ceremony of touching first the ground, then her forehead with her right hand. She did not utter one word; but stood with her eyes fixed on the ground, while Jehangire remained silently admiring her stature, grace, and beauty.

As soon as he recovered from his confusion, he sat down on the sopha, and requested her to sit by his side. The first question he asked, was, "why the difference between the appearance of Mher-ul-Nissa and her slaves?" She very shrewdly replied, "those born servitude must dress as it shall please those whom they serve. These are my servants: and I alleviate the burden of bondage by every indulgence in my power. But I, that am your slave, O emperor of the Moguls, must dress according to your pleasure, and not my own." Though this answer was a kind of sarcasm on his behaviour, it was so pertinent and well timed that it greatly pleased Jehangire. His former affection returned, with all its violence; and, the next day, public orders were issued to prepare a magnificent festival, for his nuptials with Mher-ul-Nissa. Her name was also changed, by an edict, into Noor-Maml, or Light of the Seraglio. Tm emperor's former favourites vanished before her; and, during the rest of his reign, she bore the chief sway in all the affairs of the empire.

The great power of Noor-Mahil appeared, for the first time, in the immediate advancement of her family. Her father, who, in the latter end of the reign of Acbar, had been treasures of the empire, was raised to the office of absolute visier and first minister; her two brothers, to the first rank of nobility. Her numerous relations poured