Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/359

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 337 the raunnur of fountains ; it was enriched by a display of rich furniture and rare animals ; of the Imperial treasures, some- thing was shown, and much was supposed ; and the long order of unfolding doors was guarded by black soldiers and domestic eunuchs. The sanctuary of the presence-chamber was veiled with a curtain; and the vizir, who conducted the ambassadors, laid aside his scymetar, and prostrated himself three times on the ground ; the veil was then removed ; and they beheld the commander of the faithful, who signified his pleasure to the first slave of the throne. But this slave was his master ; the vizirs or sultans had usurped the supreme administration of Egypt ; the claims of the rival candidates were decided by arms ; and the name of the most worthy, of the strongest, was inserted in the royal patent of command. The factions of Dargham and Shawer"*^ alternately expelled each other from the capital and country ; and the weaker side implored the dangerous protection of the Sultan of Damascus, or the king of Jerusalem, the perpetual enemies of the sect and monarchy of the Fatimites. By his arms and religion the Turk was most formidable ; but the Frank, in an easy direct march, could advance from Gaza to the Nile ; while the intermediate situa- tion of his realm compelled the troops of Noureddin to wheel round the skirts of Arabia, a long and painful circuit, which exposed them to thirst, fatigue, and the burning winds of the desert. The secret zeal and ambition of the Turkish prince [First expe<u- aspired to reign in Egypt under the name of the Abbassides ; but ^°'^^^s^*^ the restoration of the suppliant Shawer was the ostensible motive of the first expedition ; and the success was entrusted to the emir Shiracouh,^'^ a valiant and veteran commander. Dargham was oppressed and slain ; but the ingratitude, the [a.d. um] jealousy, the just apprehensions, of his more fortunate rival, soon provoked him to invite the king of Jerusalem to deliver Egypt from his insolent benefactors. To this union, the forces [Biibeys ?Vf,, , , 1-111 besieged for 3 or bhiracouh were unequal ; he reluiquished the premature months] conquest ; and the evacuation of Belbeis, or Pelusium, was the condition of his safe retreat. As the Turks defiled before the enemy, and their general closed the rear, with a vigilant eye, and a battle-axe in his hand, a Frank presumed to ask him if he were not afraid of an attack ? " It is doubtless in your power to begin the attack," replied the intrepid emir, "but rest •»*'[Shawar had been governor of Upper Egypt, Dirgham the chief of the guard ; both became vezirs.] ■*' [Asad ad-Din Abu 1-Harith Shirkuh (= Lion of the Faith, Father of the Lion, Mountain Lion).] VOL. VI. 22