Edward Gibbon - "The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. II"

Francis Kermode - "Catalogue of British Columbia Birds"

La Motte Fouque, Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de - "The Two Captains"

Lewis Falley Allen - "Rural Architecture"

Annual Bibliography of Commonwealth Literature 2007
This paper argues that discourses of love in Ghanaian market literature for youth offer a view into complex negotiations of agency and empowerment. Drawing on Deborah Durham's notion of youth as "social `shifters'" and Francis Nyamnjoh's conception of the "interconnectedness" of agency, I take Ghanaian market literature as one specific case of how African literature for youth foregrounds questions of continuity and change as African societies enter into increasingly complex global relations. In this literature for youth, received notions of love, often constructed out of impressions from American pop and hip hop music, carry new notions of agency that compete with existing "domesticated" forms. Authors like Ike Tandoh and Evelyn Tay employ discourses of love to offer youth alternative avenues for empowerment in a context of socio-economic disenfranchizement. In a creative process of "straddling", this writing both reveals and reproduces the contradictions that obtain in youth configurations of agency.

Alroy

B >> Benjamin Disraeli >> Alroy




'Call forth the venerable Lord Bostenay,' said the captain of the gate,
with chattering teeth. 'He will intercede for us.'

'And the gentle Lady Miriam,' said the sentinel. 'She is ever
charitable.'

'I will head the procession,' said the black eunuch; 'I am accustomed to
women.'

The procession of Mollahs shuffled back to their college with profane
precipitation; the sun set, and the astounded Muezzin stood with their
mouths open, and quite forgot to announce the power of their Deity,
and the validity of their Prophet. The people all called out for the
venerable Lord Bostenay and the gentle Lady Miriam, and ran in crowds to
see who could first kiss the hem of their garments.

The principal gate of Hamadan opened into the square of the great
mosque. Here the whole population of the city appeared assembled. The
gates were thrown open; Jabaster and his companions mounted guard. The
short twilight died away, the shades of night descended. The minarets
were illumined,[57] the houses hung with garlands, the ramparts covered
with tapestry and carpets.

A clang of drums, trumpets, and cymbals announced the arrival of the
Hebrew army. The people shouted, the troops without responded with a
long cheer of triumph. Amid the blaze of torches, a youth waving his
scimitar, upon a coal-black steed, bounded into the city, at the head
of his guards, the people fell upon their knees, and shouted 'Long live
Alroy!'

A venerable man, leading a beauteous maiden with downcast eyes,
advanced. They headed a deputation of the chief inhabitants of the city.
They came to solicit mercy and protection. At the sight of them, the
youthful warrior leaped from his horse, flung away his scimitar, and
clasping the maiden in his arms, exclaimed, 'Miriam, my sister, this,
this indeed is triumph!'

'Drink,' said Kisloch the Kourd to Calidas the Indian; 'you forget,
comrade, we are no longer Moslemin.'

'Wine, methinks, has a peculiarly pleasant flavour in a golden cup,'
said the Guebre. 'I got this little trifle to-day in the Bazaar,' he
added, holding up a magnificent vase studded with gems.

'I thought plunder was forbidden,' grinned the Negro.

'So it is,' replied the Guebre; 'but we may purchase what we please,
upon credit.'

'Well, for my part, I am a moderate man,' exclaimed Calidas the Indian,
'and would not injure even these accursed dogs of Turks. I have not cut
my host's throat, but only turned him into my porter, and content myself
with his harem, his baths, his fine horses, and other little trifles.'

'What quarters we are in! There is nothing like a true Messiah!'
exclaimed Kisloch, devoutly.

'Nothing,' said Calidas; 'though to speak truth, I did not much believe
in the efficacy of Solomon's sceptre, till his Majesty clove the head of
the valiant Seljuk with it.'

'But now there's no doubt of it,' said the Guebre.

'We should indeed be infidels if we doubted now,' replied the Indian.

'How lucky,' grinned the Negro, 'as I had no religion before, that I
have now fixed upon the right one!'

'Most fortunate!' said the Guebre. 'What shall we do to amuse ourselves
to-night?'

'Let us go to the coffee-houses and make the Turks drink wine,' said
Calidas the Indian.

'What say you to burning down a mosque?' said Kisloch the Kourd.

'I had great fun with some Dervishes this morning,' said the Guebre. 'I
met one asking alms with a wire run through his cheek,[58] so I caught
another, bored his nose, and tied them both together!'

