[Footnote100:AlWakidihadlikewisecomposedaseparatehistoryoftheconquestofEgypt，whichMr。Ockleycouldneverprocure；
andhisowninquiriesvol。i。344—362haveaddedverylittletotheoriginaltextofEutychius，Annal。tom。ii。p。296—323，vers。Pocock，theMelchitepatriarchofAlexandria，wholivedthreehundredyearsaftertherevolution。]
OntheWesternsideoftheNile，atasmalldistancetotheeastofthePyramids，atasmalldistancetothesouthoftheDelta，Memphis，onehundredandfiftyfurlongsincircumference，displayedthemagnificenceofancientkings。UnderthereignofthePtolemiesandCaesars，theseatofgovernmentwasremovedtothesea—coast；theancientcapitalwaseclipsedbytheartsandopulenceofAlexandria；thepalaces，andatlengththetemples，werereducedtoadesolateandruinouscondition:yet，intheageofAugustus，andeveninthatofConstantine，Memphiswasstillnumberedamongthegreatestandmostpopulousoftheprovincialcities。^101ThebanksoftheNile，inthisplaceofthebreadthofthreethousandfeet，wereunitedbytwobridgesofsixtyandofthirtyboats，connectedinthemiddlestreambythesmallislandofRouda，whichwascoveredwithgardensandhabitations。
^102TheeasternextremityofthebridgewasterminatedbythetownofBabylonandthecampofaRomanlegion，whichprotectedthepassageoftheriverandthesecondcapitalofEgypt。Thisimportantfortress，whichmightfairlybedescribedasapartofMemphisorMisrah，wasinvestedbythearmsofthelieutenantofOmar:areenforcementoffourthousandSaracenssoonarrivedinhiscamp；andthemilitaryengines，whichbatteredthewalls，maybeimputedtotheartandlaborofhisSyrianallies。Yetthesiegewasprotractedtosevenmonths；andtherashinvaderswereencompassedandthreatenedbytheinundationoftheNile。^103
Theirlastassaultwasboldandsuccessful:theypassedtheditch，whichhadbeenfortifiedwithironspikes，appliedtheirscalingladders，enteredthefortresswiththeshoutof\"Godisvictorious!\"anddrovetheremnantoftheGreekstotheirboatsandtheIsleofRouda。ThespotwasafterwardsrecommendedtotheconquerorbytheeasycommunicationwiththegulfandthepeninsulaofArabia；theremainsofMemphisweredeserted；thetentsoftheArabswereconvertedintopermanenthabitations；andthefirstmoschwasblessedbythepresenceoffourscorecompanionsofMahomet。^104Anewcityaroseintheircamp，ontheeastwardbankoftheNile；andthecontiguousquartersofBabylonandFostatareconfoundedintheirpresentdecaybytheappellationofoldMisrah，orCairo，ofwhichtheyformanextensivesuburb。ButthenameofCairo，thetownofvictory，morestrictlybelongstothemoderncapital，whichwasfoundedinthetenthcenturybytheFatimitecaliphs。^105Ithasgraduallyrecededfromtheriver；butthecontinuityofbuildingsmaybetracedbyanattentiveeyefromthemonumentsofSesostristothoseofSaladin。^106
[Footnote101:Strabo，anaccurateandattentivespectator，observesofHeliopolis，Geograph。l。xvii。p。1158；butofMemphishenotices，however，themixtureofinhabitants，andtheruinofthepalaces。IntheproperEgypt，AmmianusenumeratesMemphisamongthefourcities，maximisurbibusquibusprovincianitet，xxii。16；andthenameofMemphisappearswithdistinctionintheRomanItineraryandepiscopallists。]
[Footnote102:Theserareandcuriousfacts，thebreadth2946
feetandthebridgeoftheNile，areonlytobefoundintheDanishtravellerandtheNubiangeographer，p。98。]
[Footnote103:FromthemonthofApril，theNilebeginsimperceptiblytorise；theswellbecomesstrongandvisibleinthemoonafterthesummersolstice，Plin。Hist。Nat。v。10，andisusuallyproclaimedatCairoonSt。Peter\'sday，June29。A
registerofthirtysuccessiveyearsmarksthegreatestheightofthewatersbetweenJuly25andAugust18，Maillet，Descriptiondel\'Egypte，lettrexi。p。67，&c。Pocock\'sDescriptionoftheEast，vol。i。p。200。Shaw\'sTravels，p。383。]
[Footnote104:Murtadi，Merveillesdel\'Egypte，243，259。Heexpatiatesonthesubjectwiththezealandminutenessofacitizenandabigot，andhislocaltraditionshaveastrongairoftruthandaccuracy。]
