War
had seldom afforded a more imposing or more picturesque spectacle.
'This way, my lord!' said the merchant, pointing to the narrow turning
that, at the foot of the temple, led through ruined streets to the
amphitheatre.
'Halt!' exclaimed a wild shrill voice. Each warrior suddenly arrested
his horse.
'Who spoke?' exclaimed Hassan Subah.
'I!' answered a voice. A female form stood in the portico of the temple,
with uplifted arms.
'And who art thou?' enquired Hassan Subah, not a little disconcerted.
'Thine evil genius, Seljuk!'
Hassan Subah, pale as his ivory battle-axe, did not answer; every man
within hearing shuddered; still the dread woman remained immovable
within the porch of the temple.
'Woman, witch, or goddess,' at length exclaimed Hassan Subah, 'what
wouldst thou here?'
'Seljuk! behold this star. 'Tis a single drop of light, yet who even
of thy wild band can look upon it without awe? And yet thou worse than
Sisera, thou comest to combat against those for whom even "the stars in
their courses fought."'
'A Jewish witch!' exclaimed the Seljuk.
'A Jewish witch! Be it so; behold, then, my spell falls upon thee, and
that spell is Destruction.
'Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song; arise, Barak, and
lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam!'
Immediately the sky appeared to darken, a cloud of arrows and javelins
broke from all sides upon the clevoted Seljuks: immense masses of stone
and marble were hurled from all directions, horses were stabbed by
spears impelled by invisible hands, and riders fell to the ground
without a struggle, and were trampled upon by their disordered and
affrighted brethren.
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