InthecathedralofSt。Ambrose，Charleswascrownedwiththeironcrown，whichtraditionascribedtotheLombardmonarchy；buthewasadmittedonlywithapeacefultrain；thegatesofthecitywereshutuponhim；andthekingofItalywasheldacaptivebythearmsoftheVisconti，whomheconfirmedinthesovereigntyofMilan。IntheVaticanhewasagaincrownedwiththegoldencrownoftheempire；but，inobediencetoasecrettreaty，theRomanemperorimmediatelywithdrew，withoutreposingasinglenightwithinthewallsofRome。TheeloquentPetrarch，^151whosefancyrevivedthevisionarygloriesoftheCapitol，deploresandupbraidstheignominiousflightoftheBohemian；andevenhiscontemporariescouldobserve，thatthesoleexerciseofhisauthoritywasinthelucrativesaleofprivilegesandtitles。
ThegoldofItalysecuredtheelectionofhisson；butsuchwastheshamefulpovertyoftheRomanemperor，thathispersonwasarrestedbyabutcherinthestreetsofWorms，andwasdetainedinthepublicinn，asapledgeorhostageforthepaymentofhisexpenses。
[Footnote150:Yet，personally，CharlesIV。mustnotbeconsideredasaBarbarian。AfterhiseducationatParis，herecoveredtheuseoftheBohemian，hisnative，idiom；andtheemperorconversedandwrotewithequalfacilityinFrench，Latin，Italian，andGerman，Struvius，p。615，616。Petrarchalwaysrepresentshimasapoliteandlearnedprince。]
[Footnote151:BesidestheGermanandItalianhistorians，theexpeditionofCharlesIV。ispaintedinlivelyandoriginalcolorsinthecuriousMemoiressurlaViedePetrarque，tom。iii。
p。376—430，bytheAbbedeSade，whoseprolixityhasneverbeenblamedbyanyreaderoftasteandcuriosity。]
Fromthishumiliatingscene，letusturntotheapparentmajestyofthesameCharlesinthedietsoftheempire。Thegoldenbull，whichfixestheGermanicconstitution，ispromulgatedinthestyleofasovereignandlegislator。A
hundredprincesbowedbeforehisthrone，andexaltedtheirowndignitybythevoluntaryhonorswhichtheyyieldedtotheirchieforminister。Attheroyalbanquet，thehereditarygreatofficers，thesevenelectors，whoinrankandtitlewereequaltokings，performedtheirsolemnanddomesticserviceofthepalace。ThesealsofthetriplekingdomwereborneinstatebythearchbishopsofMentz，Cologne，andTreves，theperpetualarch—chancellorsofGermany，Italy，andArles。Thegreatmarshal，onhorseback，exercisedhisfunctionwithasilvermeasureofoats，whichheemptiedontheground，andimmediatelydismountedtoregulatetheorderoftheguestsThegreatsteward，thecountpalatineoftheRhine，placethedishesonthetable。
Thegreatchamberlain，themargraveofBrandenburgh，presented，aftertherepast，thegoldenewerandbasin，towash。ThekingofBohemia，asgreatcup—bearer，wasrepresentedbytheemperor'sbrother，thedukeofLuxemburghandBrabant；andtheprocessionwasclosedbythegreathuntsmen，whointroducedaboarandastag，withaloudchorusofhornsandhounds。^152NorwasthesupremacyoftheemperorconfinedtoGermanyalone:thehereditarymonarchsofEuropeconfessedthepreeminenceofhisrankanddignity:hewasthefirstoftheChristianprinces，thetemporalheadofthegreatrepublicoftheWest:^153tohispersonthetitleofmajestywaslongappropriated；andhedisputedwiththepopethesublimeprerogativeofcreatingkingsandassemblingcouncils。Theoracleofthecivillaw，thelearnedBartolus，wasapensionerofCharlestheFourth；andhisschoolresoundedwiththedoctrine，thattheRomanemperorwastherightfulsovereignoftheearth，fromtherisingtothesettingsun。Thecontraryopinionwascondemned，notasanerror，butasaheresy，sinceeventhegospelhadpronounced，"AndtherewentforthadecreefromCaesarAugustus，thatalltheworldshouldbetaxed。"^154
[Footnote152:SeethewholeceremonyinStruvius，p。629]