[Footnote105:D\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。233。]
[Footnote106:ThepositionofNewandofOldCairoiswellknown，andhasbeenoftendescribed。Twowriters，whowereintimatelyacquaintedwithancientandmodernEgypt，havefixed，afteralearnedinquiry，thecityofMemphisatGizeh，directlyoppositetheOldCairo，Sicard，NouveauxMemoiresdesMissionsduLevant，tom。vi。p。5，6。Shaw\'sObservationsandTravels，p。
296—304。YetwemaynotdisregardtheauthorityortheargumentsofPocock，vol。i。p。25—41，Niebuhr，Voyage，tom。
i。p。77—106，andaboveall，ofD\'Anville，Descriptiondel\'Egypte，p。111，112，130—149，whohaveremovedMemphistowardsthevillageofMohannah，somemilesfarthertothesouth。
Intheirheat，thedisputantshaveforgotthattheamplespaceofametropoliscoversandannihilatesthefargreaterpartofthecontroversy。]
YettheArabs，afteragloriousandprofitableenterprise，musthaveretreatedtothedesert，hadtheynotfoundapowerfulallianceintheheartofthecountry。TherapidconquestofAlexanderwasassistedbythesuperstitionandrevoltofthenatives:theyabhorredtheirPersianoppressors，thedisciplesoftheMagi，whohadburntthetemplesofEgypt，andfeastedwithsacrilegiousappetiteonthefleshofthegodApis。^107Afteraperiodoftencenturies，thesamerevolutionwasrenewedbyasimilarcause；andinthesupportofanincomprehensiblecreed，thezealoftheCopticChristianswasequallyardent。IhavealreadyexplainedtheoriginandprogressoftheMonophysitecontroversy，andthepersecutionoftheemperors，whichconvertedasectintoanation，andalienatedEgyptfromtheirreligionandgovernment。TheSaracenswerereceivedasthedeliverersoftheJacobitechurch；andasecretandeffectualtreatywasopenedduringthesiegeofMemphisbetweenavictoriousarmyandapeopleofslaves。ArichandnobleEgyptian，ofthenameofMokawkas，haddissembledhisfaithtoobtaintheadministrationofhisprovince:inthedisordersofthePersianwarheaspiredtoindependence:theembassyofMahometrankedhimamongprinces；
buthedeclined，withrichgiftsandambiguouscompliments，theproposalofanewreligion。^108TheabuseofhistrustexposedhimtotheresentmentofHeraclius:hissubmissionwasdelayedbyarroganceandfear；andhisconsciencewaspromptedbyinteresttothrowhimselfonthefavorofthenationandthesupportoftheSaracens。InhisfirstconferencewithAmrou，heheardwithoutindignationtheusualoptionoftheKoran，thetribute，orthesword。\"TheGreeks，\"repliedMokawkas，\"aredeterminedtoabidethedeterminationofthesword；butwiththeGreeksI
desirenocommunion，eitherinthisworldorinthenext，andI
abjureforevertheByzantinetyrant，hissynodofChalcedon，andhisMelchiteslaves。Formyselfandmybrethren，weareresolvedtoliveanddieintheprofessionofthegospelandunityofChrist。Itisimpossibleforustoembracetherevelationsofyourprophet；butwearedesirousofpeace，andcheerfullysubmittopaytributeandobediencetohistemporalsuccessors。\"ThetributewasascertainedattwopiecesofgoldfortheheadofeveryChristian；butoldmen，monks，women，andchildren，ofbothsexes，undersixteenyearsofage，wereexemptedfromthispersonalassessment:theCoptsaboveandbelowMemphissworeallegiancetothecaliph，andpromisedahospitableentertainmentofthreedaystoeveryMussulmanwhoshouldtravelthroughtheircountry。Bythischarterofsecurity，theecclesiasticalandciviltyrannyoftheMelchiteswasdestroyed:^109theanathemasofSt。Cyrilwerethunderedfromeverypulpit；andthesacrededifices，withthepatrimonyofthechurch，wererestoredtothenationalcommunionoftheJacobites，whoenjoyedwithoutmoderationthemomentoftriumphandrevenge。AtthepressingsummonsofAmrou，theirpatriarchBenjaminemergedfromhisdesert；andafterthefirstinterview，thecourteousArabaffectedtodeclarethathehadneverconversedwithaChristianpriestofmoreinnocentmannersandamorevenerableaspect。^110
