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scare out of her wits； could be tempted to witness such a scene？
And yet this young Palmyrean girl loved nothing better than the
chase； and the records tell us that she was a 〃passionate
hunter；〃 and that…she pursued with ardor the wild beasts of the
desert and thought nothing of fatigue or peril。
So； through dense Armenian forests and along rugged mountain
paths； down rock…strewn hill…slopes and in green； low…lying
valleys； the chase swept on： and one day； in one of the pleasant
glades which； half…sun and half…shadow； stretch away to the
Lebanon hills； young Bath Zabbai suddenly reined in her horse in
full view of one of the typical hunting scenes of those old days。
A young Arabian hunter had enticed a big mountain lion into one
of the strong…meshed nets of stout palm fibres； then used for
such purposes。 His trained leopard or cheetah had drawn the beast
from his lair； and by cunning devices had led him on until the
unfortunate lion was half…entrapped。 Just then； with a sudden
swoop； a great golden eagle dashed down upon the preoccupied
cheetah； and buried his talons in the leopard's head。 But the
weight of his victim was more than he had bargained for； the
cheetah with a quick upward dash dislodged one of the great
bird's talons； and； turning as quickly； caught the disengaged leg
in his sharp teeth。 At that instant the lion； springing at the
struggling pair； started the fastenings of the net； which；
falling upon the group； held all three prisoners。 The eagle and
the lion thus ensnared sought to release themselves； but only
ensnared themselves the more； while the cunning cheetah； versed
in the knowledge of the hunter's net； crept out from beneath the
meshes as his master raised them slightly； and with bleeding head
crawled to him for praise and relief。
Then the girl； flushed with delight at this double capture；
galloped to the spot； and in that instant she recognized in the
successful hunter her cousin the exile。
〃Well snared； my Odhainat；〃 she said； as； the first exclamation
of surprise over； she stood beside the brown…faced and sturdy
young hunter。 〃The Palmyrean leopard hath bravely trapped both
the Roman eagle and the Persian lion。 See； is it not an omen from
the gods？ Face valor with valor and craft with craft； O Odhainat！
Have you forgotten the vow in your father's palace full three
years ago？〃
Forgotten it？ Not he。 And then he told Bath Zabbai how in all his
wanderings he had kept their vow in mind； and with that； too； her
other words of counsel； 〃Watch and Wait。〃 He told her that； far
and wide； he was known to all the Arabs of the desert and the
Armenians of the hills； and how； from sheikh to camel…boy； the
tribes were ready to join with Palmyra against both Rome and
Persia。
〃Your time will indeed come； my Odhainat；〃 said the fearless
girl； with proud looks and ringing voice。 〃See； even thus our
omen gives the proof；〃 and she pointed to the net； beneath whose
meshes both eagle and lion； fluttering and panting； lay wearied
with their struggles； while the cheetah kept watch above them。
〃Now make your peace with Hairan； your brother； return to Palmyra
once again； and still let us watch and wait。〃
Three more years passed。 Valerian； Emperor of Rome； leading his
legions to war with Sapor； whom men called the 〃Great King；〃 had
fallen a victim to the treachery and traps of the Persian
monarch； and was held a miserable prisoner in the Persian
capital； where； richly robed in the purple of the Roman emperors
and loaded with chains； he was used by the savage Persian tyrant
as a living horse…block for the sport of an equally savage court。
In Palmyra； Hairan was dead； and young Odhainat； his brother； was
now Septimus Odaenathus〃headman〃 of the city and to all
appearances the firm friend of Rome。
There were great rejoicings in Palmyra when the wise
Zenobiastill scarce more than a girland the fearless young
〃head…man〃 of the desert republic were married in the marble city
of the palm…trees； and her shrewd counsels brought still greater
triumphs to Odaenathus and to Palmyra；
In the great market…place or forum； Odaenathus and Zenobia
awaited the return of their messengers to Sapor。 For the 〃Great
King；〃 having killed and stuffed the captive Roman Emperor； now
turned his arms against the Roman power in the east and；
destroying both Antioch and Emesa； looked with an evil eye toward
