CHAP. IV.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

233

tail of a horse, where the animal covering themfrom time to time with its ordure, then the infidelbegan to clap his hands, and burst into loud fits oflaughter in derision of Islam . 1 Also at Moussulthere were many Assassins, or Battenians; for theMoslem, and famous Turcoman captain, Borsaki,on his way to mosque on a Friday, in the middleof a great crowd, was assailed by eight Battenians,disguised as dervishes, and, in spite of his coat ofmail, and his guards, was pierced with manydaggers, and expired. The eight Battenians wereall killed, except one, who escaped; whose mother,when she heard that Borsaki was slain, and thathis murderers had perished, believed that her sonwas of the number, and quite joyful, she deco-rated herself, and tinged her brows and eyelasheswith collyrium, and showed her exultation publicly.All of a sudden arrived her son himself, allalive, and in perfect health, on which her rapturechanged to sadness, and she tore her hair and de-filed her face. Miserable woman; she adored herson, but such fanaticism is in that frightful sect,which she participated, that she had rejoiced herchild had got to the eternal delight of Paradise, andthen she fell into despair, as natural. The Spartanmother’s was a weaker sentiment. This more to

1 Arab. Cliron., 52.