thedespotism，thepomp，andeventheharem，ofasultan；andaChristianpeoplewasoppressedandinsultedbytheascendantoftheeunuchs，whoopenlyprofessed，orsecretlycherished，thereligionofMahomet。Aneloquenthistorianofthetimes^126hasdelineatedthemisfortunesofhiscountry:^127theambitionandfalloftheungratefulMajo；therevoltandpunishmentofhisassassins；theimprisonmentanddeliveranceofthekinghimself；
theprivatefeudsthatarosefromthepublicconfusion；andthevariousformsofcalamityanddiscordwhichafflictedPalermo，theisland，andthecontinent，duringthereignofWilliamtheFirst，andtheminorityofhisson。Theyouth，innocence，andbeautyofWilliamtheSecond，^128endearedhimtothenation:
thefactionswerereconciled；thelawswererevived；andfromthemanhoodtotheprematuredeathofthatamiableprince，Sicilyenjoyedashortseasonofpeace，justice，andhappiness，whosevaluewasenhancedbytheremembranceofthepastandthedreadoffuturity。ThelegitimatemaleposterityofTancredofHautevillewasextinctinthepersonofthesecondWilliam；buthisaunt，thedaughterofRoger，hadmarriedthemostpowerfulprinceoftheage；andHenrytheSixth，thesonofFredericBarbarossa，descendedfromtheAlpstoclaimtheImperialcrownandtheinheritanceofhiswife。Againsttheunanimouswishofafreepeople，thisinheritancecouldonlybeacquiredbyarms；andIampleasedtotranscribethestyleandsenseofthehistorianFalcandus，whowritesatthemoment，andonthespot，withthefeelingsofapatriot，andthepropheticeyeofastatesman。
\"Constantia，thedaughterofSicily，nursedfromhercradleinthepleasuresandplenty，andeducatedintheartsandmanners，ofthisfortunateisle，departedlongsincetoenrichtheBarbarianswithourtreasures，andnowreturns，withhersavageallies，tocontaminatethebeautiesofhervenerableparent。
AlreadyIbeholdtheswarmsofangryBarbarians:ouropulentcities，theplacesflourishinginalongpeace，areshakenwithfear，desolatedbyslaughter，consumedbyrapine，andpollutedbyintemperanceandlust。Iseethemassacreorcaptivityofourcitizens，therapesofourvirginsandmatrons。^129InthisextremityheinterrogatesafriendhowmusttheSiciliansact?
Bytheunanimouselectionofakingofvalorandexperience，SicilyandCalabriamightyetbepreserved；^130forinthelevityoftheApulians，evereagerfornewrevolutions，Icanreposeneitherconfidencenorhope。^131ShouldCalabriabelost，theloftytowers，thenumerousyouth，andthenavalstrength，ofMessina，^132mightguardthepassageagainstaforeigninvader。
IfthesavageGermanscoalescewiththepiratesofMessina；iftheydestroywithfirethefruitfulregion，sooftenwastedbythefiresofMountAetna，^133whatresourcewillbeleftfortheinteriorpartsoftheisland，thesenoblecitieswhichshouldneverbeviolatedbythehostilefootstepsofaBarbarian?^134
Catanahasagainbeenoverwhelmedbyanearthquake:theancientvirtueofSyracuseexpiresinpovertyandsolitude；^135butPalermoisstillcrownedwithadiadem，andhertriplewallsenclosetheactivemultitudesofChristiansandSaracens。Ifthetwonations，underoneking，canunitefortheircommonsafety，theymayrushontheBarbarianswithinvinciblearms。ButiftheSaracens，fatiguedbyarepetitionofinjuries，shouldnowretireandrebel；iftheyshouldoccupythecastlesofthemountainsandsea—coast，theunfortunateChristians，exposedtoadoubleattack，andplacedasitwerebetweenthehammerandtheanvil，mustresignthemselvestohopelessandinevitableservitude。\"
^136Wemustnotforget，thatapriesthereprefershiscountrytohisreligion；andthattheMoslems，whoseallianceheseeks，werestillnumerousandpowerfulinthestateofSicily。
