He summoned his emirs to meet him at the imperial city of
Rhey, and crush, by one overwhelming effort, the insolent rebel.
Religion, valour, and genius, alike inspired the arms of Alroy, but he
was, doubtless, not a little assisted by the strong national sympathy
of his singular and scattered people, which ever ensured him prompt
information of all the movements of his enemy. Without any preparation,
he found agents in every court, and camp, and cabinet; and, by their
assistance, he anticipated the designs of his adversaries, and turned
even their ingenuity to their confusion. The imperial city of Rhey was
surprised in the night, sacked, and burnt to the ground. The scared
and baffled emirs who escaped, flew to the Sultan Togrul, tearing their
beards, and prophesying the approaching termination of the world. The
palaces of Nishapur resounded with the imprecations of their master,
who, cursing the Jewish dogs, and vowing a pilgrimage to Mecca, placed
himself at the head of a motley multitude of warriors, and rushed upon
the plains of Irak, to exterminate Alroy.
The Persian force exceeded the Hebrew at least five times in number.
Besides a large division of Seljuks, the Caucasus had poured forth its
strange inhabitants to swell the ranks of the Faithful.
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