Then Alexander commanded to cast down the walls of Tyre, and when it was done it came into his mind to punish the men of Jerusalem for their refusal to send him help against Tyre, and his army moved down towards the city. And on his way he conquered the land of the Philistines, and burned down the city of Gaza.
CHAPTER VII. HOW ALEXANDER CAME TO JERUSALEM, HOW THE BISHOP MET HIM, AND WHAT THERE BEFELL HIM.
When the word was brought to Jerusalem that Tyre was taken, and that Alexander was on the march towards the city to punish it for its disobedience, there was heavy grief and woe, and Jaddua the bishop was in great awe, for he said to himself: “Now have I but a few days ago refused to obey this great warrior, and when he the most needed help I denied it him; better had it been for me that anything should have happened before I grieved this man, and did not his command. Woe is me and my city.” And Jaddua called together the men of the city, and said: “Now is Alexander at hand, and will destroy our city and us unless heaven help us.”
So men went through the streets, and it was ordered that all the inhabitants of the city should fast for three days, men, women and children, and that they should appear in the temple and cry with clean hearts to the King of Heaven to keep them safe from this mighty conqueror. And so it was that the whole city fell to prayers and fasting, and woe was on every face. But on the third night, when all the city was asleep and the sacrifices ended, then a shining one stood by the bishop and spoke joyful words to him, saying: “Sir Bishop, I bring thee tidings of bliss and solace. I am sent to thee from the Master of men to bid thee be not cast down. Now, therefore, rise up early and array all thy city, its streets and its houses, in fair attire, open its gates wide, let every man be apparelled in clean and milk-white clothes. And as for thee and thy priests and prelates, clothe thee in the dress of thy rule, and when this conqueror comes, go ye forth to meet him. And fear not to greet him nobly, for he must ride and reign over the round world to the day of his death.”
Then when the day broke the bishop rose and called together all the chief of the people, and told them his vision and what the voice had bade him do; and all his clergy and the city assented that so it should be, that the city should be adorned and that all men should go forth to meet this their sovereign. So all the people hurried home and brought out their richest treasure to adorn the city.
The broad streets were arched over with awnings of rich and rare stuffs. The ground was covered with Tartary silk and with taffeta, that so noble a ruler should not tread on bare earth. The pavement was covered over with woven stuffs, and canopies of fine linen were stretched on high over the gates of the city to keep off the heat of the sun, and they were gathered on either side with silken ropes, and drawn back like curtains, while the houses were hung with Indian stuff of bright blue embroidered with stars, even to the eaves. Thus was the town adorned, and when the gates were opened, men without might deem that they looked in on one of the seven heavens.