How could the veil be taken back?
The mere sight of it was a crime; it was of the nature of the gods, and contact with it was death.
The despairing priests wrung their hands on the peristyles of the temples.

The guards of the Legion galloped about at random; the people climbed upon the houses, the terraces, the shoulders of the colossuses, and the masts of the ships.

He went on, nevertheless, and the rage, and the terror also, increased at each of his steps; the streets cleared at his approach, and the torrent of flying men streamed on both sides up to the tops of the walls.

Everywhere he could perceive only eyes opened widely as if to devour him, chattering teeth and outstretched fists, and Salammbo's imprecations resounded many times renewed.
Suddenly a long arrow whizzed past, then another, and stones began to buzz about him; but the missiles, being badly aimed (for there was the dread of hitting the zaimph), passed over his head.

Moreover, he made a shield of the veil, holding it to the right, to the left, before him and behind him; and they could devise no expedient.