'Hah! hah! hah!' burst the Negro.

Asia resounded with the insurrection of the Jews, and the massacre of
the Seljuks. Crowds of Hebrews, from the rich cities of Persia and the
populous settlements on the Tigris and the Euphrates, hourly poured into
Hamadan.

The irritated Moslemin persecuted the brethren of the successful rebel,
and this impolicy precipitated their flight. The wealth of Bagdad
flowed into the Hebrew capital. Seated on the divan of Hassan Subah, and
wielding the sceptre of Solomon, the King of Israel received the homage
of his devoted subjects, and despatched his envoys to Syria and to
Egypt. The well-stored magazines and arsenals of Hamadan soon converted
the pilgrims into warriors. The city was unable to accommodate the
increased and increasing population. An extensive camp, under the
command of Abner, was formed without the walls, where the troops were
daily disciplined, and where they were prepared for greater exploits
than a skirmish in a desert.

Within a month after the surrender of Hamadan, the congregation of the
people assembled in the square of the great mosque, now converted into a
synagogue. The multitude was disposed in ordered ranks, and the terrace
of every house was crowded. In the centre of the square was an altar of
cedar and brass, and on each side stood a company of priests guarding
the victims, one young bullock, and two rams without blemish.

Amid the flourish of trumpets, the gates of the synagogue opened, and
displayed to the wondering eyes of the Hebrews a vast and variegated
pavilion planted in the court. The holy remnant, no longer forlorn,
beheld that tabernacle of which they had so long dreamed, once more
shining in the sun, with its purple and scarlet hangings, its curtains
of rare skins, and its furniture of silver and gold.

A procession of priests advanced, bearing, with staves of cedar, run
through rings of gold, a gorgeous ark, the work of the most cunning
artificers of Persia. Night and day had they laboured, under the
direction of Jabaster, to produce this wondrous spectacle. Once more
the children of Israel beheld the cherubim. They burst into a triumphant
hymn of thanksgiving, and many drew their swords, and cried aloud to be
led against the Canaanites.

From the mysterious curtains of the tabernacle, Alroy came forward,
leading Jabaster. They approached the altar. And Alroy took robes from
the surrounding priests, and put them upon Jabaster, and a girdle, and
a breastplate of jewels. And Alroy took a mitre, and placed it upon the
head of Jabaster, and upon the mitre he placed a crown; and pouring oil
upon his head, the pupil anointed the master High Priest of Israel.

The victims were slain, the sin-offering burnt. Amid clouds of incense,
bursts of music, and the shouts of a devoted people; amid odour, and
melody, and enthusiasm, Alroy mounted his charger, and at the head of
twenty thousand men, departed to conquer Media.

The extensive and important province of Aderbijan, of which Hamadan was
the capital, was formed of the ancient Media. Its fate was decided
by one battle. On the plain of Nehauend, Alroy met the hastily-raised
levies of the Atabek of Kermanshah, and entirely routed them. In the
course of a month, every city of the province had acknowledged the
supremacy of the new Hebrew monarch, and, leaving Abner to complete the
conquest of Louristan, Alroy entered Persia.

The incredible and irresistible progress of Alroy roused Togrul, the
Turkish Sultan of Persia, from the luxurious indolence of the palaces
of Nishapur. 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. The wild tribes
of the Bactiari were even enlisted, with their fatal bows, and the
savage Turkmans, tempted by the sultan's gold, for a moment yielded
their liberty, and shook their tall lances in his ranks.

But what is a wild Bactiari, and what is a savage Turkman, and what
even a disciplined and imperious Seljuk, to the warriors of the God of
Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob? At the first onset, Alroy succeeded in
dividing the extended centre of Togrul, and separating the greater part
of the Turks from their less disciplined comrades. At the head of his
Median cavalry, the Messiah charged and utterly routed the warriors of
the Caucasus. The wild tribes of the Bactiari discharged their arrows
and fled, and the savage Turkmans plundered the baggage of their own
commander.

