familiarizedtheideaoftheirlanguage，religion，andmanners；
andexhausted，byclandestinepurchase，themagazinesandarsenalsofthecitieswhichtheyreturnedtobesiege。Theyaggravatedtheransomofthemorewealthy，orthemoreobstinate；
andChalcisalonewastaxedatfivethousandouncesofgold，fivethousandouncesofsilver，twothousandrobesofsilk，andasmanyfigsandolivesaswouldloadfivethousandasses。Butthetermsoftruceorcapitulationwerefaithfullyobserved；andthelieutenantofthecaliph，whohadpromisednottoenterthewallsofthecaptiveBaalbec，remainedtranquilandimmovableinhistenttillthejarringfactionssolicitedtheinterpositionofaforeignmaster。TheconquestoftheplainandvalleyofSyriawasachievedinlessthantwoyears。Yetthecommanderofthefaithfulreprovedtheslownessoftheirprogress；andtheSaracens，bewailingtheirfaultwithtearsofrageandrepentance，calledaloudontheirchiefstoleadthemforthtofightthebattlesoftheLord。Inarecentaction，underthewallsofEmesa，anArabianyouth，thecousinofCaled，washeardaloudtoexclaim，\"MethinksIseetheblack—eyedgirlslookinguponme；oneofwhom，shouldsheappearinthisworld，allmankindwoulddieforloveofher。AndIseeinthehandofoneofthemahandkerchiefofgreensilk，andacapofpreciousstones，andshebeckonsme，andcallsout，Comehitherquickly，forIlovethee。\"Withthesewords，chargingtheChristians，hemadehavocwhereverhewent，till，observedatlengthbythegovernorofHems，hewasstruckthroughwithajavelin。
[Footnote67:IntheGeographyofAbulfeda，thedescriptionofSyria，hisnativecountry，isthemostinterestingandauthenticportion。ItwaspublishedinArabicandLatin，Lipsiae，1766，inquarto，withthelearnednotesofKochlerandReiske，andsomeextractsofgeographyandnaturalhistoryfromIbnOlWardii。
Amongthemoderntravels，Pocock\'sDescriptionoftheEastofSyriaandMesopotamia，vol。ii。p。88—209isaworkofsuperiorlearninganddignity；buttheauthortoooftenconfoundswhathehadseenandwhathehadread。]
[Footnote68:ThepraisesofDionysiusarejustandlively。
Syria，inPeriegesi，v。902，intom。iv。Geograph。Minor。
Hudson。Inanotherplacehestylesthecountrydifferently，v。
898。
ThispoeticalgeographerlivedintheageofAugustus，andhisdescriptionoftheworldisillustratedbytheGreekcommentaryofEustathius，whopaidthesamecomplimenttoHomerandDionysius，Fabric。Bibliot。Graec。l。iv。c。2，tom。iii。p。
21，&c。]
[Footnote69:ThetopographyoftheLibanusandAnti—LibanusisexcellentlydescribedbythelearningandsenseofReland，Palestin。tom。i。p。311—326]
[Footnote70:—Emesaefastigiacelsarenident。
Namdiffusasololatusexplicat；acsubitaurasTurribusincoelumnitentibus:incolaclarisCorstudiisacuit……
DeniqueflammicomodevotipectorasoliVitamagitant。Libanusfrondosacacuminaturget。
Ettamenhiscertantcelsifastigiatempli。
TheseversesoftheLatinversionofRufusAvienusarewantingintheGreekoriginalofDionysius；andsincetheyarelikewiseunnoticedbyEustathius，Imust，withFabricius，Bibliot。Latin。
tom。iii。p。153，edit。Ernesti，andagainstSalmasius，adVopiscum，p。366，367，inHist。August。，ascribedthemtothefancy，ratherthantheMss。，ofAvienus。]
[Footnote71:IammuchbettersatisfiedwithMaundrell\'sslightoctavo，Journey，p。134—139，thanwiththepompousfolioofDr。Pocock，DescriptionoftheEast，vol。ii。p。106—113；buteveryprecedingaccountiseclipsedbythemagnificentdescriptionanddrawingsofMm。DawkinsandWood，whohavetransportedintoEnglandtheruinsofPamyraandBaalbec。]
[Footnote72:TheOrientalsexplaintheprodigybyanever—failingexpedient。TheedificesofBaalbecwereconstructedbythefairiesorthegenii，Hist。deTimourBec，tom。iii。l。v。
c。23，p。311，312。Voyaged\'Otter，tom。i。p。83。Withlessabsurdity，butwithequalignorance，AbulfedaandIbnChaukelascribethemtotheSabaeansorAaditesNonsuntinomniSyriaaedificiamagnificentiorahis，TabulaSyriap。108。]
