Thewoodenturretsofassaultwererolledforwardstothefootoftherampart；butthedefenceofMeridawasobstinateandlong；
andthecastleofthemartyrswasaperpetualtestimonyofthelossesoftheMoslems。Theconstancyofthebesiegedwasatlengthsubduedbyfamineanddespair；andtheprudentvictordisguisedhisimpatienceunderthenamesofclemencyandesteem。
Thealternativeofexileortributewasallowed；thechurchesweredividedbetweenthetworeligions；andthewealthofthosewhohadfalleninthesiege，orretiredtoGallicia，wasconfiscatedastherewardofthefaithful。InthemidwaybetweenMeridaandToledo，thelieutenantofMusasalutedthevicegerentofthecaliph，andconductedhimtothepalaceoftheGothickings。Theirfirstinterviewwascoldandformal:arigidaccountwasexactedofthetreasuresofSpain:thecharacterofTarikwasexposedtosuspicionandobloquy；andtheherowasimprisoned，reviled，andignominiouslyscourgedbythehand，orthecommand，ofMusa。Yetsostrictwasthediscipline，sopurethezeal，orsotamethespirit，oftheprimitiveMoslems，that，afterthispublicindignity，TarikcouldserveandbetrustedinthereductionoftheTarragonestprovince。AmoschwaserectedatSaragossa，bytheliberalityoftheKoreish:theportofBarcelonawasopenedtothevesselsofSyria；andtheGothswerepursuedbeyondthePyrenaeanmountainsintotheirGallicprovinceofSeptimaniaorLanguedoc。^184InthechurchofSt。MaryatCarcassone，Musafound，butitisimprobablethatheleft，sevenequestrianstatuesofmassysilver；andfromhistermorcolumnofNarbonne，hereturnedonhisfootstepstotheGallicianandLusitanianshoresoftheocean。Duringtheabsenceofthefather，hissonAbdelazizchastisedtheinsurgentsofSeville，andreduced，fromMalagatoValentia，thesea—coastoftheMediterranean:hisoriginaltreatywiththediscreetandvaliantTheodemir^185willrepresentthemannersandpolicyofthetimes。\"TheconditionsofpeaceagreedandswornbetweenAbdelaziz，thesonofMusa，thesonofNassir，andTheodemirprinceoftheGoths。InthenameofthemostmercifulGod，Abdelazizmakespeaceontheseconditions:thatTheodemirshallnotbedisturbedinhisprincipality；noranyinjurybeofferedtothelifeorproperty，thewivesandchildren，thereligionandtemples，oftheChristians:thatTheodemirshallfreelydeliverhissevencities，Orihuela，Valentola，AlicantiMola，Vacasora，Bigerra，nowBejar，Ora，orOpta，andLorca:thatheshallnotassistorentertaintheenemiesofthecaliph，butshallfaithfullycommunicatehisknowledgeoftheirhostiledesigns:thathimself，andeachoftheGothicnobles，shallannuallypayonepieceofgold，fourmeasuresofwheat，asmanyofbarley，withacertainproportionofhoney，oil，andvinegar；
andthateachoftheirvassalsshallbetaxedatonemoietyofthesaidimposition。GiventhefourthofRegeb，intheyearoftheHegiraninety—four，andsubscribedwiththenamesoffourMussulmanwitnesses。\"^186Theodemirandhissubjectsweretreatedwithuncommonlenity；buttherateoftributeappearstohavefluctuatedfromatenthtoafifth，accordingtothesubmissionorobstinacyoftheChristians。^187Inthisrevolution，manypartialcalamitieswereinflictedbythecarnalorreligiouspassionsoftheenthusiasts:somechurcheswereprofanedbythenewworship:somerelicsorimageswereconfoundedwithidols:therebelswereputtothesword；andonetownanobscureplacebetweenCordovaandSevillewasrazedtoitsfoundations。YetifwecomparetheinvasionofSpainbytheGoths，oritsrecoverybythekingsofCastileandArragon，wemustapplaudthemoderationanddisciplineoftheArabianconquerors。
