Meeting a rush at the gate they drew swords and coolly hacked their way through screams of fear and pain and amazement.

After them went a wave of curses and complaint.

Citizens against the visitors; visitors against the citizens; soldiers against them all! "And this cousin of mine meant to pacify all this!" the Ephesian exclaimed to himself.
Jerusalem, that had for fifteen hundred years adorned herself at this time with tabrets and had gone forth in the dance of them that make merry, was drunken with wormwood and covered with ashes.
All at once the Ephesian saw four soldiers standing together and with them, manifestly under their protection, was a Greek of striking beauty.

He wore on his fine head a purple turban embroidered with a golden star.
Without a moment's hesitation, the Ephesian approached.

The spears of the four soldiers fell and formed a barrier around the Greek.