Atthedarkesthourofthenight，hescaledthemostaccessibleheight，whichhehaddiligentlysurveyed，aplacewherethestoneswerelessentire，ortheslopelessperpendicular，ortheguardlessvigilant。SevenofthestoutestSaracensmountedoneachother'sshoulders，andtheweightofthecolumnwassustainedonthebroadandsinewybackofthegiganticslave。
Theforemostinthispainfulascentcouldgraspandclimbthelowestpartofthebattlements；theysilentlystabbedandcastdownthesentinels；andthethirtybrethren，repeatingapiousejaculation，"OapostleofGod，helpanddeliverus!"weresuccessivelydrawnupbythelongfoldsoftheirturbans。Withboldandcautiousfootsteps，Damesexploredthepalaceofthegovernor，whocelebrated，inriotousmerriment，thefestivalofhisdeliverance。Fromthence，returningtohiscompanions，heassaultedontheinsidetheentranceofthecastle。Theyoverpoweredtheguard，unboltedthegate，letdownthedrawbridge，anddefendedthenarrowpass，tillthearrivalofCaled，withthedawnofday，relievedtheirdangerandassuredtheirconquest。Youkinna，aformidablefoe，becameanactiveandusefulproselyte；andthegeneraloftheSaracensexpressedhisregardforthemosthumblemerit，bydetainingthearmyatAleppotillDameswascuredofhishonorablewounds。ThecapitalofSyriawasstillcoveredbythecastleofAazazandtheironbridgeoftheOrontes。Afterthelossofthoseimportantposts，andthedefeatofthelastoftheRomanarmies，theluxuryofAntioch^86trembledandobeyed。Hersafetywasransomedwiththreehundredthousandpiecesofgold；butthethroneofthesuccessorsofAlexander，theseatoftheRomangovernmentoftheEast，whichhadbeendecoratedbyCaesarwiththetitlesoffree，andholy，andinviolatewasdegradedundertheyokeofthecaliphstothesecondaryrankofaprovincialtown。^87
[Footnote85:ThePersianhistorianofTimurtom。iii。l。v。c。
21，p。300describesthecastleofAleppoasfoundedonarockonehundredcubitsinheight；aproof，saystheFrenchtranslator，thathehadnevervisitedtheplace。Itisnowinthemidstofthecity，ofnostrengthwithasinglegate；thecircuitisabout500or600paces，andtheditchhalffullofstagnantwater，VoyagesdeTavernier，tom。i。p。149Pocock，vol。ii。parti。p。150。ThefortressesoftheEastarecontemptibletoaEuropeaneye。]
[Footnote86:ThedateoftheconquestofAntiochbytheArabsisofsomeimportance。BycomparingtheyearsoftheworldinthechronographyofTheophaneswiththeyearsoftheHegirainthehistoryofElmacin，weshalldetermine，thatitwastakenbetweenJanuary23dandSeptember1stoftheyearofChrist638，Pagi，Critica，inBaron。Annal。tom。ii。p。812，813。AlWakidiOckley，vol。i。p。314assignsthateventtoTuesday，August21st，aninconsistentdate；sinceEasterfellthatyearonApril5th，the21stofAugustmusthavebeenaFriday，seetheTablesoftheArtdeVerifierlesDates。]
[Footnote87:Hisbounteousedict，whichtemptedthegratefulcitytoassumethevictoryofPharsaliaforaperpetualaera，isgiven。JohnMalala，inChron。p。91，edit。Venet。Wemaydistinguishhisauthenticinformationofdomesticfactsfromhisgrossignoranceofgeneralhistory。]
