“Having these elephants, the wretched Hindus
Became proud, like the Lords of the Elephant;
Yet were they odious and vile as is the evening of death,
Blacker[2057] than night, outnumbering the stars,
All such as fire is[2058] but their heads upraised
In hate, as rises its smoke in the azure sky,
Ant-like they come from right and from left,
Thousands and thousands of horse and foot.”
They advanced towards the victorious encampment, intending Fol. 319.to give battle. The holy warriors of Islām, trees in the garden of valour, moved forward in ranks straight as serried pines and, like pines uplift their crests to heaven, uplifting their helmet-crests which shone even as shine the hearts of those that strive in the way of the Lord; their array was like Alexander’s iron-wall,[2059] and, as is the way of the Prophet’s Law, straight and firm and strong, as though they were a well-compacted building;[2060] and they became fortunate and successful in accordance with the saying, They are directed by their Lord, and they shall prosper.[2061]
In that array no rent was frayed by timid souls;