“O people doomed and made desolate!” he cried..  “O nation once mighty, brought low to the dust of destruction!  Hear me, ye strong men and fair women!—­and you, ye poor little children who never again shall see the sun rise on the thousand domes of Al-Kyris!  Lift up the burden of bitter lamentation!—­lift it up to the Heaven of Heavens, the Throne of the All-Seeing Glory, the Giver of Law, the Destroyer of Evil!  Weep! ... weep for your sins and the sins of your sons and your daughters—­cast off the jewels of pride,—­rend the fine raiment, ... let your tears be abundant as the rain and dew!  Kneel down and cry aloud on the great and terrible Unknown God—­the God ye have denied and wronged,—­the Founder of worlds, who doth hold in His Hand the Sun as a torch, and scattereth stars with the fire of His breath!  Mourn and bend ye all beneath the iron stroke of Destiny!—­for know ye not how fierce a thing has come upon Al-Kyris? ... a thing that lips cannot utter nor words define,—­a thing more horrible than strange sounds in thick darkness,—­more deadly than the lightning when it leaps from Heaven with intent to slay!  O City stately beyond all cities!  Thy marble palaces are already ringed round with a river of blood!—­the temples of thy knowledge wherein thy wise men have studied to exceed all wisdom, begin to totter to their fall,—­thou shalt be swept away even as a light heap of ashes, and what shall all thy learning avail thee in that brief and fearful end!  Hear me, O people of Al-Kyris!—­Hear me and cease to strive among yourselves, ... resist not thus desperately the King’s armed minions, for to them I also speak and say,—­Lo! the time approaches when a stronger hand than that of the mighty Zephoranim shall take me prisoner and bear me hence where most I long to go!  Peace, I command you! ... in the Name of that God whose truth I do proclaim ...  Peace!”

As he uttered the last word an instantaneous hush fell upon the crowd,—­every head was turned toward his grand, gaunt, almost spectral figure; and even the mounted soldiery reined up their plunging, chafing steeds and remained motionless as though suddenly fixed to the ground by some powerful magnetic spell.  Theos and Sah-luma took immediate advantage of this lull in the conflict, to try and secure for themselves a better point of vantage, though there was much difficulty in pressing through the closely packed throng, inasmuch as not a man moved to give them passage-room.

Presently, however, Sah-luma managed to reach the nearest one of the two great fountains, which adorned either side of the Obelisk, and, springing as lightly as a bird on its marble edge, he stood erect there, his picturesque form presenting itself to the view like a fine statue set against the background of sun-tinted foaming water that dashed high above him and sprinkled his garments with drops of sparkling spray.  Theos at once joined him, and the two friends, holding each other fast by the arm, gazed down on the silent, mighty