Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 5 (1897).djvu/418

 896 THE DECLINE AND FALL and punishments of a future life were painted by the images most congenial to an ignorant and carnal generation. Mahomet was perhaps incapable of dictating a moral and political system for the use of his countrymen ; but he breathed among the faithful a spirit of charity and friendship, recommended the practice of the social virtues, and checked, by his laws and pre- cepts, the thirst of revenge and the oppression of widows and orphans. The hostile tribes were united in faith and obedience, and the valour which had been idly spent in domestic quarrels was vigorously directed against a foreign enemy. Had the im- pulse been less powerful, Arabia, free at home and formidable abroad, might have flourished under a succession of her native monarchs. Her sovereignty was lost by the extent and rapidity of conquest. The colonies of the nation were scattered over the East and West, and their blood was mingled with the blood of their converts and captives. After the reign of three caliphs the throne was transported from Medina to the valley of Damas- cus and the banks of the Tigris ; the holy cities were violated by impious war ; Arabia was ruled by the rod of a subject, per- haps of a stranger ; and the Bedoweens of the desert, awaken- ing from their dream of dominion, resumed their old and solitary independence.-'^^ ^'■'^ The writers of the Modern Universal History (vol. i. and ii.) have compiled, in 850 folio pages, the life of Mahomet and the annals of the caliphs. They enjoyed the advantage of reading, and sometimes correcting, the Arabic text ; yet, notwithstanding their high-sounding boasts, I cannot find, after the conclusion of my work, that they have afforded me much (if any) additional information. The dull mass is not quickened by a spark of philosophy or taste : and the compilers indulge the criticism of acrimonious bigotry against Roulainvilliers, Sale, Gagnier, and all who have treated Mahomet with favour, or even justice.