Palmyra。 Zenobia； remembering the omen of the eagle and the lion；
repeated her counsel of facing craft with craft； and letters and
gifts had been sent to Sapor； asking for peace and friendship。
There is a hurried entrance through the eastern gate of the city；
and the messengers from the Palmyrean senate rush into the
Market…place。
〃Your presents to the Great King have been thrown into the river；
O Odaenathus；〃 they reported； 〃and thus sayeth Sapor of Persia：
'Who is this Odaenathus； that he should thus presume to write to
his lord？ If he would obtain mitigation of the punishment that
awaits him； let him fall prostrate before the foot of our throne；
with his hands bound behind his back。 Unless he doeth this； he；
his family； and his country shall surely perish！' 〃
Swift to wrath and swifter still to act； Zenobia sprang to her
feet。 〃Face force with force； Odaenathus。 Be strong and sure； and
Palmyra shall yet humble the Persian。〃
Her advice was taken。 Quickly collecting the troops of Palmyra
and the Arabs and Armenian who were his allies； the fearless
〃head…man〃 fell upon the army of the haughty Persian king；
defeated and despoiled it； and drove it back to Persia。 As
Gibbon； the historian says： 〃The majesty of Rome； oppressed by a
Persian； was protected by an Arab of Palmyra。〃
For this he was covered with favors by Rome； made supreme
commander in the East； and； with Zenobia as his adviser and
helper； each year made Palmyra stronger and more powerful。
Here； rightly； the story of the girl Zenobia ends。 A woman now；
her life fills one of the most brilliant pages of history。 While
her husband conquered for Rome in the north； she； in his absence；
governed so wisely in the south as to insure the praise of all。
And when the time was ripe； and Rome； ruled by weak emperors and
harassed by wild barbarians； was in dire stress； the childish vow
of the boy and girl made years before found fulfilment。 Palmyra
was suddenly declared free from the dominion of Rome； and
Odaenathus was acknowledged by senate and people as 〃Emperor and
King of kings。〃
But the hand of an assassin struck down the son as it had
stricken the father。 Zenobia； ascending the throne of Palmyra；
declared herself 〃Zenobia Augusta； the Empress of the East；〃 and；
after the manner of her time； extended her empire in every
direction until； as the record says： 〃A small territory in the
desert； under the government of a woman； extended its conquests
over many rich countries and several states。 Zenobia； lately
confined to the barren plains about Palmyra； now held sway from
Egypt in the south； to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea in the
north。〃
But a new emperor ruled in Rome： Aurelian； soldier and statesman。
〃Rome；〃 he said； 〃shall never lose a province。〃 And then the
struggle for dominion in the East began。 The strength and power
of Rome； directed by the Emperor himself； at last triumphed。
Palmyra fell； and Zenobia； after a most heroic defence of her
kingdom； was led a prisoner to Rome。 Clad in magnificent robes；
loaded with jewels and with heavy chains of gold； she walked；
regal and undaunted still； in the great triumphal procession of
her conqueror； and； disdaining to kill herself as did Cleopatra
and Dido； she gave herself up to the nobler work of the education
and culture of her children； and led for many years； in her villa
at Tibur； the life of a noble Roman matron。
Such； in brief； is the story of Zenobia。 You must read for
yourselves the record of her later years； as it stands in
history； if you would know more of her grandeur in her days of
power； and her moral grandeur in her days of defeat。
And with Zenobia fell Palmyra。 Centuries of ruin and neglect have
passed over the once fairy…like city of the Syrian oasis。 Her
temples and colonnades； her monuments and archways and wonderful
buildings are prostrate and decayed； and the site even of the
glorious city has been known to the modern world only within the
last century。 But while time lasts and the record of heroic deeds
survives； neither fallen column nor ruined arch nor all the
destruction and neglect of modern barbarism can blot out the
story of the life and worth of Bath Zabbai； the brave girl of the
Syrian desert； whom all the world honors as the noblest woman of
antiquityZenobia of Palmyra； the dauntless 〃Queen of the East。〃
HELENA OF BRITAIN：
THE GIRL OF THE ESSEX FELLS。
＇Afterward known as 〃St。 Helena；〃 the mother of Constantine。＇
A。D。 255