Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 5 (1897).djvu/427

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 405 cisive event to the continuance of several days. The periods of the battle of Cadesia were distinjiuished by their peculiar appel- lations. The first, from the well-timed appearance of six thou- sand of the Syrian brethren, was denominated the day of succour.-'^ The day of concussion mii^jht express the disorder of one, or per- haps of both, of the contending armies. The third, a nocturnal tumult, received the whimsical name of the night of barking, from the discordant clamours which were compared to the in- articulate sounds of the fiercest animals. The morning of the succeeding day determined the fate of Persia ; and a seasonable whirlwind drove a cloud of dust against the faces of the unbe- lievers. The clangour of arms was re-echoed to the tent of Ilustam, who, far unlike the ancient hero of his name, was gently reclining in a cool and tranquil shade, amidst the baggage of his camp and the train of mules that were laden with gold and silver. On the sound of danger he started from his couch ; but his flight was overtaken by a valiant Arab, who caught him by the foot, struck off his head, hoisted it on a lance, and, instantly returning to the field of battle, carried slaughter and dismay among the thickest ranks of the Persians.-*^ The Saracens con- fess a loss of seven thousand five hundred men ; and the battle of Cadesia is justly described by the epithets of obstinate and atrocious.-^ The standard of the monarchy was overthrown and captured in the field — a leathern apron of a blacksmith, who, in ancient times, had arisen the deliverer of Persia ; but this badge of heroic poverty was disguised and almost concealed by a pro- "2 [The day of Aghwath (crying for succour) was the second day of the battle. Gibbon (following Abu-1-Fida) omits the first day, called the day of Armath. The day of Ghimas (concussion) was the third, the night of Harir (yelping) the fourth. Tabari gives a chapter to each period, iii. p. 21 sqq. tr. Kosegarten ; de Goeje's Arabic text, i. 2285-2334 ; and calls the third day Inias (concealing).] -^ [The account of the death of Rustam given by Tabari is different and more authentic (tr. Zotenberg, iii. p. 396). "An Arab named Hilal, approaching the treasure-laden camels of Rustam, struck at them with his sword, at a hazard. The stroke hit the camel on which Rustam was seated ; for the darkness caused by the dart hindered him from seeing Rustam. The cord which tied the load of treasure to the camel was severed and the load fell on the head of Rustam, who notwithstanding the pain he experienced leapt on his feet and threw himself into the canal to save himself by swimming. Now in leaping he broke his leg and could not move. Hilal ran to the spot, seized him by the leg, drew him out of the water and cut off his head, which he fastened to the point of his spear. Then he got up on the seat, and cried, ' iVioslems, I have slain Rustam'." I have taken this from the Persian version of Tabari, to illustrate how it differs from the original Arabic, but I have shortened it somewhat. Tabari says there were two packets on the camel {mii/o Kosegarten), and that one fell on Rustam and injured his spine ; but .says nothing of the leg being broken by the leap. Kosegarten, iii. p. 56 ; de Goeje, i. 2336-7.] ^ Atrox, contumax, plus semel renovatum, are the well-chosen expressions of the translator of Abulfeda (Reiske, p. 69 [/eg. i. 231]).