InthemarchfromMemphistoAlexandria，thelieutenantofOmarintrustedhissafetytothezealandgratitudeoftheEgyptians:
theroadsandbridgeswerediligentlyrepaired；andineverystepofhisprogress，hecoulddependonaconstantsupplyofprovisionsandintelligence。TheGreeksofEgypt，whosenumberscouldscarcelyequalatenthofthenatives，wereoverwhelmedbytheuniversaldefection:theyhadeverbeenhated，theywerenolongerfeared:themagistratefledfromhistribunal，thebishopfromhisaltar；andthedistantgarrisonsweresurprisedorstarvedbythesurroundingmultitudes。HadnottheNileaffordedasafeandreadyconveyancetothesea，notanindividualcouldhaveescaped，whobybirth，orlanguage，oroffice，orreligion，wasconnectedwiththeirodiousname。
[Footnote107:SeeHerodotus，l。iii。c。27，28，29。Aelian，Hist。Var。l。iv。c。8。Suidasin，tom。ii。p。774。Diodor。
Sicul。tom。ii。l。xvii。p。197，edit。Wesseling。Saysthelastofthesehistorians。]
[Footnote108:MokawkassenttheprophettwoCopticdamsels，withtwomaidsandoneeunuch，analabastervase，aningotofpuregold，oil，honey，andthefinestwhitelinenofEgypt，withahorse，amule，andanass，distinguishedbytheirrespectivequalifications。TheembassyofMahometwasdespatchedfromMedinaintheseventhyearoftheHegira，A。D。628。SeeGagnier，ViedeMahomet，tom。ii。p。255，256，303，fromAlJannabi。]
[Footnote109:ThepraefectureofEgypt，andtheconductofthewar，hadbeentrustedbyHeracliustothepatriarchCyrus，Theophan。p。280，281。\"InSpain，\"saidJamesII。，\"doyounotconsultyourpriests?\"\"Wedo，\"repliedtheCatholicambassador，\"andouraffairssucceedaccordingly。\"IknownothowtorelatetheplansofCyrus，ofpayingtributewithoutimpairingtherevenue，andofconvertingOmarbyhismarriagewiththeEmperor\'sdaughter，Nicephor。Breviar。p。17，18。]
[Footnote110:SeethelifeofBenjamin，inRenaudot，Hist。
Patriarch。Alexandrin。p。156—172，whohasenrichedtheconquestofEgyptwithsomefactsfromtheArabictextofSeverustheJacobitehistorian]
BytheretreatoftheGreeksfromtheprovincesofUpperEgypt，aconsiderableforcewascollectedintheIslandofDelta；
thenaturalandartificialchannelsoftheNileaffordedasuccessionofstronganddefensibleposts；andtheroadtoAlexandriawaslaboriouslyclearedbythevictoryoftheSaracensintwo—and—twentydaysofgeneralorpartialcombat。Intheirannalsofconquest，thesiegeofAlexandria^111isperhapsthemostarduousandimportantenterprise。Thefirsttradingcityintheworldwasabundantlyreplenishedwiththemeansofsubsistenceanddefence。Hernumerousinhabitantsfoughtforthedearestofhumanrights，religionandproperty；andtheenmityofthenativesseemedtoexcludethemfromthecommonbenefitofpeaceandtoleration。Theseawascontinuallyopen；andifHeracliushadbeenawaketothepublicdistress，fresharmiesofRomansandBarbariansmighthavebeenpouredintotheharbortosavethesecondcapitaloftheempire。AcircumferenceoftenmileswouldhavescatteredtheforcesoftheGreeks，andfavoredthestratagemsofanactiveenemy；butthetwosidesofanoblongsquarewerecoveredbytheseaandtheLakeMaraeotis，andeachofthenarrowendsexposedafrontofnomorethantenfurlongs。
TheeffortsoftheArabswerenotinadequatetothedifficultyoftheattemptandthevalueoftheprize。FromthethroneofMedina，theeyesofOmarwerefixedonthecampandcity:hisvoiceexcitedtoarmstheArabiantribesandtheveteransofSyria；andthemeritofaholywarwasrecommendedbythepeculiarfameandfertilityofEgypt。Anxiousfortheruinorexpulsionoftheirtyrants，thefaithfulnativesdevotedtheirlaborstotheserviceofAmrou:somesparksofmartialspiritwereperhapsrekindledbytheexampleoftheirallies；andthesanguinehopesofMokawkashadfixedhissepulchreinthechurchofSt。JohnofAlexandria。Eutychiusthepatriarchobserves，thattheSaracensfoughtwiththecourageoflions:theyrepulsedthefrequentandalmostdailysalliesofthebesieged，andsoonassaultedintheirturnthewallsandtowersofthecity。