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第57节

a forgotten empire-vijayanagar-第57节

小说: a forgotten empire-vijayanagar 字数: 每页4000字

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On the death of this King succeeded a son named Verupacarao。'503' As long as he reigned he was given over to vice; caring for nothing but women; and to fuddle himself with drink and amuse himself; and never showed himself either to his captains or to his people; so that in a short time he lost that which his forefathers had won and left to him。 And the nobles of the kingdom; seeing the habits and life of this king; rebelled; every one of them; each holding to what he possessed; so that in his time the King lost Goa; and Chaull; and Dabull; and the other chief lands of the realm。 This King in mere sottishness slew many of his captains。 Because he dreamed one night that one of his captains entered his chamber; on the next day he had him called; telling him that he had dreamed that night that the captain had entered his room to kill him; and for that alone he had him put to death。 This King had two sons already grown up; who; seeing the wickedness of their father and how he had lost his kingdom; determined to kill him; as in fact was done by one of them; the elder; who was his heir; and after he had killed him; when they besought him to be King; he said; 〃Although this kingdom may be mine by right; I do not want it because I killed my father; and did therein that which I ought not to have done; and have committed a mortal sin; and for that reason it is not well that such an unworthy son should inherit the kingdom。 Take my brother and let him govern it since he did not stain his hands with his father's blood;〃 which was done; and the younger brother was raised to the throne。 And when they had entrusted the kingdom to him he was advised by his minister and captains that he should slay his brother; because; as the latter had killed his father so he would kill him if desirous of so doing; and as it appeared to the King that such a thing might well be; he determined to kill him; and this was at once carried out; and he slew him with his own hand。 So that this man truly met the end that those meet with who do such ill deeds This King was called Padearao; and after this was done he gave himself up to the habits of his father; and; abandoning himself to his women; and not seeking to know ought regarding his realm save only the vices in which he delighted; he remained for the most part in the city。

One of his captains who was called Narsymgua;'504' who was in some manner akin to him; seeing his mode of life; and knowing how ill it was for the kingdom that he should live and reign; though all was not yet lost; determined to attack him and seize on his lands; which scheme he at once put into force。

He wrote; therefore; and addressed the captains and chiefs of the kingdom; saying how bad it was for them not to have a King over them who could govern properly; and how it would be no wonder; seeing the manner of his life; if the King soon lost by his bad government even more than his father had done。

He made great presents to all of them so as to gain their goodwill; and when he had thus attached many people to himself he made ready to attack Bisnaga where the King dwelt。 When the King was told of the uprising of this captain Narsymgua; how he was approaching and seizing his lands and how many people were joining him; he seemed unmindful of the loss he had suffered; he gave no heed to it nor made ready; but; instead; he only ill…treated him who had brought the news。 So that a captain of the army of this Narsymgua arrived at the gates of Bisnaga; and there was not a single man defending the place; and when the King was told of his arrival he only said that it could not be。 Then the captain entered the city; and the King only said that it could not be。 Then he even entered his palace and came as far as the doors of his chamber; slaying some of the women。 At last the King believed; and seeing now how great was the danger; he resolved to flee by the gates on the other side; and so he left his city and palaces; and fled。

When it was known by the captain that the King had fled he did not trouble to go after him; but took possession of the city and of the treasures which he found there; and he sent to acquaint his lord; Narsymgua。 And after that Narsymgua was raised to be king。 And as he had much power and was beloved by the people; thenceforward this kingdom of Bisnaga was called the kingdom of Narsymga。

After he was raised to be king and was obeyed he came to Bisnaga; where he did many acts of justice; and he took the territories from whomsoever had; contrary to right; taken them from the king。 This King reigned forty…four years; and at his death left all the kingdom in peace; and he regained all the lands which the kings his predecessors had lost。 He caused horses to be brought from Oromuz and Adeem'505' into his kingdom and thereby gave great profit to the merchants; paying them for the horses just as they asked。 He took them dead or alive at three for a thousand PARDAOS; and of those that died at sea they brought him the tail only; and he paid for it just as if it had been alive。

At the death of that King there remained three fortresses which had revolted from his rule; and which he was never able to take; which were these  Rachol; and Odegary and Conadolgi;'506' which have large and rich territories and are the principal forts in the kingdom。 At his death he left two sons; and the governor of the kingdom was Nasenaque; who was father of the king that afterwards was king of Bisnaga;'507' and this king (Narsymgua); before he died; sent to call Narsenaque his minister; and held converse with him; telling him that at his death he would by testament leave him to govern the kingdom until the princes should be of an age to rule; also he said that all the royal treasures were his alone; and he reminded him that he had won this kingdom of Narsymgua at the point of the sword; adding that now there remained only three fortresses to be taken; but that for him the time for their capture was passed; and the King begged him to keep good guard over the kingdom and to deliver it up to the princes; to whichever of them should prove himself most fitted for it。 And after the King's death this Narsenaque remained as governor; and soon he raised up the prince to be king; retaining in his own hands the treasures and revenues and the government of the country。

At that time a captain who wished him ill; determined to kill the prince; with a view afterwards to say that Narsenaque had bidden him commit the murder; he being the minister to whom the government of the kingdom had been entrusted; and he thought that for this act of treason Narsenaque would be put to death。 And he soon so arranged it that the prince was killed one night by one of his pages who had been bribed for that purpose; and who slew the prince with a sword。 As soon as Narsenaque heard that he was dead; and learned that he himself (was supposed to have) sent to kill him; he raised up another brother of the late King's to be king; not being able further to punish this captain; because he had many relations; until after he had raised this younger brother to be king; who was called Tamarao。 He (Narsenaque) went out one day from the city of Bisnaga towards Nagumdym; saying that he was going hunting; leaving all his household in the city。 And after he had arrived at this city of Nagumdym he betook himself to another called Penagumdim;'508' which is four…and…twenty leagues from that place; where he at once made ready large forces and many horses and elephants; and then sent to tell the King Tamarao of the cause of his going; relating to him the treason that that captain by name Tymarsaa'509' had carried out slaying his brother the king; and by whose death he (the prince) had inherited the kingdom。 He told him how that the kingdom had been entrusted to him by his father; as well as the care of himself and his brother; that as this man had killed his brother; so he would do to him in the same way; for he was a traitor; and he urged that for that reason it was necessary to punish him。 But the king at that time was very fond of that captain; since by reason of him he had become King; and in place of punishing him he bestowed favour on him and took his part against the minister。 And; seeing this; Narsenaque went against him with large forces; and besieged him; threatening him for four or five days; until the King; seeing his determination; commanded Timarsaa to be put to death; after which he (the King) sent the (traitor's) head to be shown to the minister; who greatly rejoiced。 Narsenaque sent away all the troops and entered the city; where he was very well received by all the people; by whom he was much loved as being a man of much justice。

And after some days and years had passed; Narsenaque; seeing the age of the king how young he was; determined to keep him in the city of Penagumdy; with large guards to make safe his person; and to give him 20;000 cruzados of gold every year for his food and expenses; and himself to govern the kingdom  for it had been entrusted to him by the king his lord so to do。 After this had been done he told the King that he desired to go to Bisnaga to do certain things that would tend to the benefit of the kingdom; and the King; pleased at that; told him that so it should 

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