Page:The travels of Macarius, Patriarch of Antioch - Volume I.djvu/31

Rh whole time of our absence; that I would describe with accuracy the whole of the affairs of those countries through which we should pass; and so enable him to verify, in general and in particular, what he heard of them from the details of history, and its mysteries. I excused myself to him, that I was unequal to the undertaking, being deficient in the requisite means in the art of composing and joining sentences, in the grammatical precision of words, and in the skill of forming beautiful and appropriate phrases, after the manner of the masters of this queen of sciences: and I asked him to pardon my inability; the more so, as we should travel with inconvenience and haste. But he refused to accept this excusation for me; and, insisting on his request, persevered in its repetition.

I now therefore roused my languid mind, and stretched towards the object my recoiling hand: not that I may take rank in the troop of Chroniclers, but wishing to confirm a multitude of facts, which have hitherto been disbelieved to their reporters, and to which all men refuse their due credit; being of opinion, that the writers have noted such matters merely in jest, and for their own amusement, or that of their readers. So thought we; until, in the progress of our journey to the country of the Christians, either by becoming a personal witness, or by hearing indubitable accounts, I verified to the utmost whatever met the glance of an observing eye, not only in part, but comprehensively. What we shall relate, therefore, will he upon the surest evidence; and we will omit nothing, which, either along the road, or during our halts in various places, until our return to our own country, we were able to ascertain as matter of truth. Accustomed from my childhood to devote stated hours to the study of history, I have passed much time with my attention fixed upon its interesting pages. Whatever ability, therefore, I may have acquired by such pursuits, I have summoned to the performance of the present work: and having exerted my utmost efforts in collecting all the information which came within my reach, I hope it will prove a delight to the reader, and a solace to his mind; and that all who see or hear it, will bless Almighty God for this.

May the Christian community of our country derive a multitude of benefits from hearing of the noble customs of the true Believers in foreign parts; of their assiduity in divine worship with boundless perseverance; of their strict observance of the seasons of fast and hours of prayer; of their admirable religiousness, perfect faith, and sound morality; and of the purity of their intentions, thoughts and secrets! Such will be our descriptions in the course of this work, elucidating and explaining what with our own eyes we have seen and witnessed.