Ineveryattack，thesword，thebannerofAmrou，glitteredinthevanoftheMoslems。Onamemorableday，hewasbetrayedbyhisimprudentvalor:hisfollowerswhohadenteredthecitadelweredrivenback；andthegeneral，withafriendandslave，remainedaprisonerinthehandsoftheChristians。WhenAmrouwasconductedbeforethepraefect，herememberedhisdignity，andforgothissituation:aloftydemeanor，andresolutelanguage，revealedthelieutenantofthecaliph，andthebattle—axeofasoldierwasalreadyraisedtostrikeofftheheadoftheaudaciouscaptive。
Hislifewassavedbythereadinessofhisslave，whoinstantlygavehismasterablowontheface，andcommandedhim，withanangrytone，tobesilentinthepresenceofhissuperiors。ThecredulousGreekwasdeceived:helistenedtotheofferofatreaty，andhisprisonersweredismissedinthehopeofamorerespectableembassy，tillthejoyfulacclamationsofthecampannouncedthereturnoftheirgeneral，andinsultedthefollyoftheinfidels。Atlength，afterasiegeoffourteenmonths，^112
andthelossofthree—and—twentythousandmen，theSaracensprevailed:theGreeksembarkedtheirdispiritedanddiminishednumbers，andthestandardofMahometwasplantedonthewallsofthecapitalofEgypt。\"Ihavetaken，\"saidAmroutothecaliph，\"thegreatcityoftheWest。Itisimpossibleformetoenumeratethevarietyofitsrichesandbeauty；andIshallcontentmyselfwithobserving，thatitcontainsfourthousandpalaces，fourthousandbaths，fourhundredtheatresorplacesofamusement，twelvethousandshopsforthesaleofvegetablefood，andfortythousandtributaryJews。Thetownhasbeensubduedbyforceofarms，withouttreatyorcapitulation，andtheMoslemsareimpatienttoseizethefruitsoftheirvictory。\"^113Thecommanderofthefaithfulrejectedwithfirmnesstheideaofpillage，anddirectedhislieutenanttoreservethewealthandrevenueofAlexandriaforthepublicserviceandthepropagationofthefaith:theinhabitantswerenumbered；atributewasimposed，thezealandresentmentoftheJacobiteswerecurbed，andtheMelchiteswhosubmittedtotheArabianyokewereindulgedintheobscurebuttranquilexerciseoftheirworship。Theintelligenceofthisdisgracefulandcalamitouseventafflictedthedeclininghealthoftheemperor；andHeracliusdiedofadropsyaboutsevenweeksafterthelossofAlexandria。^114Undertheminorityofhisgrandson，theclamorsofapeople，deprivedoftheirdailysustenance，compelledtheByzantinecourttoundertaketherecoveryofthecapitalofEgypt。Inthespaceoffouryears，theharborandfortificationsofAlexandriaweretwiceoccupiedbyafleetandarmyofRomans。TheyweretwiceexpelledbythevalorofAmrou，whowasrecalledbythedomesticperilfromthedistantwarsofTripoliandNubia。Butthefacilityoftheattempt，therepetitionoftheinsult，andtheobstinacyoftheresistance，provokedhimtoswear，thatifathirdtimehedrovetheinfidelsintothesea，hewouldrenderAlexandriaasaccessibleonallsidesasthehouseofaprostitute。Faithfultohispromise，hedismantledseveralpartsofthewallsandtowers；butthepeoplewassparedinthechastisementofthecity，andthemoschofMercywaserectedonthespotwherethevictoriousgeneralhadstoppedthefuryofhistroops。
[Footnote111:ThelocaldescriptionofAlexandriaisperfectlyascertainedbythemasterhandofthefirstofgeographers，D\'Anville，Memoiresurl\'Egypte，p。52—63；butwemayborrowtheeyesofthemoderntravellers，moreespeciallyofThevenot，VoyageauLevant，parti。p。381—395，Pocock，vol。i。p。2—
13，andNiebuhr，VoyageenArabie，tom。i。p。34—43。Ofthetwomodernrivals，SavaryandVolmey，theonemayamuse，theotherwillinstruct。]