ItwasincumbentontheSaracenstoexertthefullpowersoftheirvalorandenthusiasmagainsttheforcesoftheemperor，whowastaught，byrepeatedlosses，thattheroversofthedeserthadundertaken，andwouldspeedilyachieve，aregularandpermanentconquest。FromtheprovincesofEuropeandAsia，fourscorethousandsoldiersweretransportedbyseaandlandtoAntiochandCaesarea:thelighttroopsofthearmyconsistedofsixtythousandChristianArabsofthetribeofGassan。UnderthebannerofJabalah，thelastoftheirprinces，theymarchedinthevan；anditwasamaximoftheGreeks，thatforthepurposeofcuttingdiamond，adiamondwasthemosteffectual。Heracliuswithheldhispersonfromthedangersofthefield；buthispresumption，orperhapshisdespondency，suggestedaperemptoryorder，thatthefateoftheprovinceandthewarshouldbedecidedbyasinglebattle。TheSyrianswereattachedtothestandardofRomeandofthecross:butthenoble，thecitizen，thepeasant，wereexasperatedbytheinjusticeandcrueltyofalicentioushost，whooppressedthemassubjects，anddespisedthemasstrangersandaliens。^73AreportofthesemightypreparationswasconveyedtotheSaracensintheircampofEmesa，andthechiefs，thoughresolvedtofight，assembledacouncil:
thefaithofAbuObeidahwouldhaveexpectedonthesamespotthegloryofmartyrdom；thewisdomofCaledadvisedanhonorableretreattotheskirtsofPalestineandArabia，wheretheymightawaitthesuccorsoftheirfriends，andtheattackoftheunbelievers。AspeedymessengersoonreturnedfromthethroneofMedina，withtheblessingsofOmarandAli，theprayersofthewidowsoftheprophet，andareenforcementofeightthousandMoslems。IntheirwaytheyoverturnedadetachmentofGreeks，andwhentheyjoinedatYermukthecampoftheirbrethren，theyfoundthepleasingintelligence，thatCaledhadalreadydefeatedandscatteredtheChristianArabsofthetribeofGassan。IntheneighborhoodofBosra，thespringsofMountHermondescendinatorrenttotheplainofDecapolis，ortencities；andtheHieromax，anamewhichhasbeencorruptedtoYermuk，islost，afterashortcourse，intheLakeofTiberias。^74Thebanksofthisobscurestreamwereillustratedbyalongandbloodyencounter。Onthismomentousoccasion，thepublicvoice，andthemodestyofAbuObeidah，restoredthecommandtothemostdeservingoftheMoslems。Caledassumedhisstationinthefront，hiscolleaguewaspostedintherear，thatthedisorderofthefugitivemightbecheckedbyhisvenerableaspect，andthesightoftheyellowbannerwhichMahomethaddisplayedbeforethewallsofChaibar。ThelastlinewasoccupiedbythesisterofDerar，withtheArabianwomenwhohadenlistedinthisholywar，whowereaccustomedtowieldthebowandthelance，andwhoinamomentofcaptivityhaddefended，againsttheuncircumcisedravishers，theirchastityandreligion。^75Theexhortationofthegeneralswasbriefandforcible:\"Paradiseisbeforeyou，thedevilandhell—fireinyourrear。\"YetsuchwastheweightoftheRomancavalry，thattherightwingoftheArabswasbrokenandseparatedfromthemainbody。Thricedidtheyretreatindisorder，andthriceweretheydrivenbacktothechargebythereproachesandblowsofthewomen。Intheintervalsofaction，AbuObeidahvisitedthetentsofhisbrethren，prolongedtheirreposebyrepeatingatoncetheprayersoftwodifferenthours，bounduptheirwoundswithhisownhands，andadministeredthecomfortablereflection，thattheinfidelspartookoftheirsufferingswithoutpartakingoftheirreward。FourthousandandthirtyoftheMoslemswereburiedinthefieldofbattle；andtheskilloftheArmenianarchersenabledsevenhundredtoboastthattheyhadlostaneyeinthatmeritoriousservice。TheveteransoftheSyrianwaracknowledgedthatitwasthehardestandmostdoubtfulofthedayswhichtheyhadseen。Butitwaslikewisethemostdecisive:manythousandsoftheGreeksandSyriansfellbytheswordsoftheArabs；manywereslaughtered，afterthedefeat，inthewoodsandmountains；many，bymistakingtheford，weredrownedinthewatersoftheYermuk；andhoweverthelossmaybemagnified，^76theChristianwritersconfessandbewailthebloodypunishmentoftheirsins。