[Footnote153:TherepublicofEurope，withthepopeandemperoratitshead，wasneverrepresentedwithmoredignitythaninthecouncilofConstance。SeeLenfant'sHistoryofthatassembly。]
[Footnote154:Gravina，OriginesJurisCivilis，p。108。]
IfweannihilatetheintervaloftimeandspacebetweenAugustusandCharles，strongandstrikingwillbethecontrastbetweenthetwoCaesars；theBohemianwhoconcealedhisweaknessunderthemaskofostentation，andtheRoman，whodisguisedhisstrengthunderthesemblanceofmodesty。Attheheadofhisvictoriouslegions，inhisreignovertheseaandland，fromtheNileandEuphratestotheAtlanticOcean，Augustusprofessedhimselftheservantofthestateandtheequalofhisfellow—citizens。TheconquerorofRomeandherprovincesassumedapopularandlegalformofacensor，aconsul，andatribune。
Hiswillwasthelawofmankind，butinthedeclarationofhislawsheborrowedthevoiceofthesenateandpeople；andfromtheirdecreestheirmasteracceptedandrenewedhistemporarycommissiontoadministertherepublic。Inhisdress，hisdomestics，^155histitles，inalltheofficesofsociallife，AugustusmaintainedthecharacterofaprivateRoman；andhismostartfulflatterersrespectedthesecretofhisabsoluteandperpetualmonarchy。
[Footnote155:SixthousandurnshavebeendiscoveredoftheslavesandfreedmenofAugustusandLivia。Sominutewasthedivisionofoffice，thatoneslavewasappointedtoweighthewoolwhichwasspunbytheempress'smaids，anotherforthecareofherlap—dog，&c。，CameraSepolchrale，byBianchini。ExtractofhisworkintheBibliothequeItalique，tom。iv。p。175。HisEloge，byFontenelle，tom。vi。p。356。Buttheseservantswereofthesamerank，andpossiblynotmorenumerousthanthoseofPollioorLentulus。Theyonlyprovethegeneralrichesofthecity。]
ChapterL:DescriptionOfArabiaAndItsInhabitants。
PartI。
DescriptionOfArabiaAndItsInhabitants。—Birth，Character，AndDoctrineOfMahomet。—HePreachesAtMecca。—
FliesToMedina。—PropagatesHisReligionByTheSword。—
VoluntaryOrReluctantSubmissionOfTheArabs。—HisDeathAndSuccessors。—TheClaimsAndFortunesOfAllAndHisDescendants。
AfterpursuingabovesixhundredyearsthefleetingCaesarsofConstantinopleandGermany，Inowdescend，inthereignofHeraclius，ontheeasternbordersoftheGreekmonarchy。WhilethestatewasexhaustedbythePersianwar，andthechurchwasdistractedbytheNestorianandMonophysitesects，Mahomet，withtheswordinonehandandtheKoranintheother，erectedhisthroneontheruinsofChristianityandofRome。ThegeniusoftheArabianprophet，themannersofhisnation，andthespiritofhisreligion，involvethecausesofthedeclineandfalloftheEasternempire；andoureyesarecuriouslyintentononeofthemostmemorablerevolutions，whichhaveimpressedanewandlastingcharacteronthenationsoftheglobe。^1
[Footnote1:AsinthisandthefollowingchapterIshalldisplaymuchArabiclearning，ImustprofessmytotalignoranceoftheOrientaltongues，andmygratitudetothelearnedinterpreters，whohavetransfusedtheirscienceintotheLatin，French，andEnglishlanguages。Theircollections，versions，andhistories，I
shalloccasionallynotice。]
InthevacantspacebetweenPersia，Syria，Egypt，andAethiopia，theArabianpeninsula^2maybeconceivedasatriangleofspaciousbutirregulardimensions。FromthenorthernpointofBeles^3ontheEuphrates，alineoffifteenhundredmilesisterminatedbytheStraitsofBebelmandelandthelandoffrankincense。Abouthalfthislengthmaybeallowedforthemiddlebreadth，fromeasttowest，fromBassoratoSuez，fromthePersianGulftotheRedSea。^4Thesidesofthetrianglearegraduallyenlarged，andthesouthernbasispresentsafrontofathousandmilestotheIndianOcean。TheentiresurfaceofthepeninsulaexceedsinafourfoldproportionthatofGermanyorFrance；butthefargreaterparthasbeenjustlystigmatizedwiththeepithetsofthestonyandthesandy。