[Footnote112:BothEutychiusAnnal。tom。ii。p。319andElmacinHist。Saracen。p。28concurinfixingthetakingofAlexandriatoFridayofthenewmoonofMoharramofthetwentiethyearoftheHegira，December22，A。D。640。InreckoningbackwardsfourteenmonthsspentbeforeAlexandria，sevenmonthsbeforeBabylon，&c。，AmroumighthaveinvadedEgyptabouttheendoftheyear638；butweareassuredthatheenteredthecountrythe12thofBayni，6thofJune，Murtadi，Merveillesdel\'Egypte，p。164。Severus，apudRenaudot，p。162。TheSaracen，andafterwardsLewisIX。ofFrance，haltedatPelusium，orDamietta，duringtheseasonoftheinundationoftheNile。]
[Footnote113:Eutych。Annal。tom。ii。p。316，319。]
[Footnote114:NotwithstandingsomeinconsistenciesofTheophanesandCedrenus，theaccuracyofPagiCritica，tom。ii。p。824hasextractedfromNicephorusandtheChroniconOrientalethetruedateofthedeathofHeraclius，February11th，A。D。641，fiftydaysafterthelossofAlexandria。Afourthofthattimewassufficienttoconveytheintelligence。]
ChapterLI:ConquestsByTheArabs。
PartVII。
Ishoulddeceivetheexpectationofthereader，ifIpassedinsilencethefateoftheAlexandrianlibrary，asitisdescribedbythelearnedAbulpharagius。ThespiritofAmrouwasmorecuriousandliberalthanthatofhisbrethren，andinhisleisurehours，theArabianchiefwaspleasedwiththeconversationofJohn，thelastdiscipleofAmmonius，andwhoderivedthesurnameofPhiloponusfromhislaboriousstudiesofgrammarandphilosophy。^115Emboldenedbythisfamiliarintercourse，Philoponuspresumedtosolicitagift，inestimableinhisopinion，contemptibleinthatoftheBarbarians—theroyallibrary，whichalone，amongthespoilsofAlexandria，hadnotbeenappropriatedbythevisitandthesealoftheconqueror。
Amrouwasinclinedtogratifythewishofthegrammarian，buthisrigidintegrityrefusedtoalienatetheminutestobjectwithouttheconsentofthecaliph；andthewell—knownanswerofOmarwasinspiredbytheignoranceofafanatic。\"IfthesewritingsoftheGreeksagreewiththebookofGod，theyareuseless，andneednotbepreserved:iftheydisagree，theyarepernicious，andoughttobedestroyed。\"Thesentencewasexecutedwithblindobedience:thevolumesofpaperorparchmentweredistributedtothefourthousandbathsofthecity；andsuchwastheirincrediblemultitude，thatsixmonthswerebarelysufficientfortheconsumptionofthispreciousfuel。SincetheDynastiesofAbulpharagius^116havebeengiventotheworldinaLatinversion，thetalehasbeenrepeatedlytranscribed；andeveryscholar，withpiousindignation，hasdeploredtheirreparableshipwreckofthelearning，thearts，andthegenius，ofantiquity。Formyownpart，Iamstronglytemptedtodenyboththefactandtheconsequences。Thefactisindeedmarvellous。
\"Readandwonder!\"saysthehistorianhimself:andthesolitaryreportofastrangerwhowroteattheendofsixhundredyearsontheconfinesofMedia，isoverbalancedbythesilenceoftwoannalistofamoreearlydate，bothChristians，bothnativesofEgypt，andthemostancientofwhom，thepatriarchEutychius，hasamplydescribedtheconquestofAlexandria。^117TherigidsentenceofOmarisrepugnanttothesoundandorthodoxpreceptoftheMahometancasuiststheyexpresslydeclare，thatthereligiousbooksoftheJewsandChristians，whichareacquiredbytherightofwar，shouldneverbecommittedtotheflames；andthattheworksofprofanescience，historiansorpoets，physiciansorphilosophers，maybelawfullyappliedtotheuseofthefaithful。^118AmoredestructivezealmayperhapsbeattributedtothefirstsuccessorsofMahomet；yetinthisinstance，theconflagrationwouldhavespeedilyexpiredinthedeficiencyofmaterials。IshouldnotrecapitulatethedisastersoftheAlexandrianlibrary，theinvoluntaryflamethatwaskindledbyCaesarinhisowndefence，^119orthemischievousbigotryoftheChristians，whostudiedtodestroythemonumentsofidolatry。^120ButifwegraduallydescendfromtheageoftheAntoninestothatofTheodosius，weshalllearnfromachainofcontemporarywitnesses，thattheroyalpalaceandthetempleofSerapisnolongercontainedthefour，ortheseven，hundredthousandvolumes，whichhadbeenassembledbythecuriosityandmagnificenceofthePtolemies。^121Perhapsthechurchandseatofthepatriarchsmightbeenrichedwitharepositoryofbooks；