[Footnote183:ThehonorablerelicsoftheCantabrianwarDionCassius，l。liiip。720wereplantedinthismetropolisofLusitania，perhapsofSpain，submittitcuitotasuosHispaniafasces。NoniusHispania，c。31，p。106—110enumeratestheancientstructures，butconcludeswithasigh:Urbshaecolimnobilissimaadmagnamincolaruminfrequentiamdelapsaest，etpraeterpriscaeclaritatisruinasnihilostendit。]
[Footnote184:BoththeinterpretersofNovairi，DeGuignesHist。desHuns，tom。i。p。349andCardonne，Hist。del\'Afriqueetdel\'Espagne，tom。i。p。93，94，104，135，leadMusaintotheNarbonneseGaul。ButIfindnomentionofthisenterprise，eitherinRodericofToledo，ortheMss。oftheEscurial，andtheinvasionoftheSaracensispostponedbyaFrenchchronicletilltheixthyearaftertheconquestofSpain，A。D。721，Pagi，Critica，tom。iii。p。177，195。HistoriansofFrance，tom。iii。ImuchquestionwhetherMusaeverpassedthePyrenees。]
[Footnote185:FourhundredyearsafterTheodemir，histerritoriesofMurciaandCarthagenaretainintheNubiangeographerEdrisip，154，161thenameofTadmir，D\'Anville，Etatsdel\'Europe，p。156。Pagi，tom。iii。p。174。InthepresentdecayofSpanishagriculture，Mr。SwinburneTravelsintoSpain，p。119surveyedwithpleasurethedeliciousvalleyfromMurciatoOrihuela，fourleaguesandahalfofthefinestcornpulse，lucerne，oranges，&c。]
[Footnote*:Gibbonhasmadeeightcities:inConde\'stranslationBigeradoesnotappear。—M。]
[Footnote186:SeethetreatyinArabicandLatin，intheBibliothecaArabico—Hispana，tom。ii。p。105，106。Itissignedthe4thofthemonthofRegeb，A。H。94，the5thofApril，A。D。
713；adatewhichseemstoprolongtheresistanceofTheodemir，andthegovernmentofMusa。]
[Footnote187:FromthehistoryofSandoval，p。87。FleuryHist。Eccles。tom。ix。p。261hasgiventhesubstanceofanothertreatyconcludedAAe。C。782，A。D。734，betweenanArabianchiefandtheGothsandRomans，oftheterritoryofConimbrainPortugal。Thetaxofthechurchesisfixedattwenty—fivepoundsofgold；ofthemonasteries，fifty；ofthecathedrals，onehundred；theChristiansarejudgedbytheircount，butincapitalcaseshemustconsultthealcaide。Thechurchdoorsmustbeshut，andtheymustrespectthenameofMahomet。Ihavenottheoriginalbeforeme；itwouldconfirmordestroyadarksuspicion，thatthepiecehasbeenforgedtointroducetheimmunityofaneighboringconvent。]
TheexploitsofMusawereperformedintheeveningoflife，thoughheaffectedtodisguisehisagebycoloringwitharedpowderthewhitenessofhisbeard。Butintheloveofactionandglory，hisbreastwasstillfiredwiththeardorofyouth；andthepossessionofSpainwasconsideredonlyasthefirststeptothemonarchyofEurope。Withapowerfularmamentbyseaandland，hewaspreparingtorepassthePyrenees，toextinguishinGaulandItalythedecliningkingdomsoftheFranksandLombards，andtopreachtheunityofGodonthealtaroftheVatican。Fromthence，subduingtheBarbariansofGermany，heproposedtofollowthecourseoftheDanubefromitssourcetotheEuxineSea，tooverthrowtheGreekorRomanempireofConstantinople，andreturningfromEuropetoAsia，tounitehisnewacquisitionswithAntiochandtheprovincesofSyria。^188Buthisvastenterprise，perhapsofeasyexecution，musthaveseemedextravaganttovulgarminds；andthevisionaryconquerorwassoonremindedofhisdependenceandservitude。