[Footnote126:TheHistoriaSiculaofHugoFalcandus，whichproperlyextendsfrom1154to1169，isinsertedintheviiithvolumeofMuratori\'sCollection，tom。vii。p。259—344，andprecededbyaeloquentprefaceorepistle，p。251—258，deCalamitatibusSiciliae。FalcandushasbeenstyledtheTacitusofSicily；and，afterajust，butimmense，abatement，fromtheisttothexiithcentury，fromasenatortoamonk，Iwouldnotstriphimofhistitle:hisnarrativeisrapidandperspicuous，hisstyleboldandelegant，hisobservationkeen；hehadstudiedmankind，andfeelslikeaman。Icanonlyregretthenarrowandbarrenfieldonwhichhislaborshavebeencast。]
[Footnote127:ThelaboriousBenedictinesl\'ArtdeverifierlesDates，p。896areofopinion，thatthetruenameofFalcandusisFulcandus，orFoucault。Accordingtothem，HuguesFoucalt，aFrenchmanbybirth，andatlengthabbotofSt。Denys，hadfollowedintoSicilyhispatronStephendelaPerche，uncletothemotherofWilliamII。，archbishopofPalermo，andgreatchancellorofthekingdom。YetFalcandushasallthefeelingsofaSicilian；andthetitleofAlumnuswhichhebestowsonhimselfappearstoindicatethathewasborn，oratleasteducated，intheisland。]
[Footnote128:Falcand。p。303。RicharddeSt。GermanobeginshishistoryfromthedeathandpraisesofWilliamII。Aftersomeunmeaningepithets，hethuscontinues:Legisetjustitiaecultustemporesuovigebatinregno；suaeratquilibetsortecontentus；
weretheymortals?abiquepax，ubiquesecuritas，neclatronummetuebatviatorinsidias，necmarisnautaoffendiculapiratarum，Script。RerumItal。tom。viip939。]
[Footnote129:Constantia，primisacunabulisindeliciaruntuarumaffluentiadiutiuseducata，tuisqueinstitutis，doctrinusetmoribusinformata，tandemopibustuisBarbarosdelaturadiscessit:etnunccumimgentibuscopiisrevertitur，utpulcherrimanutricisornamentabarbaricafoeditatecontaminet……Intuarimihijamvideorturbulentasbarbarorumacies……
civitatesopulentasetlocadiuturnapaceflorentia，metuconcutere，caedevastare，rapinisatterere，etfoedareluxuriahinccivesautgladiisintercepti，autservitutedepressi，virginesconstupratae，matronae，&c。]
[Footnote130:Certesiregemnondubiaevirtutiselegerint，necaSaracenisChristianidissentiant，poteritrexcreatusrebuslicetquasidesperatisetperditissubvenire，etincursushostium，siprudenteregerit，propulsare。]
[Footnote131:InApulis，qui，sempernovitategaudentes，novarumrerumstudiisaguntur，nihilarbitrorspeiautfiduciaereponendum。]
[Footnote132:Siciviumtuorumvirtutemetaudaciamattendas，……muriorumetiamambitumdensisturribuscircumseptum。]
[Footnote133:CumerudelitatepiraticaTheutonumconfligatatrocitas，etinteraucbustoslapides，etAethnaeflagrant\'sincendia，&c。]
[Footnote134:Eampartem，quamnobilissimarumcivitatumfulgorillustrat，quaeettotiregnosingularimeruitprivilegiopraeminere，nefariumesset……velbarbarorumingressupollui。
Iwishtotranscribehisflorid，butcurious，description，ofthepalace，city，andluxuriantplainofPalermo。]
[Footnote135:Viresnonsuppetunt，etconatustuostaminopiacivium，quampaucitasbellatorumelidunt。]
[Footnote136:TheNormansandSiciliansappeartobeconfounded。]
Thehopes，oratleastthewishes，ofFalcanduswereatfirstgratifiedbythefreeandunanimouselectionofTancred，thegrandsonofthefirstking，whosebirthwasillegitimate，butwhosecivilandmilitaryvirtuesshonewithoutablemish。Duringfouryears，thetermofhislifeandreign，hestoodinarmsonthefarthestvergeoftheApulianfrontier，againstthepowersofGermany；andtherestitutionofaroyalcaptive，ofConstantiaherself，withoutinjuryorransom，mayappeartosurpassthemostliberalmeasureofpolicyorreason。Afterhisdecease，thekingdomofhiswidowandinfantsonfellwithoutastruggle；andHenrypursuedhisvictoriousmarchfromCapuatoPalermo。