The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 / Page 730 (Color Image)

0730	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1

416

MARCO POLO

BOOK II.

and everything else at their discretion. Now one of

these was a certain Saracen named ACII MATH, a shrewd

and able man, who had more power and influence with

the Grand Kaan than any of the others ; and the Kaan

held him in such regard that he could do what he pleased.

The fact was, as came out after his death, that Achmath

had so wrought upon the Kaan with his sorcery, that

the latter had the greatest faith and reliance on every-

thing he said, and in this way did everything that

Achmath wished him to do.

This person disposed of all governments and offices,

and passed sentence on all malefactors ; and whenever

he desired to have any one whom he hated put to death,

whether with justice or without it, he would go to the

Emperor and say : " Such an one deserves death, for he

bath done this or that against your imperial dignity."

Then the Lord would say : " Do as you think right,"

and so he would have the man forthwith executed. Thus

when people saw how unbounded were his powers, and

how unbounded the reliance placed by the Emperor on

everything that he said, they did not venture to oppose

him in anything. No one was so high in rank or power

as to be free from the dread of him. If any one was

accused by him to the Emperor of a capital offence, and

desired to defend himself, he was unable to bring proofs

in his own exculpation, for no one would stand by him,

as no one dared to oppose Achmath. And thus the

latter caused many to perish unjustly.'

Moreover, there was no beautiful woman whom he

might desire, but he got hold of her ; if she were un-

married, forcing her to be his wife, if otherwise, com-

pelling her to consent to his desires. Whenever he

knew of any one who had a pretty daughter, certain

ruffians of his would go to the father, and say : " What

say you ? Here is this pretty daughter of yours ; give

~ tOE

National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books