InthelifeofHeraclius，thegloriesofthePersianwararecloudedoneitherhandbythedisgraceandweaknessofhismoreearlyandhislaterdays。WhenthesuccessorsofMahometunsheathedtheswordofwarandreligion，hewasastonishedattheboundlessprospectoftoilanddanger；hisnaturewasindolent，norcouldtheinfirmandfrigidageoftheemperorbekindledtoasecondeffort。Thesenseofshame，andtheimportunitiesoftheSyrians，preventedthehastydeparturefromthesceneofaction；buttheherowasnomore；andthelossofDamascusandJerusalem，thebloodyfieldsofAiznadinandYermuk，maybeimputedinsomedegreetotheabsenceormisconductofthesovereign。InsteadofdefendingthesepulchreofChrist，heinvolvedthechurchandstateinametaphysicalcontroversyfortheunityofhiswill；andwhileHeracliuscrownedtheoffspringofhissecondnuptials，hewastamelystrippedofthemostvaluablepartoftheirinheritance。InthecathedralofAntioch，inthepresenceofthebishops，atthefootofthecrucifix，hebewailedthesinsoftheprinceandpeople；buthisconfessioninstructedtheworld，thatitwasvain，andperhapsimpious，toresistthejudgmentofGod。TheSaracenswereinvincibleinfact，sincetheywereinvincibleinopinion；andthedesertionofYoukinna，hisfalserepentanceandrepeatedperfidy，mightjustifythesuspicionoftheemperor，thathewasencompassedbytraitorsandapostates，whoconspiredtobetrayhispersonandtheircountrytotheenemiesofChrist。Inthehourofadversity，hissuperstitionwasagitatedbytheomensanddreamsofafallingcrown；andafterbiddinganeternalfarewelltoSyria，hesecretlyembarkedwithafewattendants，andabsolvedthefaithofhissubjects。^88Constantine，hiseldestson，hadbeenstationedwithfortythousandmenatCaesarea，thecivilmetropolisofthethreeprovincesofPalestine。ButhisprivateinterestrecalledhimtotheByzantinecourt；and，aftertheflightofhisfather，hefelthimselfanunequalchampiontotheunitedforceofthecaliph。HisvanguardwasboldlyattackedbythreehundredArabsandathousandblackslaves，who，inthedepthofwinter，hadclimbedthesnowymountainsofLibanus，andwhowerespeedilyfollowedbythevictorioussquadronsofCaledhimself。FromthenorthandsouththetroopsofAntiochandJerusalemadvancedalongthesea—shoretilltheirbannerswerejoinedunderthewallsofthePhoeniciancities:TripoliandTyrewerebetrayed；andafleetoffiftytransports，whichenteredwithoutdistrustthecaptiveharbors，broughtaseasonablesupplyofarmsandprovisionstothecampoftheSaracens。TheirlaborswereterminatedbytheunexpectedsurrenderofCaesarea:theRomanprincehadembarkedinthenight；^89andthedefencelesscitizenssolicitedtheirpardonwithanofferingoftwohundredthousandpiecesofgold。Theremainderoftheprovince，Ramlah，PtolemaisorAcre，SichemorNeapolis，Gaza，Ascalon，Berytus，Sidon，Gabala，Laodicea，Apamea，Hierapolis，nolongerpresumedtodisputethewilloftheconqueror；andSyriabowedunderthesceptreofthecaliphssevenhundredyearsafterPompeyhaddespoiledthelastoftheMacedoniankings。^90
[Footnote88:SeeOckley，vol。i。p。308，312，wholaughsatthecredulityofhisauthor。WhenHeracliusbadefarewelltoSyria，ValeSyriaetultimumvale，heprophesiedthattheRomansshouldneverreentertheprovincetillthebirthofaninauspiciouschild，thefuturescourgeoftheempire。Abulfeda，p。68。Iamperfectlyignorantofthemysticsense，ornonsense，ofthisprediction。]
[Footnote89:Inthelooseandobscurechronologyofthetimes，I
amguidedbyanauthenticrecord，inthebookofceremoniesofConstantinePorphyrogenitus，whichcertifiesthat，June4，A。D。
638，theemperorcrownedhisyoungersonHeraclius，inthepresenceofhiseldest，Constantine，andinthepalaceofConstantinople；thatJanuary1，A。D。639，theroyalprocessionvisitedthegreatchurch，andonthe4thofthesamemonth，thehippodrome。]
