Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/621

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OF CELEBRATED WOMEN.
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press was inconsolable. She proposed, at once, as a proof of her affection and magnificence, to perpetuate his memory in a monument of solid silver; but, being convinced so precious a metal would not be the most lasting means of transmitting his memory to posterity, she dropt her purpose, and a magnificent fabric of stone was erected in Agra. He was succeeded by her brother, whose daughter Shaw Jehân, one of the princes, had lately married, and who was the mother of the famous, but unworthy, Aurengzebe. The ambitious designs of Shaw Jehân, though hid with great cunning, were discovered by the penetrating eye of the empress, who, warning the emperor of him, he was convinced, though too late to be sufficiently aware of the baseness of his disposition. She is said, by opposite writers, to have had another cause also for decyphering his character. Shariar, the fourth son of Jehangire, was married to her daughter, by her former husband, and she wished so fix the succession on him. She is said to have obtained a promise to this effect from the emperor; and this is alledged as a reason for the revolt raised by Shaw Jehân. It is certain, at least, that this revolt caused the emperor to punish his obstinately rebellious son, by excluding him; and the complaints of the latter, against Noor-Jehân, only found credit with the superficial; since he had already put to death a brother in cold blood. After much bloodshed, and many turns of fortune, this son was subdued and pardoned.

Mohabat, a brave man, to whom this fortunate conclusion of the war was in a great degree owing, was at first greatly caressed by the emperor; but having many enemies, among whom had long been the sultana and

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