The Turks themselves fought desperately; but, deserted by their allies,
and surrounded by an inspired foe, their efforts were unavailing, and
their slaughter terrible. Togrul was slain while heading a desperate and
fruitless charge, and, after his fall, the battle resembled a massacre
rather than a combat. The plain was glotted with Seljuk gore. No quarter
was given or asked. Twenty thousand chosen troops fell on the side
of the Turks; the rest dispersed and gained the mountains. Leaving
Scherirah to restore order, Alroy the next morning pushed on to Nishapur
at the head of three thousand horsemen, and summoned the city ere the
inhabitants were apprised of the defeat and death of their sultan. The
capital of Persia escaped the fate of Rhey by an inglorious treaty and
a lavish tribute. The treasures of the Chosroes and the Gasnevides
were despatched to Hamadan, on which city day dawned, only to bring
intelligence of a victory or a conquest.

While Alroy dictated peace on his own terms in the palaces of Nishapur,
Abner, having reduced Louristan, crossed the mountains, and entered
Persia with the reinforcements he had received from Jabaster. Leaving
the government and garrisoning of his new conquests to this valiant
captain, Alroy, at the head of the conquerors of Persia, in consequence
of intelligence received from Hamadan, returned by forced marches to
that city.

Leaving the army within a day's march of the capital, Alroy, accompanied
only by his staff, entered Hamadan in the evening, and, immediately
repairing to the citadel, summoned Jabaster to council. The night was
passed by the king and the high priest in deep consultation. The next
morning, a decree apprised the inhabitants of the return of their
monarch, of the creation of the new 'Kingdom of the Medes and Persians,'
of which Hamadan was declared the capital, and Abner the viceroy, and
of the intended and immediate invasion of Syria, and re-conquest of the
Land of Promise.

The plan of this expedition had been long matured, and the preparations
to effect it were considerably advanced. Jabaster had not been idle
during the absence of his pupil. One hundred thousand warriors were now
assembled[59] at the capital of the kingdom of the Medes and Persians;
of these the greater part were Hebrews, but many Arabs, wearied of the
Turkish yoke, and many gallant adventurers from the Caspian, easily
converted from a vague idolatry to a religion of conquest, swelled the
ranks of the army of the Lord of Hosts.

The plain of Hamadan was covered with tents, the streets were filled
with passing troops, the bazaars loaded with military stores; long
caravans of camels laden with supplies every day arrived from
the neighbouring towns; each instant some high-capped Tatar with
despatches[60] rushed into the city and galloped his steed up the steep
of the citadel. The clang of arms, the prance of horses, the flourish
of warlike music, resounded from all quarters. The business and the
treasure of the world seemed, as it were in an instant, to have become
concentrated in Hamadan. Every man had some great object; gold glittered
in every hand. All great impulses were stirring; all the causes of human
energy were in lively action. Every eye sparkled, every foot trod firm
and fast. Each man acted as if the universal fate depended upon his
exertions; as if the universal will sympathised with his particular
desire. A vast population influenced by a high degree of excitement is
the most sublime of spectacles.

The commander of the Faithful raised the standard of the Prophet on the
banks of the Tigris. It was the secret intelligence of this intended
event that had recalled Alroy so suddenly from Persia. The latent
enthusiasm of the Moslemin was excited by the rare and mystic ceremony,
and its effects were anticipated by previous and judicious preparations.
The Seljuks of Bagdad alone amounted to fifty thousand men; the Sultan
of Syria contributed the warriors who had conquered the Arabian princes
of Damascus and Aleppo; while the ancient provinces of Asia Minor, which
formed the rich and powerful kingdom of Seljukian Roum, poured forth a
myriad of that matchless cavalry, which had so often baffled the armies
of the Caesars. Never had so imposing a force been collected on the banks
of the Tigris since the reign of Haroun Alraschid. Each day some warlike
Atabek, at the head of his armed train, poured into the capital of the
caliphs,[61] or pitched his pavilion on the banks of the river; each day
the proud emir of some remote principality astonished or affrighted
the luxurious Babylonians by the strange or uncouth warriors that had
gathered round his standard in the deserts of Arabia, or on the shores
of the Euxine. For the space of twenty miles, the banks of the river
were, on either side, far as the eye could reach, covered with the
variegated pavilions, the glittering standards, the flowing streamers
and twinkling pennons of the mighty host, of which Malek, the Grand
Sultan of the Seljuks, and Governor of the Caliph's palace, was chief
commander.