EventhewildsofTartaryaredecked，bythehandofnature，withloftytreesandluxuriantherbage；andthelonesometravellerderivesasortofcomfortandsocietyfromthepresenceofvegetablelife。ButinthedrearywasteofArabia，aboundlesslevelofsandisintersectedbysharpandnakedmountains；andthefaceofthedesert，withoutshadeorshelter，isscorchedbythedirectandintenseraysofatropicalsun。Insteadofrefreshingbreezes，thewinds，particularlyfromthesouth—west，diffuseanoxiousandevendeadlyvapor；thehillocksofsandwhichtheyalternatelyraiseandscatter，arecomparedtothebillowsoftheocean，andwholecaravans，wholearmies，havebeenlostandburiedinthewhirlwind。Thecommonbenefitsofwaterareanobjectofdesireandcontest；andsuchisthescarcityofwood，thatsomeartisrequisitetopreserveandpropagatetheelementoffire。Arabiaisdestituteofnavigablerivers，whichfertilizethesoil，andconveyitsproducetotheadjacentregions:thetorrentsthatfallfromthehillsareimbibedbythethirstyearth:therareandhardyplants，thetamarindortheacacia，thatstriketheirrootsintothecleftsoftherocks，arenourishedbythedewsofthenight:ascantysupplyofrainiscollectedincisternsandaqueducts:thewellsandspringsarethesecrettreasureofthedesert；andthepilgrimofMecca，^5
aftermanyadryandsultrymarch，isdisgustedbythetasteofthewaterswhichhaverolledoverabedofsulphurorsalt。SuchisthegeneralandgenuinepictureoftheclimateofArabia。Theexperienceofevilenhancesthevalueofanylocalorpartialenjoyments。Ashadygrove，agreenpasture，astreamoffreshwater，aresufficienttoattractacolonyofsedentaryArabstothefortunatespotswhichcanaffordfoodandrefreshmenttothemselvesandtheircattle，andwhichencouragetheirindustryinthecultivationofthepalmtreeandthevine。ThehighlandsthatborderontheIndianOceanaredistinguishedbytheirsuperiorplentyofwoodandwater；theairismoretemperate，thefruitsaremoredelicious，theanimalsandthehumanracemorenumerous:thefertilityofthesoilinvitesandrewardsthetoilofthehusbandman；andthepeculiargiftsoffrankincense^6andcoffeehaveattractedindifferentagesthemerchantsoftheworld。Ifitbecomparedwiththerestofthepeninsula，thissequesteredregionmaytrulydeservetheappellationofthehappy；andthesplendidcoloringoffancyandfictionhasbeensuggestedbycontrast，andcountenancedbydistance。ItwasforthisearthlyparadisethatNaturehadreservedherchoicestfavorsandhermostcuriousworkmanship:theincompatibleblessingsofluxuryandinnocencewereascribedtothenatives:
thesoilwasimpregnatedwithgold^7andgems，andboththelandandseaweretaughttoexhaletheodorsofaromaticsweets。Thisdivisionofthesandy，thestony，andthehappy，sofamiliartotheGreeksandLatins，isunknowntotheArabiansthemselves；anditissingularenough，thatacountry，whoselanguageandinhabitantshaveeverbeenthesame，shouldscarcelyretainavestigeofitsancientgeography。ThemaritimedistrictsofBahreinandOmanareoppositetotherealmofPersia。ThekingdomofYemendisplaysthelimits，oratleastthesituation，ofArabiaFelix:thenameofNegedisextendedovertheinlandspace；andthebirthofMahomethasillustratedtheprovinceofHejazalongthecoastoftheRedSea。^8
[Footnote2:ThegeographersofArabiamaybedividedintothreeclasses:1。TheGreeksandLatins，whoseprogressiveknowledgemaybetracedinAgatharcides，deMariRubro，inHudson，Geograph。Minor。tom。i。，DiodorusSiculus，tom。i。l。ii。p。
159—167，l。iii。p。211—216，edit。Wesseling，Strabo，l。
xvi。p。1112—1114，fromEratosthenes，p。1122—1132，fromArtemidorus，Dionysius，Periegesis，927—969，Pliny，Hist。
