DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5504#0083
In 1817 and 1818. 171
" sacred oath towards the last motsallam, I liave not made any
" promise to his successor: if thy strength will enahle thee,
* profit by the confusion which prevails in the city; go out to-
" morrow, at sunset, by the gate of Naby Daoud; conceal
" thyself in the grottoes of Haceldama, where the sepulchres
" will afford thee a sacred asylum; and afterwards direct thy
" steps with prudence towards the Desert. May the God who
" sent thee to my house, protect thy flight, and may he be-
" stow on thee, as on those whose blood flows in thy veins,
" long life." Maryam blushed on hearing these words: the
cup, tilled with the drink she was about to oiler, fell from her
hand.
"O my father," said Ismayl, "wherefore is it that thou
" wouldest have me sever myself from thee, when danger
" menaces those my heart will never abandon ? That cruel
" man, Abd-allah, now persecutes the chief men of Jerusa-
lem; but, when this new motsallam shall have sacrificed
ft the dromedaries, his hand M ill slay the ewes, and shear the
" tender lamb. He will recollect the combat of Tiberiades,
" when he shall be told that Ismayl is a captive; and not any
" ransom will be the purchase of my life: there is blood be-
" tween us and the children of our children. Soon will Abd-
" allah demand of thee an account of the slave; and thy
" mouth, the daughter of truth, what reply will it have to
" make? Let us rather flee together; or, if thou wilt plight
" thy faith to me, I will proceed towards my father: he will
" draw near to Pharan with the children of his tribe, gentle
" as antelopes, and courageous as lions; and I will bring a
u docile camel, which Maryam will guide without difficulty.
" Accompanied by her, thou wilt come out to meet us at the
" entrance of the valley of Gaza, and shouts of joy will wel-
" come thee among the sons of Onahydiich. We will await
" thy coming during the last three days of the moon ofsepber;
" and I will watch unceasingly on the heights of Ebor to dis-
" cern thine arrival."
" My father," said Maryam, embracing his knees, " the
" offer of this young man is an inspiration of heaven: yestcr-
" day I prostrated myself before the altar of the virgin, and
" my heart divined ail that he has proposed to us. Let us
"flee from the first blows of these barbarians.: the hand of
"Godwill afterwards dispel this storm: this powerful God
« will look down on his people with compassion: but, I con-
" jure thee, let us depart without loss of time."
Ebn-Temyn, struck by the wisdom of these words, and by
his daughter's grief, yielded to her prayer. Every thing
having been agreed on, and all the measures taken, Ismayl
" sacred oath towards the last motsallam, I liave not made any
" promise to his successor: if thy strength will enahle thee,
* profit by the confusion which prevails in the city; go out to-
" morrow, at sunset, by the gate of Naby Daoud; conceal
" thyself in the grottoes of Haceldama, where the sepulchres
" will afford thee a sacred asylum; and afterwards direct thy
" steps with prudence towards the Desert. May the God who
" sent thee to my house, protect thy flight, and may he be-
" stow on thee, as on those whose blood flows in thy veins,
" long life." Maryam blushed on hearing these words: the
cup, tilled with the drink she was about to oiler, fell from her
hand.
"O my father," said Ismayl, "wherefore is it that thou
" wouldest have me sever myself from thee, when danger
" menaces those my heart will never abandon ? That cruel
" man, Abd-allah, now persecutes the chief men of Jerusa-
lem; but, when this new motsallam shall have sacrificed
ft the dromedaries, his hand M ill slay the ewes, and shear the
" tender lamb. He will recollect the combat of Tiberiades,
" when he shall be told that Ismayl is a captive; and not any
" ransom will be the purchase of my life: there is blood be-
" tween us and the children of our children. Soon will Abd-
" allah demand of thee an account of the slave; and thy
" mouth, the daughter of truth, what reply will it have to
" make? Let us rather flee together; or, if thou wilt plight
" thy faith to me, I will proceed towards my father: he will
" draw near to Pharan with the children of his tribe, gentle
" as antelopes, and courageous as lions; and I will bring a
u docile camel, which Maryam will guide without difficulty.
" Accompanied by her, thou wilt come out to meet us at the
" entrance of the valley of Gaza, and shouts of joy will wel-
" come thee among the sons of Onahydiich. We will await
" thy coming during the last three days of the moon ofsepber;
" and I will watch unceasingly on the heights of Ebor to dis-
" cern thine arrival."
" My father," said Maryam, embracing his knees, " the
" offer of this young man is an inspiration of heaven: yestcr-
" day I prostrated myself before the altar of the virgin, and
" my heart divined ail that he has proposed to us. Let us
"flee from the first blows of these barbarians.: the hand of
"Godwill afterwards dispel this storm: this powerful God
« will look down on his people with compassion: but, I con-
" jure thee, let us depart without loss of time."
Ebn-Temyn, struck by the wisdom of these words, and by
his daughter's grief, yielded to her prayer. Every thing
having been agreed on, and all the measures taken, Ismayl