[Footnote90:Sixty—fiveyearsbeforeChrist，SyriaPontusquemonumentasuntCn。Pompeiivirtutis，Vell。Patercul。ii。38，
ratherofhisfortuneandpower:headjudgedSyriatobeaRomanprovince，andthelastoftheSeleucideswereincapableofdrawingaswordinthedefenceoftheirpatrimonyseetheoriginaltextscollectedbyUsher，Annal。p。420]
ChapterLI:ConquestsByTheArabs。
PartVI。
ThesiegesandbattlesofsixcampaignshadconsumedmanythousandsoftheMoslems。Theydiedwiththereputationandthecheerfulnessofmartyrs；andthesimplicityoftheirfaithmaybeexpressedinthewordsofanArabianyouth，whenheembraced，forthelasttime，hissisterandmother:"Itisnot，"saidhe，"thedelicaciesofSyria，orthefadingdelightsofthisworld，thathavepromptedmetodevotemylifeinthecauseofreligion。ButIseekthefavorofGodandhisapostle；andIhaveheard，fromoneofthecompanionsoftheprophet，thatthespiritsofthemartyrswillbelodgedinthecropsofgreenbirds，whoshalltastethefruits，anddrinkoftherivers，ofparadise。Farewell，weshallmeetagainamongthegrovesandfountainswhichGodhasprovidedforhiselect。"Thefaithfulcaptivesmightexerciseapassiveandmorearduousresolution；andacousinofMahometiscelebratedforrefusing，afteranabstinenceofthreedays，thewineandpork，theonlynourishmentthatwasallowedbythemaliceoftheinfidels。Thefrailtyofsomeweakerbrethrenexasperatedtheimplacablespiritoffanaticism；andthefatherofAmerdeplored，inpatheticstrains，theapostasyanddamnationofason，whohadrenouncedthepromisesofGod，andtheintercessionoftheprophet，tooccupy，withthepriestsanddeacons，thelowestmansionsofhell。ThemorefortunateArabs，whosurvivedthewarandperseveredinthefaith，wererestrainedbytheirabstemiousleaderfromtheabuseofprosperity。Afterarefreshmentofthreedays，AbuObeidahwithdrewhistroopsfromtheperniciouscontagionoftheluxuryofAntioch，andassuredthecaliphthattheirreligionandvirtuecouldonlybepreservedbytheharddisciplineofpovertyandlabor。ButthevirtueofOmar，howeverrigoroustohimself，waskindandliberaltohisbrethren。Afterajusttributeofpraiseandthanksgiving，hedroppedatearofcompassion；andsittingdownontheground，wroteananswer，inwhichhemildlycensuredtheseverityofhislieutenant:"God，"saidthesuccessoroftheprophet，"hasnotforbiddentheuseofthegoodthingsofthisworltofaithfulmen，andsuchashaveperformedgoodworks。Thereforeyououghttohavegiventhemleavetorestthemselves，andpartakefreelyofthosegoodthingswhichthecountryaffordeth。IfanyoftheSaracenshavenofamilyinArabia，theymaymarryinSyria；andwhosoeverofthemwantsanyfemaleslaves，hemaypurchaseasmanyashehathoccasionfor。"Theconquerorspreparedtouse，ortoabuse，thisgraciouspermission；buttheyearoftheirtriumphwasmarkedbyamortalityofmenandcattle；andtwenty—fivethousandSaracensweresnatchedawayfromthepossessionofSyria。ThedeathofAbuObeidahmightbelamentedbytheChristians；buthisbrethrenrecollectedthathewasoneofthetenelectwhomtheprophethadnamedastheheirsofparadise。
^91Caledsurvivedhisbrethrenaboutthreeyears:andthetomboftheSwordofGodisshownintheneighborhoodofEmesa。Hisvalor，whichfoundedinArabiaandSyriatheempireofthecaliphs，wasfortifiedbytheopinionofaspecialprovidence；
