Page:Aurangzíb and the Decay of the Mughal Empire.djvu/44

38 ful armies in Delhi and Agra, the principal cities of the kingdom. In Bengal, Sultán Shujá' made the same vigorous preparations for war. Aurangzíb in the Deccan and Murád-Bakhsh in Gújarát also levied such forces as evinced a determination to contend for empire. The four brothers gathered round them their friends and allies; all wrote letters, made large promises, and entered into a variety of intrigues. ... Meanwhile the King's distemper increased, and it was reported that he was dead. The whole Court was in confusion; the population of Agra was panic-stricken; the shops were closed for many days; and the four Princes openly declared their settled purpose of making the sword the sole arbiter of their lofty pretensions. It was, in fact, too late to recede: not only was the crown to be gained by victory alone, but in case of defeat life was certain to be forfeited. There was now no choice but between a kingdom and death.'

Sháh Shujá', the second son, was the first in the field. He at once announced that his father had been poisoned by Dárá; proclaimed himself Emperor; engraved his name on the coinage of Bengal, and set out to march upon Agra. Sháh-Jahán hastened to reassure him on the score of his health: but Shujá' declined to believe the good news. Almost at the same moment Murád-Bakhsh caused his coins to be struck at Ahmadábád and the Prayer for the King to be recited in his own name, and displayed his lordly instinct by immediately assaulting the city of Súrat and extorting six lacs of rupees from its luckless merchants. Aurangzíb, alone of the four brothers, assumed no royal function. Whatever his designs may