^77Manuel，theRomangeneral，waseitherkilledatDamascus，ortookrefugeinthemonasteryofMountSinai。AnexileintheByzantinecourt，JabalahlamentedthemannersofArabia，andhisunluckypreferenceoftheChristiancause。^78HehadonceinclinedtotheprofessionofIslam；butinthepilgrimageofMecca，Jabalahwasprovokedtostrikeoneofhisbrethren，andfledwithamazementfromthesternandequaljusticeofthecaliphThesevictoriousSaracensenjoyedatDamascusamonthofpleasureandrepose:thespoilwasdividedbythediscretionofAbuObeidah:
anequalsharewasallottedtoasoldierandtohishorse，andadoubleportionwasreservedforthenoblecoursersoftheArabianbreed。
[Footnote73:IhavereadsomewhereinTacitus，orGrotius，Subjectoshabenttanquamsuos，vilestanquamalienos。SomeGreekofficersravishedthewife，andmurderedthechild，oftheirSyrianlandlord；andManuelsmiledathisundutifulcomplaint。]
[Footnote74:SeeReland，Palestin。tom。i。p。272，283，tom。ii。
p。773，775。ThislearnedprofessorwasequaltothetaskofdescribingtheHolyLand，sincehewasalikeconversantwithGreekandLatin，withHebrewandArabianliterature。TheYermuk，orHieromax，isnoticedbyCellariusGeograph。Antiq。tom。ii。
p。392andD\'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。ii。p。185。
TheArabs，andevenAbulfedahimself，donotseemtorecognizethesceneoftheirvictory。]
[Footnote*:ComparePrice，p。79。ThearmyoftheRomansisswollerto400，000menofwhich70，000perished。—M。]
[Footnote75:ThesewomenwereofthetribeoftheHamyarites，whoderivedtheiroriginfromtheancientAmalekites。Theirfemaleswereaccustomedtorideonhorseback，andtofightliketheAmazonsofold，Ockley，vol。i。p。67。]
[Footnote76:Wekilledofthem，saysAbuObeidahtothecaliph，onehundredandfiftythousand，andmadeprisonersfortythousand，Ockleyvol。i。p。241。AsIcannotdoubthisveracity，norbelievehiscomputation，ImustsuspectthattheArabichistoriansindulgethemselvesinthepracticeofcomparingspeechesandlettersfortheirheroes。]
[Footnote77:AfterdeploringthesinsoftheChristians，Theophanes，adds，Chronograph。p。276，doeshemeanAiznadin?
Hisaccountisbriefandobscure，butheaccusesthenumbersoftheenemy，theadversewind，andthecloudofdust。
Chronograph。p。280。]
[Footnote78:SeeAbulfeda，Annal。Moslem。p。70，71，whotranscribesthepoeticalcomplaintofJabalahhimself，andsomepanegyricalstrainsofanArabianpoet，towhomthechiefofGassansentfromConstantinopleagiftoffivehundredpiecesofgoldbythehandsoftheambassadorofOmar。]
AfterthebattleofYermuk，theRomanarmynolongerappearedinthefield；andtheSaracensmightsecurelychoose，amongthefortifiedtownsofSyria，thefirstobjectoftheirattack。TheyconsultedthecaliphwhethertheyshouldmarchtoCaesareaorJerusalem；andtheadviceofAlideterminedtheimmediatesiegeofthelatter。Toaprofaneeye，JerusalemwasthefirstorsecondcapitalofPalestine；butafterMeccaandMedina，itwasreveredandvisitedbythedevoutMoslems，asthetempleoftheHolyLandwhichhadbeensanctifiedbytherevelationofMoses，ofJesus，andofMahomethimself。ThesonofAbuSophianwassentwithfivethousandArabstotrythefirstexperimentofsurpriseortreaty；butontheeleventhday，thetownwasinvestedbythewholeforceofAbuObeidah。HeaddressedthecustomarysummonstothechiefcommandersandpeopleofAelia。^79
[Footnote79:Inthenameofthecity，theprofaneprevailedoverthesacredJerusalemwasknowntothedevoutChristians，Euseb。
deMartyrPalest。cxi。；butthelegalandpopularappellationofAeliathecolonyofAeliusHadrianushaspassedfromtheRomanstotheArabs。Reland，Palestin。tom。i。p。207，tom。ii。
p。835。D\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，Cods，p。269，Ilia，p。420。TheepithetofAlCods，theHoly，isusedasthepropernameofJerusalem。]
