Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/623

Rh her; but the master of her household, mounting the elephant, turned him away, and carried her out of the river, notwithstanding her threats and commands. The imperialists behaved with great gallantry, and gained ground, but were in the end repulsed with great slaughter. They dispersed, and the sultana found means to escape to Lahore, Mohabat invited the visier to the camp, with assurances of safety, but he would not trust him; with Noor-Jehân he was more successful. She was scarcely arrived at Lahore, when she received letters from the emperor. He acquainted her that he was treated with respect by Mohabat, and that matters were amicably settled between them. He conjured her, therefore, as she regarded his peace and safety, to lay aside all hostile preparations, and to follow him to Cabul, where of his own free choice he directed his march. Noor-Jehân did not long hesitate. When she arrived, troops were sent out by Mohabat, by way of doing her honour. But they were her keepers, and not her guards; they surrounded her tent, and watched her motions. Having got her in his power, Mohabat soon, threw off the mask, and accused her publickly of treason. He affirmed, that she had conspired against the emperor, by estranging from him the hearts of his subjects; that her haughtiness was the source of public calamities, her malignity the ruin of many individuals; that the most cruel and unwarrantable actions had been done, from her capricious orders in every part of the empire; that she had even extended her views to the throne, by favouring the succession of Sharlar, under whose feeble administration she hoped to govern India at pleasure. He therefore insisted that she should be made an example of. "You, who are emperor of the Moguls!" said he to Jehangire, "whom we look upon as something more than