Such was the power assembled on the plains of Asia to arrest the
progress of the Hebrew Prince, and to prevent the conquest of the
memorable land promised to the faith of his fathers, and forfeited by
their infidelity. Before the walls of Hamadan, Alroy reviewed the army
of Israel, sixty thousand heavy-armed footmen, thirty thousand archers
and light troops, and twenty thousand cavalry. Besides these, there had
been formed a body of ten thousand picked horsemen, styled the 'Sacred
Guard,' all of whom had served in the Persian campaign. In their centre,
shrouded in a case of wrought gold, studded with carbuncles, and carried
on a lusty lance of cedar, a giant--for the height of Elnebar exceeded
that of common men by three feet--bore the sceptre of Solomon. The
Sacred Guard was commanded by Asriel, the brother of Abner.

The army was formed into three divisions. All marched in solemn order
before the throne of Alroy, raised upon the ramparts, and drooped their
standards and lances as they passed their heroic leader. Bostenay, and
Miriam, and the whole population of the city witnessed the inspiring
spectacle from the walls. That same eve, Scherirah, at the head of forty
thousand men, pushed on towards Bagdad, by Kermanshah; and Jabaster,
who commanded in his holy robes, and who had vowed not to lay aside his
sword until the rebuilding of the temple, conducted his division over
the victorious plain of Nehauend. They were to concentrate at the pass
of Kerrund, which conducted into the province of Bagdad, and await the
arrival of the king.

At the dawn of day, the royal division and the Sacred Guard, the whole
under the command of Asriel, quitted the capital. Alroy still lingered,
and for some hours the warriors of his staff might have been observed
lounging about the citadel, or practising their skill in throwing the
jerreed as they exercised their impatient chargers before the gates.

The king was with the Lady Miriam, walking in the garden of their
uncle. One arm was wound round her delicate waist, and with the other
he clasped her soft and graceful hand. The heavy tears burst from her
downcast eyes, and stole along her pale and pensive cheek. They walked
in silence, the brother and the sister, before the purity of whose
surpassing love even ambition vanished. He opened the lattice gate.
They entered into the valley small and green; before them was the marble
fountain with its columns and cupola, and in the distance the charger of
Alroy and his single attendant.

They stopped, and Alroy gathered flowers, and placed them in the hair of
Miriam. He would have softened the bitterness of parting with a smile.
Gently he relaxed his embracing arm, almost insensibly he dropped her
quivering hand.

'Sister of my soul,' he whispered, 'when we last parted here, I was a
fugitive, and now I quit you a conqueror.'

She turned, she threw herself upon his neck, and buried her face in his
breast.

'My Miriam, we shall meet at Bagdad.'

He beckoned to her distant maidens; they advanced, he delivered Miriam
into their arms. He pressed her hand to his lips, and, rushing to his
horse, mounted and disappeared.

A body of irregular cavalry feebly defended the pass of Kerrund. It
was carried, with slight loss, by the vanguard of Scherirah, and the
fugitives prepared the host of the caliph for the approach of the Hebrew
army.

Upon the plain of the Tigris the enemy formed into battle array. The
centre was commanded by Malek, the Grand Sultan of the Seljuks himself;
the right wing, headed by the Sultan of Syria, was protected by the
river; and the left, under the Sultan of Roum, was posted upon the
advantageous position of some irregular and rising ground. Thus proud
in the number, valour, discipline, and disposition of his forces, Malek
awaited the conqueror of Persia.

The glittering columns of the Hebrews might even now be perceived
defiling from the mountains, and forming at the extremity of the plain.
Before nightfall the camp of the invaders was pitched within hearing of
that of Malek. The moving lights in the respective tents might plainly
be distinguished; and ever and anon the flourish of hostile music fell
with an ominous sound upon the ears of the opposed foe-men. A few miles
only separated those mighty hosts. Upon to-morrow depended, perhaps, the
fortunes of ages. How awful is the eve of battle!

Alroy, attended by a few chieftains, personally visited the tents of
the soldiery, promising them on the morrow a triumph, before which the
victories of Nehauend and Nishapur would sink into insignificance. Their
fiery and excited visages proved at once their courage and their
faith. The sceptre of Solomon was paraded throughout the camp in solemn
procession. On the summit of a huge tumulus, perhaps the sepulchre
of some classic hero, Esther, the prophetess, surrounded by the chief
zealots of the host, poured forth her exciting inspirations. It was a
grand picture, that beautiful wild girl, the groups of stern, devoted
warriors, the red flame of the watch-fires mixing with the silver
shadows of the moon as they illumined the variegated turbans and
gleaming armour of her votaries!

In the pavilion of Alroy, Jabaster consulted with his pupil on the
conduct of the morrow.