\"Healthandhappinesstoeveryonethatfollowstherightway!WerequireofyoutotestifythatthereisbutoneGod，andthatMahometishisapostle。Ifyourefusethis，consenttopaytribute，andbeunderusforthwith。OtherwiseIshallbringmenagainstyouwholovedeathbetterthanyoudothedrinkingofwineoreatinghog\'sflesh。NorwillIeverstirfromyou，ifitpleaseGod，tillIhavedestroyedthosethatfightforyou，andmadeslavesofyourchildren。\"Butthecitywasdefendedoneverysidebydeepvalleysandsteepascents；sincetheinvasionofSyria，thewallsandtowershadbeenanxiouslyrestored；thebravestofthefugitivesofYermukhadstoppedinthenearestplaceofrefuge；andinthedefenceofthesepulchreofChrist，thenativesandstrangersmightfeelsomesparksoftheenthusiasm，whichsofiercelyglowedinthebosomsoftheSaracens。ThesiegeofJerusalemlastedfourmonths；notadaywaslostwithoutsomeactionofsallyorassault；themilitaryenginesincessantlyplayedfromtheramparts；andtheinclemencyofthewinterwasstillmorepainfulanddestructivetotheArabs。TheChristiansyieldedatlengthtotheperseveranceofthebesiegers。ThepatriarchSophroniusappearedonthewalls，andbythevoiceofaninterpreterdemandedaconference。
Afteravainattempttodissuadethelieutenantofthecaliphfromhisimpiousenterprise，heproposed，inthenameofthepeople，afaircapitulation，withthisextraordinaryclause，thatthearticlesofsecurityshouldberatifiedbytheauthorityandpresenceofOmarhimself。ThequestionwasdebatedinthecouncilofMedina；thesanctityoftheplace，andtheadviceofAli，persuadedthecaliphtogratifythewishesofhissoldiersandenemies；andthesimplicityofhisjourneyismoreillustriousthantheroyalpageantsofvanityandoppression。TheconquerorofPersiaandSyriawasmountedonaredcamel，whichcarried，besideshisperson，abagofcorn，abagofdates，awoodendish，andaleathernbottleofwater。Whereverhehalted，thecompany，withoutdistinction，wasinvitedtopartakeofhishomelyfare，andtherepastwasconsecratedbytheprayerandexhortationofthecommanderofthefaithful。^80Butinthisexpeditionorpilgrimage，hispowerwasexercisedintheadministrationofjustice:hereformedthelicentiouspolygamyoftheArabs，relievedthetributariesfromextortionandcruelty，andchastisedtheluxuryoftheSaracens，bydespoilingthemoftheirrichsilks，anddraggingthemontheirfacesinthedirt。WhenhecamewithinsightofJerusalem，thecaliphcriedwithaloudvoice，\"Godisvictorious。OLord，giveusaneasyconquest!\"
and，pitchinghistentofcoarsehair，calmlyseatedhimselfontheground。Aftersigningthecapitulation，heenteredthecitywithoutfearorprecaution；andcourteouslydiscoursedwiththepatriarchconcerningitsreligiousantiquities。^81Sophroniusbowedbeforehisnewmaster，andsecretlymuttered，inthewordsofDaniel，\"Theabominationofdesolationisintheholyplace。\"
^82Atthehourofprayertheystoodtogetherinthechurchoftheresurrection；butthecaliphrefusedtoperformhisdevotions，andcontentedhimselfwithprayingonthestepsofthechurchofConstantine。Tothepatriarchhedisclosedhisprudentandhonorablemotive。\"HadIyielded，\"saidOmar，\"toyourrequest，theMoslemsofafutureagewouldhaveinfringedthetreatyundercolorofimitatingmyexample。\"ByhiscommandthegroundofthetempleofSolomonwaspreparedforthefoundationofamosch；^83and，duringaresidenceoftendays，heregulatedthepresentandfuturestateofhisSyrianconquests。Medinamightbejealous，lestthecaliphshouldbedetainedbythesanctityofJerusalemorthebeautyofDamascus；herapprehensionsweredispelledbyhispromptandvoluntaryreturntothetomboftheapostle。^84
[Footnote*:SeetheexplanationofthisinPrice，withtheprophecywhichwasherebyfulfilled，p85。—M]
[Footnote80:ThesingularjourneyandequipageofOmararedescribedbesidesOckley，vol。i。p。250byMurtadi，Merveillesdel\'Egypte，p。200—202。]
