YetinthesiegeofAmoriumaboutseventythousandMoslemshadperished:theirlosshadbeenrevengedbytheslaughterofthirtythousandChristians，andthesufferingsofanequalnumberofcaptives，whoweretreatedasthemostatrociouscriminals。
　　Mutualnecessitycouldsometimesextorttheexchangeorransomofprisoners:^94butinthenationalandreligiousconflictofthetwoempires，peacewaswithoutconfidence，andwarwithoutmercy。
　　Quarterwasseldomgiveninthefield；thosewhoescapedtheedgeoftheswordwerecondemnedtohopelessservitude，orexquisitetorture；andaCatholicemperorrelates，withvisiblesatisfaction，theexecutionoftheSaracensofCrete，whowereflayedalive，orplungedintocaldronsofboilingoil。^95ToapointofhonorMotassemhadsacrificedaflourishingcity，twohundredthousandlives，andthepropertyofmillions。Thesamecaliphdescendedfromhishorse，anddirtiedhisrobe，torelievethedistressofadecrepitoldman，who，withhisladenass，hadtumbledintoaditch。Onwhichoftheseactionsdidhereflectwiththemostpleasure，whenhewassummonedbytheangelofdeath?^96
　　[Footnote91:ThesamenumberwasappliedtothefollowingcircumstanceinthelifeofMotassem:hewastheeightoftheAbbassides；hereignedeightyears，eightmonths，andeightdays；
　　lefteightsons，eightdaughters，eightthousandslaves，eightmillionsofgold。]
　　[Footnote92:Amoriumisseldommentionedbytheoldgeographers，andtotallyforgottenintheRomanItineraries。Afterthevithcentury，itbecameanepiscopalsee，andatlengththemetropolisofthenewGalatia，Carol。Scto。Paulo，Geograph。Sacra，p。
　　234。Thecityroseagainfromitsruins，ifweshouldreadAmmeria，notAnguria，inthetextoftheNubiangeographer。p。
　　236。]
　　[Footnote93:IntheEasthewasstyled，ContinuatorTheophan。
　　l。iii。p。84；butsuchwastheignoranceoftheWest，thathisambassadors，inpublicdiscourse，mightboldlynarrate，devictoriis，quasadversusexterasbellandogentescoelitusfueratassecutus，Annalist。Bertinian。apudPagi，tom。iii。p。720。]
　　[Footnote94:AbulpharagiusDynast。p。167，168relatesoneofthesesingulartransactionsonthebridgeoftheRiverLamusinCilicia，thelimitofthetwoempires，andoneday'sjourneywestwardofTarsus，D'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。ii。p。
　　91。FourthousandfourhundredandsixtyMoslems，eighthundredwomenandchildren，onehundredconfederates，wereexchangedforanequalnumberofGreeks。Theypassedeachotherinthemiddleofthebridge，andwhentheyreachedtheirrespectivefriends，theyshoutedAllahAcbar，andKyrieEleison。ManyoftheprisonersofAmoriumwereprobablyamongthem，butinthesameyear，A。H。231，themostillustriousofthem，thefortytwomartyrs，werebeheadedbythecaliph'sorder。]
　　[Footnote95:Constantin。Porphyrogenitus，inVit。Basil。c。61，p。186。TheseSaracenswereindeedtreatedwithpeculiarseverityaspiratesandrenegadoes。]
　　[Footnote96:ForTheophilus，Motassem，andtheAmorianwar，seetheContinuatorofTheophanes，l。iii。p。77—84，Genesiusl。
　　iii。p。24—34。Cedrenus，p。528—532，Elmacin，Hist。
　　Saracen，p。180，Abulpharagius，Dynast。p。165，166，Abulfeda，Annal。Moslem。p。191，D'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orientale，p。639，640。]
　　WithMotassem，theeighthoftheAbbassides，thegloryofhisfamilyandnationexpired。WhentheArabianconquerorshadspreadthemselvesovertheEast，andweremingledwiththeservilecrowdsofPersia，Syria，andEgypt，theyinsensiblylostthefreebornandmartialvirtuesofthedesert。ThecourageoftheSouthistheartificialfruitofdisciplineandprejudice；
　　theactivepowerofenthusiasmhaddecayed，andthemercenaryforcesofthecaliphswererecruitedinthoseclimatesoftheNorth，ofwhichvaloristhehardyandspontaneousproduction。