Natur。v。12，vi。32，andPtolemy，Descript。etTabulaeUrbium，inHudson，tom。iii。2。TheArabicwriters，whohavetreatedthesubjectwiththezealofpatriotismordevotion:theextractsofPocockSpecimenHist。Arabum，p。125—128fromtheGeographyoftheSherifalEdrissi，renderusstillmoredissatisfiedwiththeversionorabridgmentp。24—27，44—56，108，&c。，119，&c。whichtheMaroniteshavepublishedundertheabsurdtitleofGeographiaNubiensis，Paris，1619；buttheLatinandFrenchtranslators，GreavesinHudson，tom。iii。andGalland，VoyagedelaPalestineparLaRoque，p。265—346，haveopenedtoustheArabiaofAbulfeda，themostcopiousandcorrectaccountofthepeninsula，whichmaybeenriched，however，fromtheBibliothequeOrientaleofD'Herbelot，p。120，etalibipassim。
3。TheEuropeantravellers；amongwhomShawp。438—455andNiebuhrDescription，1773；Voyages，tom。i。1776deserveanhonorabledistinction:BuschingGeographieparBerenger，tom。
viii。p。416—510hascompiledwithjudgment，andD'Anville'sMapsOrbisVeteribusNotus，and1rePartiedel'Asieshouldliebeforethereader，withhisGeographieAncienne，tom。ii。p。208
—231。
Note:OfmoderntravellersmaybementionedtheadventurerwhocalledhimselfAliBey；butaboveall，theintelligent，theenterprisingtheaccurateBurckhardt。—M。]
[Footnote3:Abulfed。Descript。Arabiae，p。1。D'Anville，l'EuphrateetleTigre，p。19，20。Itwasinthisplace，theparadiseorgardenofasatrap，thatXenophonandtheGreeksfirstpassedtheEuphrates，Anabasis，l。i。c。10，p。29，edit。
Wells。]
[Footnote4:Relandhasproved，withmuchsuperfluouslearning，1。ThatourRedSeatheArabianGulfisnomorethanapartoftheMareRubrum，whichwasextendedtotheindefinitespaceoftheIndianOcean。
2。Thatthesynonymouswords，alludetothecoloroftheblacksornegroes，DissertMiscell。tom。i。p。59—117。]
[Footnote5:Inthethirtydays，orstations，betweenCairoandMecca，therearefifteendestituteofgoodwater。SeetherouteoftheHadjees，inShaw'sTravels，p。477。]
[Footnote6:Thearomatics，especiallythethus，orfrankincense，ofArabia，occupythexiithbookofPliny。OurgreatpoetParadiseLost，l。iv。introduces，inasimile，thespicyodorsthatareblownbythenorth—eastwindfromtheSabaeancoast:—
—Manyaleague，Pleasedwiththegratefulscent，oldOceansmiles。
Plin。Hist。Natur。xii。42。]
[Footnote7:Agatharcidesaffirms，thatlumpsofpuregoldwerefound，fromthesizeofanolivetothatofanut；thatironwastwice，andsilvertentimes，thevalueofgold，deMariRubro，p。60。Theserealorimaginarytreasuresarevanished；andnogoldminesareatpresentknowninArabia，Niebuhr，Description，p。124。
Note:AbrilliantpassageinthegeographicalpoemofDionysiusPeriegetesembodiesthenotionsoftheancientsonthewealthandfertilityofYemen。Greekmythology，andthetraditionsofthe"gorgeouseast，"ofIndiaaswellasArabia，aremingledtogetherinindiscriminatesplendor。CompareonthesoutherncoastofArabia，therecenttravelsofLieut。Wellsted—
M。]
[Footnote8:Consult，peruse，andstudytheSpecimenHostoriaeArabumofPocock，Oxon。1650，in4to。ThethirtypagesoftextandversionareextractedfromtheDynastiesofGregoryAbulpharagius，whichPocockafterwardstranslated，Oxon。1663，in4to。；thethreehundredandfifty—eightnotesformaclassicandoriginalworkontheArabianantiquities。]
Themeasureofpopulationisregulatedbythemeansofsubsistence；andtheinhabitantsofthisvastpeninsulamightbeoutnumberedbythesubjectsofafertileandindustriousprovince。AlongtheshoresofthePersianGulf，oftheocean，andevenoftheRedSea，theIcthyophagi，^9orfisheaters，continuedtowanderinquestoftheirprecariousfood。Inthisprimitiveandabjectstate，whichilldeservesthenameofsociety，thehumanbrute，withoutartsorlaws，almostwithoutsenseorlanguage，ispoorlydistinguishedfromtherestoftheanimalcreation。