The division of the Sultan of Syria, and
a great part of the centre, were entirely routed and driven into the
river, and the remainder of the division of Malek was effectually
separated from his left wing.
But while to Alroy the victory seemed already decided, a far different
fate awaited the division of Jabaster. The Sultan of Roum, posted in
an extremely advantageous position, and commanding troops accustomed to
the discipline of the Romans of Constantinople, received the onset of
Jabaster without yielding, and not only repelled his attack, but finally
made a charge which completely disordered and dispersed the column of
the Hebrews. In vain Jabaster endeavoured to rally his troops, in vain
he performed prodigies of valour, in vain he himself struck down the
standard-bearer of the sultan, and once even penetrated to the pavilion
of the monarch. His division was fairly routed. The eagerness of the
Sultan of Roum to effect the annihilation of his antagonists prevented
him from observing the forlorn condition of the Turkish centre. Had he,
after routing the division of Jabaster, only attacked Alroy in the rear,
the fortune of the day might have been widely different. As it was, the
eagle eye of Alroy soon detected his inadvertence, and profited by his
indiscretion.
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