　　OftheTurks^97whodweltbeyondtheOxusandJaxartes，therobustyouths，eithertakeninwarorpurchasedintrade，wereeducatedintheexercisesofthefield，andtheprofessionoftheMahometanfaith。TheTurkishguardsstoodinarmsroundthethroneoftheirbenefactor，andtheirchiefsusurpedthedominionofthepalaceandtheprovinces。Motassem，thefirstauthorofthisdangerousexample，introducedintothecapitalabovefiftythousandTurks:theirlicentiousconductprovokedthepublicindignation，andthequarrelsofthesoldiersandpeopleinducedthecaliphtoretirefromBagdad，andestablishhisownresidenceandthecampofhisBarbarianfavoritesatSamaraontheTigris，abouttwelveleaguesabovethecityofPeace。^98HissonMotawakkelwasajealousandcrueltyrant:odioustohissubjects，hecasthimselfonthefidelityofthestrangers，andthesestrangers，ambitiousandapprehensive，weretemptedbytherichpromiseofarevolution。Attheinstigation，oratleastinthecauseofhisson，theyburstintohisapartmentatthehourofsupper，andthecaliphwascutintosevenpiecesbythesameswordswhichhehadrecentlydistributedamongtheguardsofhislifeandthrone。Tothisthrone，yetstreamingwithafather'sblood，Montasserwastriumphantlyled；butinareignofsixmonths，hefoundonlythepangsofaguiltyconscience。IfheweptatthesightofanoldtapestrywhichrepresentedthecrimeandpunishmentofthesonofChosroes，ifhisdayswereabridgedbygriefandremorse，wemayallowsomepitytoaparricide，whoexclaimed，inthebitternessofdeath，thathehadlostboththisworldandtheworldtocome。Afterthisactoftreason，theensignsofroyalty，thegarmentandwalking—staffofMahomet，weregivenandtornawaybytheforeignmercenaries，whoinfouryearscreated，deposed，andmurdered，threecommandersofthefaithful。AsoftenastheTurkswereinflamedbyfear，orrage，oravarice，thesecaliphsweredraggedbythefeet，exposednakedtothescorchingsun，beatenwithironclubs，andcompelledtopurchase，bytheabdicationoftheirdignity，ashortreprieveofinevitablefate。^99Atlength，however，thefuryofthetempestwasspentordiverted:theAbbassidesreturnedtothelessturbulentresidenceofBagdad；theinsolenceoftheTurkswascurbedwithafirmerandmoreskilfulhand，andtheirnumbersweredividedanddestroyedinforeignwarfare。ButthenationsoftheEasthadbeentaughttotrampleonthesuccessorsoftheprophet；andtheblessingsofdomesticpeacewereobtainedbytherelaxationofstrengthanddiscipline。Souniformarethemischiefsofmilitarydespotism，thatIseemtorepeatthestoryofthepraetoriansofRome。^100
　　[Footnote97:M。deGuignes，whosometimesleaps，andsometimesstumbles，inthegulfbetweenChineseandMahometanstory，thinkshecansee，thattheseTurksaretheHoei—ke，aliastheKao—tche，orhigh—wagons；thattheyweredividedintofifteenhordes，fromChinaandSiberiatothedominionsofthecaliphsandSamanides，&c。，Hist。desHuns，tom。iii。p。1—33，124—131。]
　　[Footnote98:HechangedtheoldnameofSumera，orSamara，intothefancifultitleofSermen—rai，thatwhichgivespleasureatfirstsight，D'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。808。
　　D'Anville，l'EuphrateetleTigrep。97，98。]
　　[Footnote99:Takeaspecimen，thedeathofthecaliphMotaz:
　　Correptumpedibuspertrahunt，etsudibusprobepermulcant，etspoliatumlacerisvestibusinsolecollocant，praecujusacerrimoaestupedesalternosattollebatetdemittebat。Adstantiumaliquismiserocolaphoscontinuoingerebat，quosilleobjectismanibusaverterestudebat……Quofactotraditustortorifuit，totoquetriduocibopotuqueprohibitus……Suffocatus，&c。
　　Abulfeda，p。206。OfthecaliphMohtadi，hesays，servicesipsiperpetuisictibuscontundebant，testiculosquepedibusconculcabant，p。208。]
　　[Footnote100:SeeunderthereignsofMotassem，Motawakkel，Montasser，Mostain，Motaz，Mohtadi，andMotamed，intheBibliothequeofD'Herbelot，andthenowfamiliarAnnalsofElmacin，Abulpharagius，andAbulfeda。]