'This is a different scene from the cavern of the Caucasus,' said Alroy,
as the high priest rose to retire.

'It has one great resemblance, sire; the God of our fathers is with us.'

'Ay! the Lord of Hosts. Moses was a great man. There is no career except
conquest.'

'You muse.'

'Of the past. The present is prepared. Too much thought will mar it.'

'The past is for wisdom, the present for action, but for joy the future.
The feeling that the building of the temple is at hand, that the Lord's
anointed will once again live in the house of David, absorbs my spirit;
and, when I muse over our coming glory, in my fond ecstasy I almost lose
the gravity that doth beseem my sacred office.'

'Jerusalem; I have seen it. How many hours to dawn?'

'Some three.'

''Tis strange I could sleep. I remember, on the eve of battle I was ever
anxious. How is this, Jabaster?'

'Your faith, sire, is profound.'

'Yes, I have no fear. My destiny is not complete. Good night, Jabaster.
See, Asriel, valiant priest. Pharez!'

'My lord!'

'Rouse me at the second watch. Good night, boy.'

'Good night, my lord.'

'Pharez! Be sure you rouse me at the second watch. Think you it wants
three hours to dawn?'

'About three hours, my lord.'

'Well! at the second watch, remember; good night.'

'It is the second watch, my lord.'

'So soon! Have I slept? I feel fresh as an eagle. Call Scherirah, boy.'

''Tis strange I never dream now. Before my flight my sleep was ever
troubled. Say what they like, man is made for action. My life is now
harmonious, and sleep has now become what nature willed it, a solace,
not a contest. Before, it was a struggle of dark passions and bright
dreams, in whose creative fancy and fair vision my soul sought refuge
from the dreary bale of daily reality.

'I will withdraw the curtains of my tent. O most majestic vision! And
have I raised this host? Over the wide plain, far as my eye can range,
their snowy tents studding the purple landscape, embattled legions
gather round their flags to struggle for my fate. It is the agony of
Asia.

'A year ago, upon this very spot, I laid me down to die, an unknown
thing, or known and recognised only to be despised, and now the sultans
of the world come forth to meet me. I have no fear. My destiny is not
complete. And whither tends it? Let that power decide which hitherto has
fashioned all my course.

'Jerusalem, Jerusalem! ever harping on Jerusalem. With all his lore,
he is a narrow-minded zealot whose dreaming memory would fondly make
a future like the past. O Bagdad, Bagdad, within thy glittering halls,
there is a charm worth all his Cabala!

'Hah! Scherirah! The dawn is near at hand, the stars are still shining.
The air is very pleasant. Tomorrow will be a great day, Scherirah, for
Israel and for you. You lead the attack. A moment in my tent, my brave
Scherirah!'

The dawn broke; a strong column of the Hebrews, commanded by Scherirah,
poured down upon the centre of the army of the caliph. Another column,
commanded by Jabaster, attacked the left wing, headed by the Sultan
of Roum. No sooner had Alroy perceived that the onset of Scherirah had
succeeded in penetrating the centre of the Turks, than he placed himself
at the head of the Sacred Guard, and by an irresistible charge completed
their disorder and confusion. 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. Leaving Ithamar to keep the centre in check, he charged
the Sultan of Roum with the Sacred Guard, and afforded Jabaster an
opportunity of rallying some part of his forces. The Sultan of Roum,
perceiving that the day was lost by the ill-conduct of his colleagues,
withdrew his troops, retreated in haste, but in good order to Bagdad,
carried off the caliph, his harem, and some of his treasure, and
effected his escape into Syria. In the meantime the discomfiture of
the remaining Turkish army was complete. The Tigris was dyed with their
blood, and the towns through which the river flowed were apprised of the
triumph of Alroy by the floating corpses of his enemies. Thirty thousand
Turks were slain in battle: among them the Sultans of Bagdad and Syria,
and a vast number of atabeks, emirs, and chieftains. A whole division,
finding themselves surrounded, surrendered on terms, and delivered up
their arms. The camps and treasures of the three sultans were alike
captured, and the troops that escaped so completely dispersed, that they
did not attempt to rally, but, disbanded and desperate, prowled over and
plundered the adjoining provinces. The loss of the division of Jabaster
was also severe, but the rest of the army suffered little. Alroy himself
was slightly wounded. The battle lasted barely three hours. Its results
were immense. David Alroy was now master of the East.

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