Page:History of India Vol 3.djvu/262

 214 THE EMPEEOE BABAE of death. All visitors to the inn of mortality must one day leave this house of sorrow. Rather let us die with honour than live disgraced. " ' With fame, though I die, I am content, Let fame be mine, though life be spent.' G-od most high has been gracious in giving us this destiny, that if we fall, we die martyrs; if we conquer, we triumph in His holy cause. Let us swear with one accord by the great name of God that we will never turn back from such a death, or shrink from the stress of battle, till our souls are parted from our bodies." The response was enthusiastic. Every man seized the Koran and took the oath, and the army began to pluck up heart. Babar resolved to advance upon the enemy. On New Year's Day, March 12, he writes: " I advanced my wagons [and guns] and tripods with all the apparatus and machines that I had prepared, and marched forward with my army in order of battle right wing, left wing, and centre in their places. In front were the wagons, gun-carriages, and tripods on wheels, and behind came Ustad Ali Kuli with a body of his matchlockmen, to prevent the communication being cut off between the artillery and the infantry behind, and to enable them to advance and form into line. When the ranks were formed and every man in his place, I galloped along the line, encouraging the begs and men of the centre, right, and left, giving spe- cial directions to each division how to act, and to each