CHAP. XII.] DARA VIRTUALLY emperor. 305 the next five months. To Agra he returned after a short and futile effort to go back to Delhi (April), and from Agra Fort he was destined never again to issue in life. During Shah Jahan's illness Dara constantly watched by his bed-side; but he also stopped the visit of others to the sick-chamber. Only three or four officers of the highest trust and the Court physicians had access to the Emperor. "Dara tended and nursed his father beyond the utmost limit of possibility." But he showed All urgent Dara's devotion to his father in his illness, no indecent haste to seize the crown. orders were issued by him, but in the Emperor's name.* He exercised supreme authority and transacted public affairs at his own will, but merely as his father's agent. The transfer of power to his own hands, he hoped, would be easy, and he might wait for his father's death without any harm to the work of the State. He had so long occupied in the public eye the place at the right hand of the Emperor that he naturally expected that his exercise of authority on behalf of his invalid father would be accepted without question. When Shah Jahan's illness first took a favour- able turn (14th September), he heaped on Dara
- Kambu, 7b.
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