　　Whiletheflameofenthusiasmwasdampedbythebusiness，thepleasure，andtheknowledge，oftheage，itburntwithconcentratedheatinthebreastsofthechosenfew，thecongenialspirits，whowereambitiousofreigningeitherinthisworldorinthenext。HowcarefullysoeverthebookofprophecyhadbeensealedbytheapostleofMecca，thewishes，andifwemayprofanethewordeventhereason，offanaticismmightbelievethat，afterthesuccessivemissionsofAdam，Noah，Abraham，Moses，Jesus，andMahomet，thesameGod，inthefulnessoftime，wouldrevealastillmoreperfectandpermanentlaw。Inthetwohundredandseventy—seventhyearoftheHegira，andintheneighborhoodofCufa，anArabianpreacher，ofthenameofCarmath，assumedtheloftyandincomprehensiblestyleoftheGuide，theDirector，theDemonstration，theWord，theHolyGhost，theCamel，theHeraldoftheMessiah，whohadconversedwithhiminahumanshape，andtherepresentativeofMohammedthesonofAli，ofSt。JohntheBaptist，andoftheangelGabriel。Inhismysticvolume，thepreceptsoftheKoranwererefinedtoamorespiritualsense:herelaxedthedutiesofablution，fasting，andpilgrimage；allowedtheindiscriminateuseofwineandforbiddenfood；andnourishedthefervorofhisdisciplesbythedailyrepetitionoffiftyprayers。TheidlenessandfermentoftherusticcrowdawakenedtheattentionofthemagistratesofCufa；atimidpersecutionassistedtheprogressofthenewsect；andthenameoftheprophetbecamemorereveredafterhispersonhadbeenwithdrawnfromtheworld。HistwelveapostlesdispersedthemselvesamongtheBedoweens，"araceofmen，"saysAbulfeda，"equallydevoidofreasonandofreligion；"andthesuccessoftheirpreachingseemedtothreatenArabiawithanewrevolution。
　　TheCarmathianswereripeforrebellion，sincetheydisclaimedthetitleofthehouseofAbbas，andabhorredtheworldlypompofthecaliphsofBagdad。Theyweresusceptibleofdiscipline，sincetheyvowedablindandabsolutesubmissiontotheirImam，whowascalledtothepropheticofficebythevoiceofGodandthepeople。Insteadofthelegaltithes，heclaimedthefifthoftheirsubstanceandspoil；themostflagitioussinswerenomorethanthetypeofdisobedience；andthebrethrenwereunitedandconcealedbyanoathofsecrecy。Afterabloodyconflict，theyprevailedintheprovinceofBahrein，alongthePersianGulf:farandwide，thetribesofthedesertweresubjecttothesceptre，orrathertotheswordofAbuSaidandhissonAbuTaher；andtheserebelliousimamscouldmusterinthefieldahundredandseventhousandfanatics。Themercenariesofthecaliphweredismayedattheapproachofanenemywhoneitheraskednoracceptedquarter；andthedifferencebetween，theminfortitudeandpatience，isexpressiveofthechangewhichthreecenturiesofprosperityhadeffectedinthecharacteroftheArabians。
　　Suchtroopswerediscomfitedineveryaction；thecitiesofRaccaandBaalbec，ofCufaandBassora，weretakenandpillaged；Bagdadwasfilledwithconsternation；andthecaliphtrembledbehindtheveilsofhispalace。InadaringinroadbeyondtheTigris，AbuTaheradvancedtothegatesofthecapitalwithnomorethanfivehundredhorse。BythespecialorderofMoctader，thebridgeshadbeenbrokendown，andthepersonorheadoftherebelwasexpectedeveryhourbythecommanderofthefaithful。Hislieutenant，fromamotiveoffearorpity，apprisedAbuTaherofhisdanger，andrecommendedaspeedyescape。"Yourmaster，"saidtheintrepidCarmathiantothemessenger，"isattheheadofthirtythousandsoldiers:threesuchmenasthesearewantinginhishost:"atthesameinstant，turningtothreeofhiscompanions，hecommandedthefirsttoplungeadaggerintohisbreast，thesecondtoleapintotheTigris，andthethirdtocasthimselfheadlongdownaprecipice。Theyobeyedwithoutamurmur。