ThefriendsofTarikhadeffectuallystatedhisservicesandwrongs:atthecourtofDamascus，theproceedingsofMusawereblamed，hisintentionsweresuspected，andhisdelayincomplyingwiththefirstinvitationwaschastisedbyaharsherandmoreperemptorysummons。AnintrepidmessengerofthecaliphenteredhiscampatLugoinGallicia，andinthepresenceoftheSaracensandChristiansarrestedthebridleofhishorse。Hisownloyalty，orthatofhistroops，inculcatedthedutyofobedience:andhisdisgracewasalleviatedbytherecallofhisrival，andthepermissionofinvestingwithhistwogovernmentshistwosons，AbdallahandAbdelaziz。HislongtriumphfromCeutatoDamascusdisplayedthespoilsofAfricaandthetreasuresofSpain:fourhundredGothicnobles，withgoldcoronetsandgirdles，weredistinguishedinhistrain；
andthenumberofmaleandfemalecaptives，selectedfortheirbirthorbeauty，wascomputedateighteen，orevenatthirty，thousandpersons。AssoonashereachedTiberiasinPalestine，hewasapprisedofthesicknessanddangerofthecaliph，byaprivatemessagefromSoliman，hisbrotherandpresumptiveheir；
whowishedtoreserveforhisownreignthespectacleofvictory。
HadWalidrecovered，thedelayofMusawouldhavebeencriminal:
hepursuedhismarch，andfoundanenemyonthethrone。Inhistrialbeforeapartialjudgeagainstapopularantagonist，hewasconvictedofvanityandfalsehood；andafineoftwohundredthousandpiecesofgoldeitherexhaustedhispovertyorprovedhisrapaciousness。TheunworthytreatmentofTarikwasrevengedbyasimilarindignity；andtheveterancommander，afterapublicwhipping，stoodawholedayinthesunbeforethepalacegate，tillheobtainedadecentexile，underthepiousnameofapilgrimagetoMecca。TheresentmentofthecaliphmighthavebeensatiatedwiththeruinofMusa；buthisfearsdemandedtheextirpationofapotentandinjuredfamily。AsentenceofdeathwasintimatedwithsecrecyandspeedtothetrustyservantsofthethronebothinAfricaandSpain；andtheforms，ifnotthesubstance，ofjusticeweresupersededinthisbloodyexecution。
InthemoschorpalaceofCordova，Abdelazizwasslainbytheswordsoftheconspirators；theyaccusedtheirgovernorofclaimingthehonorsofroyalty；andhisscandalousmarriagewithEgilona，thewidowofRoderic，offendedtheprejudicesbothoftheChristiansandMoslems。Byarefinementofcruelty，theheadofthesonwaspresentedtothefather，withaninsultingquestion，whetherheacknowledgedthefeaturesoftherebel?\"I
knowhisfeatures，\"heexclaimedwithindignation:\"Iasserthisinnocence；andIimprecatethesame，ajusterfate，againsttheauthorsofhisdeath。\"TheageanddespairofMusaraisedhimabovethepowerofkings；andheexpiredatMeccaoftheanguishofabrokenheart。Hisrivalwasmorefavorablytreated:hisserviceswereforgiven；andTarikwaspermittedtominglewiththecrowdofslaves。^189IamignorantwhetherCountJulianwasrewardedwiththedeathwhichhedeservedindeed，thoughnotfromthehandsoftheSaracens；butthetaleoftheiringratitudetothesonsofWitizaisdisprovedbythemostunquestionableevidence。Thetworoyalyouthswerereinstatedintheprivatepatrimonyoftheirfather；butonthedeceaseofEba，theelder，hisdaughterwasunjustlydespoiledofherportionbytheviolenceofheruncleSigebut。TheGothicmaidpleadedhercausebeforethecaliphHashem，andobtainedtherestitutionofherinheritance；butshewasgiveninmarriagetoanobleArabian，andtheirtwosons，IsaacandIbrahim，werereceivedinSpainwiththeconsiderationthatwasduetotheiroriginandriches。