ThepoliticalbalanceofItalywasdestroyedbyhissuccess；andifthepopeandthefreecitieshadconsultedtheirobviousandrealinterest，theywouldhavecombinedthepowersofearthandheaventopreventthedangerousunionoftheGermanempirewiththekingdomofSicily。Butthesubtlepolicy，forwhichtheVaticanhassooftenbeenpraisedorarraigned，wasonthisoccasionblindandinactive；andifitweretruethatCelestinetheThirdhadkickedawaytheImperialcrownfromtheheadoftheprostrateHenry，^137suchanactofimpotentpridecouldserveonlytocancelanobligationandprovokeanenemy。TheGenoese，whoenjoyedabeneficialtradeandestablishmentinSicily，listenedtothepromiseofhisboundlessgratitudeandspeedydeparture:
^138theirfleetcommandedthestraitsofMessina，andopenedtheharborofPalermo；andthefirstactofhisgovernmentwastoabolishtheprivileges，andtoseizetheproperty，oftheseimprudentallies。ThelasthopeofFalcanduswasdefeatedbythediscordoftheChristiansandMahometans:theyfoughtinthecapital；severalthousandsofthelatterwereslain；buttheirsurvivingbrethrenfortifiedthemountains，anddisturbedabovethirtyyearsthepeaceoftheisland。BythepolicyofFrederictheSecond，sixtythousandSaracensweretransplantedtoNocerainApulia。IntheirwarsagainsttheRomanchurch，theemperorandhissonMainfroywerestrengthenedanddisgracedbytheserviceoftheenemiesofChrist；andthisnationalcolonymaintainedtheirreligionandmannersintheheartofItaly，tilltheywereextirpated，attheendofthethirteenthcentury，bythezealandrevengeofthehouseofAnjou。^139AllthecalamitieswhichthepropheticoratorhaddeploredweresurpassedbythecrueltyandavariceoftheGermanconqueror。Heviolatedtheroyalsepulchres，andexploredthesecrettreasuresofthepalace，Palermo，andthewholekingdom:thepearlsandjewels，howeverprecious，mightbeeasilyremoved；butonehundredandsixtyhorseswereladenwiththegoldandsilverofSicily。^140
Theyoungking，hismotherandsisters，andthenoblesofbothsexes，wereseparatelyconfinedinthefortressesoftheAlps；
and，ontheslightestrumorofrebellion，thecaptivesweredeprivedoflife，oftheireyes，orofthehopeofposterity。
Constantiaherselfwastouchedwithsympathyforthemiseriesofhercountry；andtheheiressoftheNormanlinemightstruggletocheckherdespotichusband，andtosavethepatrimonyofhernew—bornson，ofanemperorsofamousinthenextageunderthenameofFrederictheSecond。Tenyearsafterthisrevolution，theFrenchmonarchsannexedtotheircrowntheduchyofNormandy:
thesceptreofherancientdukeshadbeentransmitted，byagranddaughterofWilliamtheConqueror，tothehouseofPlantagenet；andtheadventurousNormans，whohadraisedsomanytrophiesinFrance，England，andIreland，inApulia，Sicily，andtheEast，werelost，eitherinvictoryorservitude，amongthevanquishednations。
[Footnote137:ThetestimonyofanEnglishman，ofRogerdeHoveden，p。689，willlightlyweighagainstthesilenceofGermanandItalianhistory，Muratori，Annalid\'Italia，tom。x。
p。156。Thepriestsandpilgrims，whoreturnedfromRome，exalted，byeverytale，theomnipotenceoftheholyfather。]
[Footnote138:EgoenimineocumTeutonicismanerenondebeo，Caffari，Annal。Genuenses，inMuratori，Script。RerumItalicarum，tomvi。p。367，368。]
[Footnote139:FortheSaracensofSicilyandNocera，seetheAnnalsofMuratori，tom。x。p。149，andA。D。1223，1247，
Giannone，tomii。p。385，andoftheoriginals，inMuratori\'sCollection，RicharddeSt。Germano，tom。vii。p。996，MatteoSpinellideGiovenazzo，tom。vii。p。1064，NicholasdeJamsilla，tom。x。p。494，andMatreoVillani，tom。xivl。vii。
p。103。Thelastoftheseinsinuatesthat，inreducingtheSaracensofNocera，CharlesII。ofAnjouemployedratherartificethanviolence。]