　　"Relate，"continuedtheimam，"whatyouhaveseen:beforetheeveningyourgeneralshallbechainedamongmydogs。"Beforetheevening，thecampwassurprised，andthemenacewasexecuted。TherapineoftheCarmathianswassanctifiedbytheiraversiontotheworshipofMecca:theyrobbedacaravanofpilgrims，andtwentythousanddevoutMoslemswereabandonedontheburningsandstoadeathofhungerandthirst。Anotheryeartheysufferedthepilgrimstoproceedwithoutinterruption；but，inthefestivalofdevotion，AbuTaherstormedtheholycity，andtrampledonthemostvenerablerelicsoftheMahometanfaith。Thirtythousandcitizensandstrangerswereputtothesword；thesacredprecinctswerepollutedbytheburialofthreethousanddeadbodies；thewellofZemzemoverflowedwithblood；thegoldenspoutwasforcedfromitsplace；theveiloftheCaabawasdividedamongtheseimpioussectaries；andtheblackstone，thefirstmonumentofthenation，wasborneawayintriumphtotheircapital。Afterthisdeedofsacrilegeandcruelty，theycontinuedtoinfesttheconfinesofIrak，Syria，andEgypt:butthevitalprincipleofenthusiasmhadwitheredattheroot。Theirscruples，ortheiravarice，againopenedthepilgrimageofMecca，andrestoredtheblackstoneoftheCaaba；anditisneedlesstoinquireintowhatfactionstheywerebroken，orbywhoseswordstheywerefinallyextirpated。ThesectoftheCarmathiansmaybeconsideredasthesecondvisiblecauseofthedeclineandfalloftheempireofthecaliphs。^101
　　[Footnote101:ForthesectoftheCarmathians，consultElmacin，Hist。Saracen，p。219，224，229，231，238，241，243，
　　Abulpharagius，Dynast。p。179—182，Abulfeda，Annal。Moslem。
　　p。218，219，&c。，245，265，274。andD'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。256—258，635。Ifindsomeinconsistenciesoftheologyandchronology，whichitwouldnotbeeasynorofmuchimportancetoreconcile。
　　Note:CompareVonHammer，GeschichtederAssassinen，p。44，&c。
　　—M。]
　　ChapterLII:MoreConquestsByTheArabs。
　　PartV。
　　Thethirdandmostobviouscausewastheweightandmagnitudeoftheempireitself。ThecaliphAlmamonmightproudlyassert，thatitwaseasierforhimtoruletheEastandtheWest，thantomanageachess—boardoftwofeetsquare:^102yetI
　　suspectthatinboththosegameshewasguiltyofmanyfatalmistakes；andIperceive，thatinthedistantprovincestheauthorityofthefirstandmostpowerfuloftheAbbassideswasalreadyimpaired。Theanalogyofdespotisminveststherepresentativewiththefullmajestyoftheprince；thedivisionandbalanceofpowersmightrelaxthehabitsofobedience，mightencouragethepassivesubjecttoinquireintotheoriginandadministrationofcivilgovernment。Hewhoisborninthepurpleisseldomworthytoreign；buttheelevationofaprivateman，ofapeasant，perhaps，oraslave，affordsastrongpresumptionofhiscourageandcapacity。Theviceroyofaremotekingdomaspirestosecurethepropertyandinheritanceofhisprecarioustrust；thenationsmustrejoiceinthepresenceoftheirsovereign；andthecommandofarmiesandtreasuresareatoncetheobjectandtheinstrumentofhisambition。Achangewasscarcelyvisibleaslongasthelieutenantsofthecaliphwerecontentwiththeirvicarioustitle；whiletheysolicitedforthemselvesortheirsonsarenewaloftheImperialgrant，andstillmaintainedonthecoinandinthepublicprayersthenameandprerogativeofthecommanderofthefaithful。Butinthelongandhereditaryexerciseofpower，theyassumedtheprideandattributesofroyalty；thealternativeofpeaceorwar，ofrewardorpunishment，dependedsolelyontheirwill；andtherevenuesoftheirgovernmentwerereservedforlocalservicesorprivatemagnificence。Insteadofaregularsupplyofmenandmoney，thesuccessorsoftheprophetwereflatteredwiththeostentatiousgiftofanelephant，oracastofhawks，asuitofsilkhangings，orsomepoundsofmuskandamber。^103
　　[Footnote102:Hyde，SyntagmaDissertat。tom。ii。p。57，inHist。
　　Shahiludii。]
　　[Footnote103:ThedynastiesoftheArabianempiremaybestudiedintheAnnalsofElmacin，Abulpharagius，andAbulfeda，undertheproperyears，inthedictionaryofD'Herbelot，underthepropernames。ThetablesofM。deGuignesHist。desHuns，tom。i。
　　exhibitageneralchronologyoftheEast，interspersedwithsomehistoricalanecdotes；buthisattachmenttonationalbloodhassometimesconfoundedtheorderoftimeandplace。]
