"Do you think," replied he, "to terrify me with death ?" And, during the short respite of a night, he prepared with calm and solemn resignation to encounter his fate.

He checked the lamentations of his sister Fatima, who deplored the impending ruin of his house.

"Our trust," said Hosein, "is in God alone.
All things, both in heaven and earth, must perish and return to their Creator.

My brother, my father, my mother, were better than me, and every Mussulman has an example in the prophet." He pressed his friends to consult their safety by a timely flight: they unanimously refused to desert or survive their beloved master: and their courage was fortified by a fervent prayer and the assurance of paradise.

On the morning of the fatal day, he mounted on horseback, with his sword in one hand and the Koran in the other: his generous band of martyrs consisted only of thirty-two horse and forty foot; but their flanks and rear were secured by the tent-ropes, and by a deep trench which they had filled with lighted fagots, according to the practice of the Arabs.