midnight
`` He dies ! he dies ! '' was the almost unanimous cry . The life of Lycidas had not been in greater peril when he had been discovered at the midnight burial , or when he had wrestled with Abishai on the edge of the cliff . In a few moments the young Greek would have lain a shapeless trampled corpse beneath his murderers ' feet , when the one word `` Forbear ! '' uttered in a loud , clear voice whose tones of command had been heard above the din of battle , stayed hands uplifted to destroy ; and with the exclamation , `` Maccabeus ! the prince ! ''