Generationsandagesmightrollawayinsilentoblivion，andthehelplesssavagewasrestrainedfrommultiplyinghisracebythewantsandpursuitswhichconfinedhisexistencetothenarrowmarginoftheseacoast。ButinanearlyperiodofantiquitythegreatbodyoftheArabshademergedfromthissceneofmisery；andasthenakedwildernesscouldnotmaintainapeopleofhunters，theyroseatoncetothemoresecureandplentifulconditionofthepastorallife。Thesamelifeisuniformlypursuedbytherovingtribesofthedesert；andintheportraitofthemodernBedoweens，wemaytracethefeaturesoftheirancestors，^10who，intheageofMosesorMahomet，dweltundersimilartents，andconductedtheirhorses，andcamels，andsheep，tothesamespringsandthesamepastures。Ourtoilislessened，andourwealthisincreased，byourdominionovertheusefulanimals；andtheArabianshepherdhadacquiredtheabsolutepossessionofafaithfulfriendandalaboriousslave。
^11Arabia，intheopinionofthenaturalist，isthegenuineandoriginalcountryofthehorse；theclimatemostpropitious，notindeedtothesize，buttothespiritandswiftness，ofthatgenerousanimal。ThemeritoftheBarb，theSpanish，andtheEnglishbreed，isderivedfromamixtureofArabianblood:^12
theBedoweenspreserve，withsuperstitiouscare，thehonorsandthememoryofthepurestrace:themalesaresoldatahighprice，butthefemalesareseldomalienated；andthebirthofanoblefoalwasesteemedamongthetribes，asasubjectofjoyandmutualcongratulation。Thesehorsesareeducatedinthetents，amongthechildrenoftheArabs，withatenderfamiliarity，whichtrainstheminthehabitsofgentlenessandattachment。Theyareaccustomedonlytowalkandtogallop:theirsensationsarenotbluntedbytheincessantabuseofthespurandthewhip:theirpowersarereservedforthemomentsofflightandpursuit:butnosoonerdotheyfeelthetouchofthehandorthestirrup，thantheydartawaywiththeswiftnessofthewind；andiftheirfriendbedismountedintherapidcareer，theyinstantlystoptillhehasrecoveredhisseat。InthesandsofAfricaandArabia，thecamelisasacredandpreciousgift。Thatstrongandpatientbeastofburdencanperform，withouteatingordrinking，ajourneyofseveraldays；andareservoiroffreshwaterispreservedinalargebag，afifthstomachoftheanimal，whosebodyisimprintedwiththemarksofservitude:thelargerbreediscapableoftransportingaweightofathousandpounds；andthedromedary，ofalighterandmoreactiveframe，outstripsthefleetestcourserintherace。Aliveordead，almosteverypartofthecamelisserviceabletoman:hermilkisplentifulandnutritious:theyoungandtenderfleshhasthetasteofveal:^13
avaluablesaltisextractedfromtheurine:thedungsuppliesthedeficiencyoffuel；andthelonghair，whichfallseachyearandisrenewed，iscoarselymanufacturedintothegarments，thefurniture，andthetentsoftheBedoweens。Intherainyseasons，theyconsumetherareandinsufficientherbageofthedesert:
duringtheheatsofsummerandthescarcityofwinter，theyremovetheirencampmentstothesea—coast，thehillsofYemen，ortheneighborhoodoftheEuphrates，andhaveoftenextortedthedangerouslicenseofvisitingthebanksoftheNile，andthevillagesofSyriaandPalestine。ThelifeofawanderingArabisalifeofdangeranddistress；andthoughsometimes，byrapineorexchange，hemayappropriatethefruitsofindustry，aprivatecitizeninEuropeisinthepossessionofmoresolidandpleasingluxurythantheproudestemir，whomarchesinthefieldattheheadoftenthousandhorse。
[Footnote9:ArrianremarkstheIcthyophagiofthecoastofHejez，PeriplusMarisErythraei，p。12，andbeyondAden，p。
15。ItseemsprobablethattheshoresoftheRedSeainthelargestsensewereoccupiedbythesesavagesinthetime，perhaps，ofCyrus；butIcanhardlybelievethatanycannibalswereleftamongthesavagesinthereignofJustinian。Procop。
deBell。Persic。l。i。c。19。]