[Footnote81:TheArabsboastofanoldprophecypreservedatJerusalem，anddescribingthename，thereligion，andthepersonofOmar，thefutureconqueror。BysuchartstheJewsaresaidtohavesoothedtheprideoftheirforeignmasters，CyrusandAlexander，Joseph。Ant。Jud。l。xic。1，8，p。447，579—582。]
[Footnote82:Theophan。Chronograph。p。281。Thisprediction，whichhadalreadyservedforAntiochusandtheRomans，wasagainrefittedforthepresentoccasion，bytheeconomyofSophronius，oneofthedeepesttheologiansoftheMonothelitecontroversy。]
[Footnote83:AccordingtotheaccuratesurveyofD\'Anville，Dissertationsunl\'ancienneJerusalem，p。42—54，themoschofOmar，enlargedandembellishedbysucceedingcaliphs，coveredthegroundoftheancienttemple，saysPhocas，alengthof215，abreadthof172，toises。TheNubiangeographerdeclares，thatthismagnificentstructurewassecondonlyinsizeandbeautytothegreatmoschofCordova，p。113，whosepresentstateMr。
Swinburnehassoelegantlyrepresented，TravelsintoSpain，p。
296—302。]
[Footnote84:OfthemanyArabictarikhsorchroniclesofJerusalem，D\'Herbelot，p。867，OckleyfoundoneamongthePocockMss。ofOxford，vol。i。p。257，whichhehasusedtosupplythedefectivenarrativeofAlWakidi。]
ToachievewhatyetremainedoftheSyrianwarthecaliphhadformedtwoseparatearmies；achosendetachment，underAmrouandYezid，wasleftinthecampofPalestine；whilethelargerdivision，underthestandardofAbuObeidahandCaled，marchedawaytothenorthagainstAntiochandAleppo。Thelatterofthese，theBeraeaoftheGreeks，wasnotyetillustriousasthecapitalofaprovinceorakingdom；andtheinhabitants，byanticipatingtheirsubmissionandpleadingtheirpoverty，obtainedamoderatecompositionfortheirlivesandreligion。
ButthecastleofAleppo，^85distinctfromthecity，stooderectonaloftyartificialmoundthesidesweresharpenedtoaprecipice，andfacedwithfree—stone；andthebreadthoftheditchmightbefilledwithwaterfromtheneighboringsprings。
Afterthelossofthreethousandmen，thegarrisonwasstillequaltothedefence；andYoukinna，theirvaliantandhereditarychief，hadmurderedhisbrother，aholymonk，fordaringtopronouncethenameofpeace。Inasiegeoffourorfivemonths，thehardestoftheSyrianwar，greatnumbersoftheSaracenswerekilledandwounded:theirremovaltothedistanceofamilecouldnotseducethevigilanceofYoukinna；norcouldtheChristiansbeterrifiedbytheexecutionofthreehundredcaptives，whomtheybeheadedbeforethecastlewall。Thesilence，andatlengththecomplaints，ofAbuObeidahinformedthecaliphthattheirhopeandpatiencewereconsumedatthefootofthisimpregnablefortress。\"Iamvariouslyaffected，\"repliedOmar，\"bythedifferenceofyoursuccess；butIchargeyoubynomeanstoraisethesiegeofthecastle。Yourretreatwoulddiminishthereputationofourarms，andencouragetheinfidelstofalluponyouonallsides。RemainbeforeAleppotillGodshalldeterminetheevent，andforagewithyourhorseroundtheadjacentcountry。\"TheexhortationofthecommanderofthefaithfulwasfortifiedbyasupplyofvolunteersfromallthetribesofArabia，whoarrivedinthecamponhorsesorcamels。AmongthesewasDames，ofaservilebirth，butofgiganticsizeandintrepidresolution。Theforty—seventhdayofhisserviceheproposed，withonlythirtymen，tomakeanattemptonthecastle。TheexperienceandtestimonyofCaledrecommendedhisoffer；andAbuObeidahadmonishedhisbrethrennottodespisethebaseroriginofDames，sincehehimself，couldherelinquishthepubliccare，wouldcheerfullyserveunderthebanneroftheslave。Hisdesignwascoveredbytheappearanceofaretreat；andthecampoftheSaracenswaspitchedaboutaleaguefromAleppo。Thethirtyadventurerslayinambushatthefootofthehill；andDamesatlengthsucceededinhisinquiries，thoughhewasprovokedbytheignoranceofhisGreekcaptives。\"Godcursethesedogs，\"saidtheilliterateArab；\"whatastrangebarbarouslanguagetheyspeak!\"