[Footnote*:ItisremarkablethatatthesametimethetombsoftheRomanemperors，evenofConstantinehimself，wereviolatedandransackedbytheirdegeneratesuccessorAlexiusComnenus，inordertoenablehimtopaythe\"German\"tributeexactedbythemenacesoftheemperorHenry。SeetheendofthefirstbookoftheLifeofAlexius，inNicetas，p。632，edit。—M。]
[Footnote140:MuratoriquotesapassagefromArnoldofLubec，l。iv。c。20:Reperitthesaurosabsconditos，etomnemlapidumpretiosorumetgemmarumgloriam，itautoneratis160somariis，glorioseadterramsuamredierit。RogerdeHoveden，whomentionstheviolationoftheroyaltombsandcorpses，computesthespoilofSalernoat200，000ouncesofgold，p。746。Ontheseoccasions，IamalmosttemptedtoexclaimwiththelisteningmaidinLaFontaine，\"Jevoudroisbienavoircequimanque。\"]
ChapterLVII:TheTurks。
PartI。
TheTurksOfTheHouseOfSeljuk。—TheirRevoltAgainstMahmudConquerorOfHindostan。—TogrulSubduesPersia，AndProtectsTheCaliphs。—DefeatAndCaptivityOfTheEmperorRomanusDiogenesByAlpArslan。—PowerAndMagnificenceOfMalekShah。—ConquestOfAsiaMinorAndSyria。—StateAndOppressionOfJerusalem。—PilgrimagesToTheHolySepulchre。
FromtheIsleofSicily，thereadermusttransporthimselfbeyondtheCaspianSea，totheoriginalseatoftheTurksorTurkmans，againstwhomthefirstcrusadewasprincipallydirected。TheirScythianempireofthesixthcenturywaslongsincedissolved；butthenamewasstillfamousamongtheGreeksandOrientals；andthefragmentsofthenation，eachapowerfulandindependentpeople，werescatteredoverthedesertfromChinatotheOxusandtheDanube:thecolonyofHungarianswasadmittedintotherepublicofEurope，andthethronesofAsiawereoccupiedbyslavesandsoldiersofTurkishextraction。WhileApuliaandSicilyweresubduedbytheNormanlance，aswarmofthesenorthernshepherdsoverspreadthekingdomsofPersia；theirprincesoftheraceofSeljukerectedasplendidandsolidempirefromSamarcandtotheconfinesofGreeceandEgypt；andtheTurkshavemaintainedtheirdominioninAsiaMinor，tillthevictoriouscrescenthasbeenplantedonthedomeofSt。Sophia。
OneofthegreatestoftheTurkishprinceswasMahmoodorMahmud，^1theGaznevide，whoreignedintheeasternprovincesofPersia，onethousandyearsafterthebirthofChrist。HisfatherSebectagiwastheslaveoftheslaveoftheslaveofthecommanderofthefaithful。Butinthisdescentofservitude，thefirstdegreewasmerelytitular，sinceitwasfilledbythesovereignofTransoxianaandChorasan，whostillpaidanominalallegiancetothecaliphofBagdad。Thesecondrankwasthatofaministerofstate，alieutenantoftheSamanides，^2whobroke，byhisrevolt，thebondsofpoliticalslavery。Butthethirdstepwasastateofrealanddomesticservitudeinthefamilyofthatrebel；fromwhichSebectagi，byhiscourageanddexterity，ascendedtothesupremecommandofthecityandprovincesofGazna，^3astheson—in—lawandsuccessorofhisgratefulmaster。
ThefallingdynastyoftheSamanideswasatfirstprotected，andatlastoverthrown，bytheirservants；and，inthepublicdisorders，thefortuneofMahmudcontinuallyincreased。FromhimthetitleofSultan^4wasfirstinvented；andhiskingdomwasenlargedfromTransoxianatotheneighborhoodofIspahan，fromtheshoresoftheCaspiantothemouthoftheIndus。ButtheprincipalsourceofhisfameandricheswastheholywarwhichhewagedagainsttheGentoosofHindostan。InthisforeignnarrativeImaynotconsumeapage；andavolumewouldscarcelysufficetorecapitulatethebattlesandsiegesofhistwelveexpeditions。NeverwastheMussulmanherodismayedbytheinclemencyoftheseasons，theheightofthemountains，thebreadthoftherivers，thebarrennessofthedesert，themultitudesoftheenemy，ortheformidablearrayoftheirelephantsofwar。