WARS OF THE CALIPHS. 373 



were cut off from all communication with the river. 

 The cavalry were entirely dismounted ; but they 

 fought on foot, generously throwing themselves 

 between their leader and the swords of the enemy ; 

 and each saluting him, as they passed in succession 

 to the deadly encounter, — ■' Peace be with thee, 

 thou son of the Prophet of God ! Fare thee well !" 

 Their only respite was the hour of prayer ; and 

 Hossein beheld with tears the last of this band of 

 martyrs expire by his side. The next victims that 

 offered themselves to tlie unequal conflict were his 

 five brothers ; but it was only to perish with their 

 slaughtered companions. His eldest son sought 

 revenge in the thickest of the battle, and fell after 

 bravely sustaining ten different assaults. Hossein 

 was overpowered with feelings of anguish, which 

 he could no longer suppress. Alone, weary, and 

 wounded, he seated himself at the door of his tent, 

 addressing his supplications to Heaven. His infant 

 child was brought to his arms, and while pressing 

 it to his bosom an arrow pierced the unconscious 

 innocent through the heart. His little nephew, while 

 running to embrace him, had his head struck off 

 with a sabre. He was himself wounded in the mouth 

 with a javelin, while quenching his thirst Avith a drop 

 of water. As the soldiers surrounded the object of 

 their vengeance, his sister Zeinab, in a transport 

 of horror, rushed from the tent, and adjured their 

 general not to suffer the grandson of their Prophet 

 to be murdered before his eyes. Frantic with rage, 

 Hossein threw himself into the midst of them, and 

 the boldest retreated before his desperate charge. 

 Awe kept them at bay until their cowardice was 

 reproached by the remorseless .Shamer, a name still 

 detested by the faithful ; when the son of Fatima 

 was despatched with three-and-thirty wounds. 



The remains of the slaughtered martyrs lay three 

 days unburied on the sands of Kerbela, when they 

 were at length collected by the neighbouring vil- 



VOL. I.— I 



