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
enthu