andaslongasheworeacap，whichhadbeenblessedbyMahomet，hedeemedhimselfinvulnerableamidstthedartsoftheinfidels。
[Footnote91:Abulfeda，Annal。Moslem。p。73。Mahometcouldartfullyvarythepraisesofhisdisciples。OfOmarhewasaccustomedtosay，thatifaprophetcouldariseafterhimself，itwouldbeOmar；andthatinageneralcalamity，Omarwouldbeacceptedbythedivinejustice，Ockley，vol。i。p。221。]
[Footnote*:Khaled，accordingtotheRouzontUzzuffa，Price，p。
90，afterhavingbeendeprivedofhisampleshareoftheplunderofSyriabythejealousyofOmar，died，possessedonlyofhishorse，hisarms，andasingleslave。YetOmarwasobligedtoacknowledgetohislamentingparent。thatnevermotherhadproducedasonlikeKhaled。—M。]
Theplaceofthefirstconquerorswassuppliedbyanewgenerationoftheirchildrenandcountrymen:SyriabecametheseatandsupportofthehouseofOmmiyah；andtherevenue，thesoldiers，theshipsofthatpowerfulkingdomwereconsecratedtoenlargeoneverysidetheempireofthecaliphs。ButtheSaracensdespiseasuperfluityoffame；andtheirhistoriansscarcelycondescendtomentionthesubordinateconquestswhicharelostinthesplendorandrapidityoftheirvictoriouscareer。
TothenorthofSyria，theypassedMountTaurus，andreducedtotheirobediencetheprovinceofCilicia，withitscapitalTarsus，theancientmonumentoftheAssyriankings。Beyondasecondridgeofthesamemountains，theyspreadtheflameofwar，ratherthanthelightofreligion，asfarastheshoresoftheEuxine，andtheneighborhoodofConstantinople。TotheeasttheyadvancedtothebanksandsourcesoftheEuphratesandTigris:
^92thelongdisputedbarrierofRomeandPersiawasforeverconfoundedthewallsofEdessaandAmida，ofDaraandNisibis，whichhadresistedthearmsandenginesofSapororNushirvan，werelevelledinthedust；andtheholycityofAbgarusmightvainlyproducetheepistleortheimageofChristtoanunbelievingconqueror。TothewesttheSyriankingdomisboundedbythesea:andtheruinofAradus，asmallislandorpeninsulaonthecoast，waspostponedduringtenyears。ButthehillsofLibanusaboundedintimber；thetradeofPhoeniciawaspopulousinmariners；andafleetofseventeenhundredbarkswasequippedandmannedbythenativesofthedesert。TheImperialnavyoftheRomansfledbeforethemfromthePamphylianrockstotheHellespont；butthespiritoftheemperor，agrandsonofHeraclius，hadbeensubduedbeforethecombatbyadreamandapun。^93TheSaracensrodemastersofthesea；andtheislandsofCyprus，Rhodes，andtheCyclades，weresuccessivelyexposedtotheirrapaciousvisits。ThreehundredyearsbeforetheChristianaera，thememorablethoughfruitlesssiegeofRhodes^94byDemetriushadfurnishedthatmaritimerepublicwiththematerialsandthesubjectofatrophy。AgiganticstatueofApollo，orthesun，seventycubitsinheight，waserectedattheentranceoftheharbor，amonumentofthefreedomandtheartsofGreece。Afterstandingfifty—sixyears，thecolossusofRhodeswasoverthrownbyanearthquake；butthemassytrunk，andhugefragments，layscatteredeightcenturiesontheground，andareoftendescribedasoneofthewondersoftheancientworld。TheywerecollectedbythediligenceoftheSaracens，andsoldtoaJewishmerchantofEdessa，whoissaidtohaveladenninehundredcamelswiththeweightofthebrassmetal；anenormousweight，thoughweshouldincludethehundredcolossalfigures，^95andthethreethousandstatues，whichadornedtheprosperityofthecityofthesun。