　　AftertherevoltofSpainfromthetemporalandspiritualsupremacyoftheAbbassides，thefirstsymptomsofdisobediencebrokeforthintheprovinceofAfrica。Ibrahim，thesonofAglab，thelieutenantofthevigilantandrigidHarun，bequeathedtothedynastyoftheAglabitestheinheritanceofhisnameandpower。Theindolenceorpolicyofthecaliphsdissembledtheinjuryandloss，andpursuedonlywithpoisonthefounderoftheEdrisites，^104whoerectedthekingdomandcityofFezontheshoresoftheWesternocean。^105IntheEast，thefirstdynastywasthatoftheTaherites；^106theposterityofthevaliantTaher，who，inthecivilwarsofthesonsofHarun，hadservedwithtoomuchzealandsuccessthecauseofAlmamon，theyoungerbrother。Hewassentintohonorableexile，tocommandonthebanksoftheOxus；andtheindependenceofhissuccessors，whoreignedinChorasantillthefourthgeneration，waspalliatedbytheirmodestandrespectfuldemeanor，thehappinessoftheirsubjectsandthesecurityoftheirfrontier。TheyweresupplantedbyoneofthoseadventuressofrequentintheannalsoftheEast，wholefthistradeofabrazierfromwhencethenameofSoffaridesfortheprofessionofarobber。InanocturnalvisittothetreasureoftheprinceofSistan，Jacob，thesonofLeith，stumbledoveralumpofsalt，whichheunwarilytastedwithhistongue。Salt，amongtheOrientals，isthesymbolofhospitality，andthepiousrobberimmediatelyretiredwithoutspoilordamage。ThediscoveryofthishonorablebehaviorrecommendedJacobtopardonandtrust；heledanarmyatfirstforhisbenefactor，atlastforhimself，subduedPersia，andthreatenedtheresidenceoftheAbbassides。OnhismarchtowardsBagdad，theconquerorwasarrestedbyafever。Hegaveaudienceinbedtotheambassadorofthecaliph；andbesidehimonatablewereexposedanakedcimeter，acrustofbrownbread，andabunchofonions。"IfIdie，"saidhe，"yourmasterisdeliveredfromhisfears。IfIlive，thismustdeterminebetweenus。IfIamvanquished，Icanreturnwithoutreluctancetothehomelyfareofmyyouth。"Fromtheheightwherehestood，thedescentwouldnothavebeensosoftorharmless:atimelydeathsecuredhisownreposeandthatofthecaliph，whopaidwiththemostlavishconcessionstheretreatofhisbrotherAmroutothepalacesofShirazandIspahan。TheAbbassidesweretoofeebletocontend，tooproudtoforgive:theyinvitedthepowerfuldynastyoftheSamanides，whopassedtheOxuswithtenthousandhorsesopoor，thattheirstirrupswereofwood:sobrave，thattheyvanquishedtheSoffarianarmy，eighttimesmorenumerousthantheirown。
　　ThecaptiveAmrouwassentinchains，agratefulofferingtothecourtofBagdad；andasthevictorwascontentwiththeinheritanceofTransoxianaandChorasan，therealmsofPersiareturnedforawhiletotheallegianceofthecaliphs。TheprovincesofSyriaandEgyptweretwicedismemberedbytheirTurkishslavesoftheraceofToulonandIlkshid。^107TheseBarbarians，inreligionandmannersthecountrymenofMahomet，emergedfromthebloodyfactionsofthepalacetoaprovincialcommandandanindependentthrone:theirnamesbecamefamousandformidableintheirtime；butthefoundersofthesetwopotentdynastiesconfessed，eitherinwordsoractions，thevanityofambition。Thefirstonhisdeath—bedimploredthemercyofGodtoasinner，ignorantofthelimitsofhisownpower:thesecond，inthemidstoffourhundredthousandsoldiersandeightthousandslaves，concealedfromeveryhumaneyethechamberwhereheattemptedtosleep。Theirsonswereeducatedinthevicesofkings；andbothEgyptandSyriawererecoveredandpossessedbytheAbbassidesduringanintervalofthirtyyears。Inthedeclineoftheirempire，Mesopotamia，withtheimportantcitiesofMosulandAleppo，wasoccupiedbytheArabianprincesofthetribeofHamadan。Thepoetsoftheircourtcouldrepeatwithoutablush，thatnaturehadformedtheircountenancesforbeauty，theirtonguesforeloquence，andtheirhandsforliberalityandvalor:butthegenuinetaleoftheelevationandreignoftheHamadanitesexhibitsasceneoftreachery，murder，andparricide。