“I am grateful to your Majesty for the interest you take in me,” answered Aquaviva. “Our journey, fortunately, has been accomplished without accident, although my health is feeble; but it is fitting that insignificant man should bear, without murmuring, what the Lord appoints.”
“In that I agree with you,” said Akbar; “but I have to thank you for the books that in your absence you were so good as to send me—your evangelists’ and other writings. My friend Faizi here, who doubtless you remember, has translated the greater part of them for me, and I assure you that we have carefully read them, together with Abú-l Fazl.”
“And,” asked the Padre, gazing earnestly into the Emperor’s face, “may we hope that the seed is fallen in good soil?”
“I believe that I can answer yes,” said Akbar. “Some of your holy books I prize very highly, now that I have made closer acquaintance with them. What beautiful, elevated truth they contain, and noble ideas, almost beyond our grasp (which, however, are not entirely wanting in the teaching of Islam). What a noble, pure conception of self-denial and self-sacrifice, and, above all, what a pure idea of love and charity! and this is entirely wanting in the Koran. After this I can hardly tell you how far above Muhammadanism I place Christianity.”
“The Lord be praised!” said the Jesuit, clasping his hands, and casting his eyes up to heaven. “That is the right way; first error recognised by comparison with truth, then is the soul steadfast. And how should it be possible that a man like Akbar, who is not only a powerful prince but a wise and learned scholar, should not be able to distinguish truth from lies?”
“I am flattered by your good opinion,” said Akbar; “but am afraid I shall fall in it when you hear what I have to add to the words I have already spoken. Still I must say it, for I wish to act openly and fairly with you. Though I expressed my warm admiration of much that is to be found in your holy books, yet that does not prevent me from being ready to welcome all that is good and beautiful in other creeds: for example, some of the original Vedic ideas that are still extant.”
“What!” cried Aquaviva, with irrepressible agitation,—“the terrible idolaters?”
“I acknowledge,” replied Akbar, calmly, “that there are many amongst them to whom the name is appropriate; but that is not the case with all. Am I not right, Faizi?”
“Most certainly,” was the answer; “and no one knows that better than my Emperor himself. He, as well as I, worthy Father, can testify to you that in these religions there is more than one passage, touching the points already mentioned, which are not inferior to your Christianity.”
“It is impossible,” said Aquaviva, firmly.