The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and WomenMarvin, Frederic Rowland
History
The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and Women
Marvin, Frederic Rowland
Last words
When Nadir invaded India in 1739, he arrived first at Lahore; where the
governor immediately surrendered the city to him, and treated him with
princely honours. At night Nadir, whose only couch, for months past,
had been a horse-blanket, with a saddle for a pillow, was conducted to a
magnificent bed, with piles of cushions; and twelve young damsels were
in attendance to shampoo his limbs and fan him to sleep. Nadir started
from his luxurious couch, roared for his secretary, and gave orders that
the drums should be beat, and a proclamation made that Nadir had
conquered all India. The astonished scribe ventured to hint that this
conquest had not yet been accomplished. "No matter," said Nadir, "where
the chiefs of the people choose to live in this effeminate manner, it
will cost me little trouble to conquer them." And his anticipation was
fully verified. After he had taken the city of Delhi, he visited the
discomfited Emperor, who received him in fear and trembling. Nadir was
seated in the chair of state, and the attar of roses and other perfumes
were brought, according to custom and presented to him. Nadir had not
changed his clothes or taken off his armor for many days, and his person
was by no means free from vermin. He asked contemptuously what was the
use of perfuming a soldier's garments; and, thrusting his hand into his
bosom, drew forth a number of lice, which he told the astonished Emperor
were better companions than all his sweet scents. Nadir had ordered a
splendid mausoleum to be built for himself at Mush'hed, in Khorassan;
and on his return from India he went to see it. The night before he
visited his intended resting-place, some unfriendly wag wrote above the
spot destined for his grave--"Welcome, conqueror of the world! your
place here has long been empty." The wag had in mind Nadir's common
salutation to a friend who had been long absent, "Your place has been
long empty." Nadir offered a reward for the discovery of the writer, but
never succeeded in finding out who he was. The place was not long empty,
for Nadir was assassinated soon after, and here his remains rested till
they were dug up and desecrated by Agha Mohammed.
_Welby: "Predictions Realized in Modern Times."_
NANI (Giambattista Felice Gasparo, author of "Istaria della Republica
Veneta"), 1616-1678. "_How beautiful!_"
NAPOLEON I. (Napoleon Bonaparte), 1769-1821. "_Mon Dieu! La Nation
Francaise! Tete d'armee_," He died on the island of St. Helena, May 5,
1821. In 1840 his remains were removed to France and deposited in the
Hotel des Invalides.[38]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account