Page:William Muir, Thomas Hunter Weir - The Caliphate; Its Rise, Decline, and Fall (1915).djvu/336

680] yielding to his advice, in an evil hour was tempted to accept the call. His cousin, Muslim, was sent before to prepare the way for his approach. The plot becoming known at court, Yezīd deputed ʿObeidallah, son of Ziyād, from Al-Baṣra (whose rule there was as stern as had been his father's), to take command at Al-Kūfa. On his arrival, search was made, and Muslim was discovered lurking under protection of Hāniʾ, a friend to the house of ʿAlī. The populace, suddenly siding with the pretender, rose on ʿObeidallah, and besieging him in his castle, went near to turning the tables against him. The ebullition, however, soon subsided. ʿObeidallah regained the lead, and Muslim with his protector was put to death.

Meanwhile, towards the close of the year 60, on the first day of Pilgrimage—it was the same day on which Muslim was put to death—Al-Ḥosein, heedless of the remonstrances of faithful friends, started from Mecca with his family and a little band of devoted followers. He had already passed the desert, advancing upon Al-Kūfa, when tidings reached him of the fate of Muslim. He was staggered, for it might well have seemed a mad attempt to venture, with the ladies of his household, into that fickle city. It was yet possible to retrace his steps. But Muslim's brethren were clamorous that he should avenge his blood; and there was still the forlorn hope that those who had drawn Al-Ḥosein by their specious promises thither, would rally round his person so soon as he appeared. But each succeeding messenger was fraught with darker tidings. Al-Farazdaḳ, the poet, chanced to pass that way from Al-Kūfa; all that he could say to his princely friend was,—The heart of the city is with thee; but its sword against thee. The Bedawīn, ever ready for a fray, had been swelling the little band to a considerable force; but now, seeing the cause hopeless, they drew off; and so Al-Ḥosein, already two or three weeks upon his journey, was left with nothing but his original following of some 30 horse and 40 foot. A chieftain