^5ThesultanofGaznasurpassedthelimitsoftheconquestsofAlexander:afteramarchofthreemonths，overthehillsofCashmirandThibet，hereachedthefamouscityofKinnoge，^6ontheUpperGanges；and，inanavalcombatononeofthebranchesoftheIndus，hefoughtandvanquishedfourthousandboatsofthenatives。Delhi，Lahor，andMultan，werecompelledtoopentheirgates:thefertilekingdomofGuzaratattractedhisambitionandtemptedhisstay；andhisavariceindulgedthefruitlessprojectofdiscoveringthegoldenandaromaticislesoftheSouthernOcean。Onthepaymentofatribute，therajahspreservedtheirdominions；thepeople，theirlivesandfortunes；
buttothereligionofHindostanthezealousMussulmanwascruelandinexorable:manyhundredtemples，orpagodas，werelevelledwiththeground；manythousandidolsweredemolished；andtheservantsoftheprophetwerestimulatedandrewardedbythepreciousmaterialsofwhichtheywerecomposed。ThepagodaofSumnatwassituateonthepromontoryofGuzarat，intheneighborhoodofDiu，oneofthelastremainingpossessionsofthePortuguese。^7Itwasendowedwiththerevenueoftwothousandvillages；twothousandBrahminswereconsecratedtotheserviceoftheDeity，whomtheywashedeachmorningandeveninginwaterfromthedistantGanges:thesubordinateministersconsistedofthreehundredmusicians，threehundredbarbers，andfivehundreddancinggirls，conspicuousfortheirbirthorbeauty。Threesidesofthetemplewereprotectedbytheocean，thenarrowisthmuswasfortifiedbyanaturalorartificialprecipice；andthecityandadjacentcountrywerepeopledbyanationoffanatics。TheyconfessedthesinsandthepunishmentofKinnogeandDelhi；butiftheimpiousstrangershouldpresumetoapproachtheirholyprecincts，hewouldsurelybeoverwhelmedbyablastofthedivinevengeance。Bythischallenge，thefaithofMahmudwasanimatedtoapersonaltrialofthestrengthofthisIndiandeity。FiftythousandofhisworshipperswerepiercedbythespearoftheMoslems；thewallswerescaled；thesanctuarywasprofaned；andtheconqueroraimedablowofhisironmaceattheheadoftheidol。ThetremblingBrahminsaresaidtohaveofferedtenmillionssterlingforhisransom；anditwasurgedbythewisestcounsellors，thatthedestructionofastoneimagewouldnotchangetheheartsoftheGentoos；andthatsuchasummightbededicatedtothereliefofthetruebelievers。\"Yourreasons，\"repliedthesultan，\"arespeciousandstrong；butneverintheeyesofposterityshallMahmudappearasamerchantofidols。\"Herepeatedhisblows，andatreasureofpearlsandrubies，concealedinthebellyofthestatue，explainedinsomedegreethedevoutprodigalityoftheBrahmins。ThefragmentsoftheidolweredistributedtoGazna，Mecca，andMedina。Bagdadlistenedtotheedifyingtale；andMahmudwassalutedbythecaliphwiththetitleofguardianofthefortuneandfaithofMahomet。
[Footnote1:IamindebtedforhischaracterandhistorytoD\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，Mahmud，p。533—537，M。DeGuignes，HistoiredesHuns，tom。iii。p。155—173，andourcountrymanColonelAlexanderDow，vol。i。p。23—83。InthetwofirstvolumesofhisHistoryofHindostan，hestyleshimselfthetranslatorofthePersianFerishta；butinhisfloridtext，itisnoteasytodistinguishtheversionandtheoriginal。
Note:TheEuropeanreadernowpossessesamoreaccurateversionofFerishta，thatofCol。Briggs。OfCol。Dow\'swork，Col。Briggsobserves，\"thattheauthor\'snamewillbehandeddowntoposterityasoneoftheearliestandmostindefatigableofourOrientalscholars。Insteadofconfininghimself，however，tomeretranslation，hehasfilledhisworkwithhisownobservations，whichhavebeensoembodiedinthetextthatGibbondeclaresitimpossibletodistinguishthetranslatorfromtheoriginalauthor。\"Prefacep。vii。—M。]