Page:History of Mahomet, that grand impostor.pdf/9

 and would not fail of being captivated with hopes of rivers and streams of water, cooling drinks, shaded gardens, delicious fruits, and other enjoyments of that kind, which to them, were particularly desirable, on account of the scorching heat and dryness of their country. Accordingly he tells his followers, “They shall enter into pleasant gardens, watered by rivulets and fountains, near which they shall repose themselves upon the softest beds, adorned with all manner of precious stones, under the shade of trees that shall continually yield all manner of the most agreeable fruits; and that there they shall enjoy women ever young and beautiful, with large black eyes, and complexions always fresh and charming as polished pearls; in whose company they shall solace themselves with amorous delights to all eternity, drinking likewise the most delicious wines and other liquors, without ever being intoxicated or over charged thereby, which shall be served up to them by beautiful boys in cups of gold and glasses set with diamonds,” &c. And with the ame kind of subtility he described the punishments of hell which he threatened to all that would not believe in his mission, to consist in such orments as must appear to them most grievous nd afflicting; telling them, “That they shall suffer an unconceivable thirst, and should have nothing to drink but boiling and stinking water; that they should dwell for ever in continual fire, and be surrounded with a black hot, and salt smoke; that they should eat nothing but briars and thorns and the fruit of the tree Zacon, which should be in their bellies like burning pitch;” and other frightful stories of the same nature. Thus some were allured, and thers