Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 5 (1897).djvu/441

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 419 that was crucified, and whosoever worships him. And I choose God for my Lord, Islam for my faith, Mecca for my temple, the Moslems for my brethren, and Mahomet for my prophet ; who was sent to lead us into the right way, and to exalt the true religion in spite of those who join partners with God." The conquest of Bosra, four days' journey from Damascus,*^'" si^^of encouraged the Arabs to besiege the ancient capital of Syria. ^-^^ ^^ At some distance from the walls, they encamped among the groves and fountains of that delicious territory,''* and the usual option of the Mahometan faith, of tribute, or of war, was pro- posed to the resolute citizens, who had been lately strengthened by a reinforcement of five thousand Greeks. In the decline as in the infancy of the military art, an hostile defiance was fre- quently offered and accepted by the generals themselves : ^" many a lance was shivered in the plain of Damascus, and the personal prowess of Caled was signalised in the first sally of the besieged. After an obstinate combat, he had overthrown and made prisoner one of the Christian leaders, a stout and worthy antagonist. He instantly mounted a fresh horse, the gift of the governor of Palmyra, and pushed forwards to the front of the battle. " Repose yourself for a moment," said his friend Derar, " and permit me to supply your place ; you are fatigued with fighting with this dog." " O Derar ! " replied the indefatigable Saracen, " we shall rest in the world to come. He that labours to-day shall rest to-morrow. " With the same unabated ardour, Caled answered, encountered, and vanquished a second champion ; and the heads of his two captives who refused to abandon their B'^ Damascus is amply described by the Sherif al Edrisi (Geograph. Nub. p. ii6, 117), and his translator, Sionita (Appendix, c. 4) ; Abulfeda (Tabula Syriae, p. 100) ; Schultens (Index Geograph. ad Vit. Saladin.) ; d'Herbelot (Bibliot. Orient, p. 291) ; Th^venot (Voyage du Levant, part. i. p. 688-698) ; Maundrell (Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 122-130) ; and Pocock (Description of the East, vol. ii. p. 117-127). ^■" Nobilissima civitas, says Justin. According to the Oriental traditions, it was older than Abraham or Semiramis. Joseph. Antiq. Jud. 1. i. c. 6, 7, p. 24, 29, edit. Havercamp. Justin, xxxvi. 2. "* "Efiei yafi •!/xai r^y Atb? ttoXiv clXtj^w?, Kat 717? 'Eu>a5 arraa"!)? 0(^9a^JiOy, T^y i^pav Ka ^eyicTTi)!' Aa.iJ.a(TKOu Aeyw, T0i5 t« aAAo'.? (Tv/iTraffn- otoi' iepuf xdWii,, xat VfJii' fj-eyedei, Kai uipujv sifKaipitif Kal nrjyuif ayKaiv TrAjjdtfc, Kai yris €U<^opto yLKU)(Tai', oCC, Julian, epist. xxiv. p. 392. These splendid epithets are occasioned by the figs of Damascus, of which the author sends an hundred to his friend Serapion, and this rhetorical theme is inserted by Petavius, Spanheim, &c. (p. 390-396) among the genuine epistles of Julian. [This is now generally recognized as spurious.] How could they overlook that the writer is an inhabitant of Damascus (he thrice affirms that this peculiar fig grows only Trap' ri)j.lv), a city which Julian never entered or approached ? 65 Voltaire, who casts a keen and lively glance over the surface of history, has been struck with the resemblance of the first Moslems and the heroes of the Iliad ; the siege of Troy and that of Damascus (Hist. G6n6rale, tom. i. p. 348).