Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 16.djvu/41

 Rh The sons of Ishmael these three thousand years, And thou, O Sun, with all those sacred lights That glitter round us, witness to my truth, Aid and support me in the glorious conflict With proud iniquity!

At length, it seems, Omar returns, after a three years’ absence, To visit that loved country which his hand So long defended, and his honest heart Has now betrayed: deserter of our gods, Deserter of our laws, how darest thou thus Approach these sacred walls to persecute And to oppress; a public robber’s slave; What is thy errand? wherefore comest thou hither?

To pardon thee: by me our holy prophet, In pity to thy age, thy well-known valor, And past misfortunes, offers thee his hand: Omar is come to bring thee terms of peace.

And shall a factious rebel offer peace Who should have sued for pardon? gracious gods! Will ye permit him to usurp your power, And suffer Mahomet to rule mankind? Dost thou not blush, vile minion as thou art, To serve a traitor? hast thou not beheld him Friendless and poor, an humble citizen,