red, raised him; and that genius has been formed by the law of
Moses. Based on that law, he might indeed have handed down an empire
to his long posterity; and now, though the tree of his fortunes seems
springing up by the water-side, fed by a thousand springs, and its
branches covered with dew, there is a gangrene in the sap, and to-morrow
he may shrink like a shrivelled gourd. Alas! alas! for Israel! We
have long fed on mallows; but to lose the vintage in the very day of
fruition, 'tis very bitter. Ah! when I raised thy exhausted form in
the cavern of Genthesma, and the star of David beamed brightly in the
glowing heavens upon thy high fulfilment, who could have dreamed of a
night like this? Farewell, sire.'

'Stop, Jabaster! earliest, dearest friend, prythee, prythee stop!'

The priest slowly turned, the prince hesitated.

'Part not in anger, good Jabaster.'

'In sorrow, sire, only in sorrow; but deep and terrible.'

'Israel is Lord of Asia, my Jabaster. Why should we fear?'

'Solomon built Tadmor in the wilderness, and his fleet brought gold from
Ophir; and yet Alroy was born a slave.'

'But did not die one. The sultans of the world have fallen before me.
I have no fear. Nay, do not go. At least you will give some credence to
the stars, my learned Cabalist. See, my planet shines as brightly as
my fortunes.' Alroy withdrew the curtain, and with Jabaster stepped out
upon the terrace. A beautiful star glittered on high. As they gazed, its
colour changed, and a blood-red meteor burst from its circle, and fell
into space. The conqueror and the priest looked at each other at the
same time. Their countenances were pale, enquiring, and agitated.

'Sire,' said Jabaster, 'march to Judah.'

'It portends war,' replied Alroy, endeavouring to recover himself.
'Perchance some troubles in Persia.'

'Troubles at home, no other. The danger is nigh. Look to thyself.'

A wild scream was heard in the gardens. It sounded thrice.

'What is this?' exclaimed Alroy, really agitated. 'Rouse the guard,
Jabaster, search the gardens.'

''Tis useless and may do harm. It was a spirit that shrieked.'

'What said it?'

'_Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin!_'

'The old story, the priest against the king,' said Honain to Alroy,
when at his morrow's interview, he had listened to the events of the
preceding night. 'My pious brother wishes to lead you back to the
Theocracy, and is fearful that, if he prays at Bagdad instead of Zion,
he may cha