[Footnote92:AlWakidihadlikewisewrittenahistoryoftheconquestofDiarbekir，orMesopotamia，Ockley，attheendoftheiidvol。，whichourinterpretersdonotappeartohaveseen。
TheChronicleofDionysiusofTelmar，theJacobitepatriarch，recordsthetakingofEdessaA。D。637，andofDaraA。D。641，Asseman。Bibliot。Orient。tom。ii。p。103；andtheattentivemaygleansomedoubtfulinformationfromtheChronographyofTheophanes，p。285—287。MostofthetownsofMesopotamiayieldedbysurrender，Abulpharag。p。112。
Note:IthasbeenpublishedinArabicbyM。EwaldSt。
Martin，vol。xip248；butitsauthenticityisdoubted。—M。]
[Footnote93:HedreamtthathewasatThessalonica，aharmlessandunmeaningvision；buthissoothsayer，orhiscowardice，understoodthesureomenofadefeatconcealedinthatinauspiciousword，Givetoanotherthevictory，Theoph。p。286。
Zonaras，tom。ii。l。xiv。p。88。]
[Footnote94:Everypassageandeveryfactthatrelatestotheisle，thecity，andthecolossusofRhodes，arecompiledinthelaborioustreatiseofMeursius，whohasbestowedthesamediligenceonthetwolargerislandsoftheCreteandCyprus。
See，intheiiidvol。ofhisworks，theRhodusofMeursius，l。
i。c。15，p。715—719。TheByzantinewriters，TheophanesandConstantine，haveignorantlyprolongedthetermto1360years，andridiculouslydividetheweightamong30，000camels。]
[Footnote95:Centumcolossialiumnobilitaturilocum，saysPliny，withhisusualspirit。Hist。Natur。xxxiv。18。]
II。TheconquestofEgyptmaybeexplainedbythecharacterofthevictoriousSaracen，oneofthefirstofhisnation，inanagewhenthemeanestofthebrethrenwasexaltedabovehisnaturebythespiritofenthusiasm。ThebirthofAmrouwasatoncebaseandillustrious；hismother，anotoriousprostitute，wasunabletodecideamongfiveoftheKoreish；buttheproofofresemblanceadjudgedthechildtoAasi，theoldestofherlovers。^96TheyouthofAmrouwasimpelledbythepassionsandprejudicesofhiskindred:hispoeticgeniuswasexercisedinsatiricalversesagainstthepersonanddoctrineofMahomet；hisdexteritywasemployedbythereigningfactiontopursuethereligiousexileswhohadtakenrefugeinthecourtoftheAethiopianking。^97Yethereturnedfromthisembassyasecretproselyte；hisreasonorhisinterestdeterminedhimtorenouncetheworshipofidols；heescapedfromMeccawithhisfriendCaled；andtheprophetofMedinaenjoyedatthesamemomentthesatisfactionofembracingthetwofirmestchampionsofhiscause。TheimpatienceofAmroutoleadthearmiesofthefaithfulwascheckedbythereproofofOmar，whoadvisedhimnottoseekpoweranddominion，sincehewhoisasubjectto—day，maybeaprinceto—morrow。YethismeritwasnotoverlookedbythetwofirstsuccessorsofMahomet；
theywereindebtedtohisarmsfortheconquestofPalestine；andinallthebattlesandsiegesofSyria，heunitedwiththetemperofachiefthevalorofanadventuroussoldier。InavisittoMedina，thecaliphexpressedawishtosurveytheswordwhichhadcutdownsomanyChristianwarriors；thesonofAasiunsheathedashortandordinarycimeter；andasheperceivedthesurpriseofOmar，"Alas，"saidthemodestSaracen，"thesworditself，withoutthearmofitsmaster，isneithersharpernormoreweightythantheswordofPharezdakthepoet。"^98AftertheconquestofEgypt，hewasrecalledbythejealousyofthecaliphOthman；butinthesubsequenttroubles，theambitionofasoldier，astatesman，andanorator，emergedfromaprivatestation。