[Footnote188:Thisdesign，whichisattestedbyseveralArabianhistorians，Cardonne，tom。i。p。95，96，maybecomparedwiththatofMithridates，tomarchfromtheCrimaeatoRome；orwiththatofCaesar，toconquertheEast，andreturnhomebytheNorth；andallthreeareperhapssurpassedbytherealandsuccessfulenterpriseofHannibal。]
[Footnote189:Imuchregretourloss，ormyignorance，oftwoArabicworksoftheviiithcentury，aLifeofMusa，andapoemontheexploitsofTarik。Oftheseauthenticpieces，theformerwascomposedbyagrandsonofMusa，whohadescapedfromthemassacreofhiskindred；thelatter，bythevizierofthefirstAbdalrahman，caliphofSpain，whomighthaveconversedwithsomeoftheveteransoftheconqueror，Bibliot。Arabico—Hispana，tom。
ii。p。36，139。]
Aprovinceisassimilatedtothevictoriousstatebytheintroductionofstrangersandtheimitativespiritofthenatives；andSpain，whichhadbeensuccessivelytincturedwithPunic，andRoman，andGothicblood，imbibed，inafewgenerations，thenameandmannersoftheArabs。Thefirstconquerors，andthetwentysuccessivelieutenantsofthecaliphs，wereattendedbyanumeroustrainofcivilandmilitaryfollowers，whopreferredadistantfortunetoanarrowhome:theprivateandpublicinterestwaspromotedbytheestablishmentoffaithfulcolonies；andthecitiesofSpainwereproudtocommemoratethetribeorcountryoftheirEasternprogenitors。
ThevictoriousthoughmotleybandsofTarikandMusaasserted，bythenameofSpaniards，theiroriginalclaimofconquest；yettheyallowedtheirbrethrenofEgypttosharetheirestablishmentsofMurciaandLisbon。TheroyallegionofDamascuswasplantedatCordova；thatofEmesaatSeville；thatofKinnisrinorChalcisatJaen；thatofPalestineatAlgezireandMedinaSidonia。ThenativesofYemenandPersiawerescatteredroundToledoandtheinlandcountry，andthefertileseatsofGrenadawerebestowedontenthousandhorsemenofSyriaandIrak，thechildrenofthepurestandmostnobleoftheArabiantribes。^190Aspiritofemulation，sometimesbeneficial，morefrequentlydangerous，wasnourishedbythesehereditaryfactions。Tenyearsaftertheconquest，amapoftheprovincewaspresentedtothecaliph:theseas，therivers，andtheharbors，theinhabitantsandcities，theclimate，thesoil，andthemineralproductionsoftheearth。
^191Inthespaceoftwocenturies，thegiftsofnaturewereimprovedbytheagriculture，^192themanufactures，andthecommerce，ofanindustriouspeople；andtheeffectsoftheirdiligencehavebeenmagnifiedbytheidlenessoftheirfancy。
ThefirstoftheOmmiadeswhoreignedinSpainsolicitedthesupportoftheChristians；andinhisedictofpeaceandprotection，hecontentshimselfwithamodestimpositionoftenthousandouncesofgold，tenthousandpoundsofsilver，tenthousandhorses，asmanymules，onethousandcuirasses，withanequalnumberofhelmetsandlances。^193Themostpowerfulofhissuccessorsderivedfromthesamekingdomtheannualtributeoftwelvemillionsandforty—fivethousanddinarsorpiecesofgold，aboutsixmillionsofsterlingmoney；^194asumwhich，inthetenthcentury，mostprobablysurpassedtheunitedrevenuesoftheChristiansmonarchs。HisroyalseatofCordovacontainedsixhundredmoschs，ninehundredbaths，andtwohundredthousandhouses；hegavelawstoeightycitiesofthefirst，tothreehundredofthesecondandthirdorder；andthefertilebanksoftheGuadalquivirwereadornedwithtwelvethousandvillagesandhamlets。TheArabsmightexaggeratethetruth，buttheycreatedandtheydescribethemostprosperousaeraoftheriches，thecultivation，andthepopulousnessofSpain。^195
