Stanza III.—Line 119.
“And she for safety from the civil war.”
It must be remembered that Ismael first attacked Armenia, &c. before his successes made him so bold as to strike so adventurous a blow as attacking Alvante in his own capital. It was the custom of those who inhabited the provinces, and who were too peaceably inclined to mix in the intestine commotions that so often occur in the East, to remove their families and effects as near the capital as possible, though this scheme must appear very injudicious to one who reflects that the chief city is generally the most harrassed, ultimately.