Hispowerfulsupport，bothincouncilandinthefield，establishedthethroneoftheOmmiades；theadministrationandrevenueofEgyptwererestoredbythegratitudeofMoawiyahtoafaithfulfriendwhohadraisedhimselfabovetherankofasubject；andAmrouendedhisdaysinthepalaceandcitywhichhehadfoundedonthebanksoftheNile。HisdyingspeechtohischildreniscelebratedbytheArabiansasamodelofeloquenceandwisdom:hedeploredtheerrorsofhisyouthbutifthepenitentwasstillinfectedbythevanityofapoet，hemightexaggeratethevenomandmischiefofhisimpiouscompositions。^99
[Footnote96:Welearnthisanecdotefromaspiritedoldwoman，whoreviledtotheirfaces，thecaliphandhisfriend。ShewasencouragedbythesilenceofAmrouandtheliberalityofMoawiyah，Abulfeda，AnnalMoslem。p。111。]
[Footnote97:Gagnier，ViedeMahomet，tom。ii。p。46，&c。，whoquotestheAbyssinianhistory，orromanceofAbdelBalcides。Yetthefactoftheembassyandambassadormaybeallowed。]
[Footnote98:ThissayingispreservedbyPocock，Not。adCarmenTograi，p184，andjustlyapplaudedbyMr。Harris，PhilosophicalArrangements，p。850。]
[Footnote99:ForthelifeandcharacterofAmrou，seeOckleyHist。oftheSaracens，vol。i。p。28，63，94，328，342，344，andtotheendofthevolume；vol。ii。p。51，55，57，74，110—112，162andOtter，Mem。del'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxi。
p。131，132。ThereadersofTacitusmayaptlycompareVespasianandMucianuswithMoawiyahandAmrou。Yettheresemblanceisstillmoreinthesituation，thaninthecharacters，ofthemen。]
FromhiscampinPalestine，Amrouhadsurprisedoranticipatedthecaliph'sleavefortheinvasionofEgypt。^100
ThemagnanimousOmartrustedinhisGodandhissword，whichhadshakenthethronesofChosroesandCaesar:butwhenhecomparedtheslenderforceoftheMoslemswiththegreatnessoftheenterprise，hecondemnedhisownrashness，andlistenedtohistimidcompanions。TheprideandthegreatnessofPharaohwerefamiliartothereadersoftheKoran；andatenfoldrepetitionofprodigieshadbeenscarcelysufficienttoeffect，notthevictory，buttheflight，ofsixhundredthousandofthechildrenofIsrael:thecitiesofEgyptweremanyandpopulous；theirarchitecturewasstrongandsolid；theNile，withitsnumerousbranches，wasaloneaninsuperablebarrier；andthegranaryoftheImperialcitywouldbeobstinatelydefendedbytheRomanpowers。Inthisperplexity，thecommanderofthefaithfulresignedhimselftothedecisionofchance，or，inhisopinion，ofProvidence。AttheheadofonlyfourthousandArabs，theintrepidAmrouhadmarchedawayfromhisstationofGazawhenhewasovertakenbythemessengerofOmar。"IfyouarestillinSyria，"saidtheambiguousmandate，"retreatwithoutdelay；butif，atthereceiptofthisepistle，youhavealreadyreachedthefrontiersofEgypt，advancewithconfidence，anddependonthesuccorofGodandofyourbrethren。"Theexperience，perhapsthesecretintelligence，ofAmrouhadtaughthimtosuspectthemutabilityofcourts；andhecontinuedhismarchtillhistentswereunquestionablypitchedonEgyptianground。Hethereassembledhisofficers，broketheseal，perusedtheepistle，gravelyinquiredthenameandsituationoftheplace，anddeclaredhisreadyobediencetothecommandsofthecaliph。
Afterasiegeofthirtydays，hetookpossessionofFarmahorPelusium；andthatkeyofEgypt，asithasbeenjustlynamed，unlockedtheentranceofthecountryasfarastheruinsofHeliopolisandtheneighborhoodofthemodernCairo。