[Footnote190:Bibliot。Arab。Hispana，tom。ii。p。32，252。TheformerofthesequotationsistakenfromaBiographiaHispanica，byanArabianofValentia，seethecopiousExtractsofCasiri，tom。ii。p。30—121；andthelatterfromageneralChronologyoftheCaliphs，andoftheAfricanandSpanishDynasties，withaparticularHistoryofthekingdomofGrenada，ofwhichCasirihasgivenalmostanentireversion，Bibliot。Arabico—Hispana，tom。
ii。p。177—319。Theauthor，EbnKhateb，anativeofGrenada，andacontemporaryofNovairiandAbulfeda，bornA。D。1313，diedA。D。1374，wasanhistorian，geographer，physician，poet，&c。，tom。ii。p。71，72。]
[Footnote191:Cardonne，Hist。del\'Afriqueetdel\'Espagne，tom。
i。p。116，117。]
[Footnote192:Acopioustreatiseofhusbandry，byanArabianofSeville，inthexiithcentury，isintheEscuriallibrary，andCasirihadsomethoughtsoftranslatingit。Hegivesalistoftheauthorsquoted，ArabsaswellasGreeks，Latins，&c。；butitismuchiftheAndalusiansawthesestrangersthroughthemediumofhiscountrymanColumella，Casiri，Bibliot。Arabico—Hispana，tom。i。p。323—338。]
[Footnote193:Bibliot。Arabico—Hispana，tom。ii。p。104。CasiritranslatestheoriginaltestimonyofthehistorianRasis，asitisallegedintheArabicBiographiaHispanica，parsix。ButIammostexceedinglysurprisedattheaddress，PrincipibuscaeterisqueChristianis，HispanissuisCastellae。ThenameofCastellaewasunknownintheviiithcentury；thekingdomwasnoterectedtilltheyear1022，ahundredyearsafterthetimeofRasis，Bibliot。tom。ii。p。330，andtheappellationwasalwaysexpressive，notofatributaryprovince，butofalineofcastlesindependentoftheMoorishyoke，D\'Anville，Etatsdel\'Europe，p。166—170。HadCasiribeenacritic，hewouldhaveclearedadifficulty，perhapsofhisownmaking。]
[Footnote194:Cardonne，tom。i。p。337，338。Hecomputestherevenueat130，000，000ofFrenchlivres。TheentirepictureofpeaceandprosperityrelievesthebloodyuniformityoftheMoorishannals。]
[Footnote195:IamhappyenoughtopossessasplendidandinterestingworkwhichhasonlybeendistributedinpresentsbythecourtofMadridBibliothecaArabico—HispanaEscurialensis，operaetstudioMichaelisCasiri，SyroMaronitoe。Matriti，infolio，tomusprior，1760，tomusposterior，1770。TheexecutionofthisworkdoeshonortotheSpanishpress；theMss。，tothenumberofMDCCCLI。，arejudiciouslyclassedbytheeditor，andhiscopiousextractsthrowsomelightontheMahometanliteratureandhistoryofSpain。Theserelicsarenowsecure，butthetaskhasbeensupinelydelayed，till，intheyear1671，afireconsumedthegreatestpartoftheEscuriallibrary，richinthespoilsofGrenadaandMorocco。
Note:ComparethevaluableworkofConde，HistoriadelaDominaciondelasArabesenEspana。Madrid，1820。—M。]
