Satisfied with having acted sincerely, although still troubled with suspicions of Zaphna’s sex, Sebastian wrested his thoughts from this comparatively inconsiderable subject, and fixed them solely on the important plan of the campaign.--The morning sun awoke him to activity and to care. As the war-council had discovered Ibrahim’s army to be advancing towards the capital, it was Prince Abbas’s task to meet and to give them battle, while the Christian knight was to cut off their retreat, by possessing himself of all the forts and passes on the line of Armenia. This distribution evidently awarded to Abbas the most brilliant, and at the same time the least difficult duty; but Sebastian, who considered their two commands with a soldier’s judgment, thought himself distinguished by the grant of the most hazardous. During the short period of his abode at Ispahan, he had devoted himself not to the vain attempt of altering the manœuvres of the troops committed to him, but to a deep consideration of how he could best employ a machine so ill-constructed: he now reaped the benefit of such reflections; and found that in the hands of an able commander, bravery and docility are nearly all-sufficient. Behold him now, attacking, storming, carrying sword in hand every stronghold of the Turks; sometimes marching under the insufferable noon day sun, or in the darkness of a stormy night, to surprize and to overcome the enemy! see him pass with the velocity of a sweeping wind, from one extremity of the frontier to another, restoring wandering outcasts to their houses, rescuing children and women from dishonour and slavery, followed everywhere by rejoicing and benedictions! But wherever he went, his heart sought only Aziek: these quick-gathered laurels filled his grasp with worthless leaves, while she was unattained. His interrogatories to the Turkish prisoners were productive of no satisfaction; they were all ignorant whether she had or had not reached Syria. This uncertainty, though it had not power to detach his mind during the day from his momentous duties, dominated over him at that season when others tasted the refreshing sweets of repose: on his pillow he thought but of her. Zaphna alone shared his confidence, for Zaphna had now banished some of his timidity, and by the kindest attentions won on his master’s heart. Sebastian had long ceased to fancy that the Princess of Persia shared his fatigues disguised: how could the mere sight of any man have excited such a mad passion as that which should lead a Persian Princess into the situation of Zaphna? and would not her disappearance have spread dismay through the kingdom long ere this? doubtless Maimuna was really what she appeared, she had spoken truth, and the boy’s resemblance to her was the natural consequence of relationship.