ThewarsoftheMoslemsweresanctifiedbytheprophet；butamongthevariouspreceptsandexamplesofhislife，thecaliphsselectedthelessonsoftolerationthatmighttendtodisarmtheresistanceoftheunbelievers。ArabiawasthetempleandpatrimonyoftheGodofMahomet；buthebeheldwithlessjealousyandaffectionthenationsoftheearth。Thepolytheistsandidolaters，whowereignorantofhisname，mightbelawfullyextirpatedbyhisvotaries；^196butawisepolicysuppliedtheobligationofjustice；andaftersomeactsofintolerantzeal，theMahometanconquerorsofHindostanhavesparedthepagodsofthatdevoutandpopulouscountry。ThedisciplesofAbraham，ofMoses，andofJesus，weresolemnlyinvitedtoacceptthemoreperfectrevelationofMahomet；butiftheypreferredthepaymentofamoderatetribute，theywereentitledtothefreedomofconscienceandreligiousworship。^197InafieldofbattletheforfeitlivesoftheprisonerswereredeemedbytheprofessionofIslam；thefemaleswereboundtoembracethereligionoftheirmasters，andaraceofsincereproselyteswasgraduallymultipliedbytheeducationoftheinfantcaptives。ButthemillionsofAfricanandAsiaticconverts，whoswelledthenativebandofthefaithfulArabs，musthavebeenallured，ratherthanconstrained，todeclaretheirbeliefinoneGodandtheapostleofGod。Bytherepetitionofasentenceandthelossofaforeskin，thesubjectortheslave，thecaptiveorthecriminal，aroseinamomentthefreeandequalcompanionofthevictoriousMoslems。Everysinwasexpiated，everyengagementwasdissolved:
thevowofcelibacywassupersededbytheindulgenceofnature；
theactivespiritswhosleptinthecloisterwereawakenedbythetrumpetoftheSaracens；andintheconvulsionoftheworld，everymemberofanewsocietyascendedtothenaturallevelofhiscapacityandcourage。ThemindsofthemultitudeweretemptedbytheinvisibleaswellastemporalblessingsoftheArabianprophet；andcharitywillhopethatmanyofhisproselytesentertainedaseriousconvictionofthetruthandsanctityofhisrevelation。Intheeyesofaninquisitivepolytheist，itmustappearworthyofthehumanandthedivinenature。MorepurethanthesystemofZoroaster，moreliberalthanthelawofMoses，thereligionofMahometmightseemlessinconsistentwithreasonthanthecreedofmysteryandsuperstition，which，intheseventhcentury，disgracedthesimplicityofthegospel。
[Footnote196:TheHarbii，astheyarestyled，quitolerarinequeunt，are，1。Thosewho，besidesGod，worshipthesun，moon，oridols。2。Atheists，Utrique，quamdiuprincepsaliquisinterMohammedanossuperest，oppugnaridebentdonecreligionemamplectantur，necrequiesiisconcedendaest，necpretiumacceptandumproobtinendaconscientiaelibertate，Reland，Dissertat。x。deJureMilitariMohammedan。tom。iii。p。14；arigidtheory!]
[Footnote197:Thedistinctionbetweenaproscribedandatoleratedsect，betweentheHarbiiandthepeopleoftheBook，thebelieversinsomedivinerevelation，iscorrectlydefinedintheconversationofthecaliphAlMamumwiththeidolatersorSabaeansofCharrae，Hottinger，Hist。Orient。p。107，108。]
IntheextensiveprovincesofPersiaandAfrica，thenationalreligionhasbeeneradicatedbytheMahometanfaith。
TheambiguoustheologyoftheMagistoodaloneamongthesectsoftheEast；buttheprofanewritingsofZoroaster^198might，underthereverendnameofAbraham，bedexterouslyconnectedwiththechainofdivinerevelation。Theirevilprinciple，thedaemonAhriman，mightberepresentedastherival，orasthecreature，oftheGodoflight。ThetemplesofPersiaweredevoidofimages；buttheworshipofthesunandoffiremightbestigmatizedasagrossandcriminalidolatry。^199ThemildersentimentwasconsecratedbythepracticeofMahomet^200andtheprudenceofthecaliphs；theMagiansorGheberswererankedwiththeJewsandChristiansamongthepeopleofthewrittenlaw；^201