LI. Siege of A. D. 633. The conquest of Bosra, four days journey from Da- CHAP. mascus, encouraged the Arabs to besiege the ancient capital of Syria". At some distance from the walls, they encamped among the groves and fountains of that Damasdelicious territory, and the usual option of the Maho- cus, metan faith, of tribute, or of war, was proposed to the resolute citizens, who had been lately strengthened by a reinforcement of five thousand Greeks. In the decline as in the infancy of the military art, an hostile defiance was frequently offered and accepted by the generals themselves" many a lance was shivered in the plain of Damascus, and the personal prowess of Caled was signalised in the first sally of the besieged. After an obstinate combat, he had overthrown and made prisoner one of the Christian leaders, a stout and worthy antago nist. He instantly mounted a fresh horse, the gift of the governor of Palmyra, and pushed forwards to the front of the battle. "Repose yourself for a moment," said his friend Derar, "and permit me to supply your place: "you are fatigued with fighting with this dog." "O "Derar," replied the indefatigable Saracen, "we shall "rest in the world to come. He that labours to-day, "shall rest to-morrow." With the same unabated ardour, Caled answered, encountered and vanquished a second champion; and the heads of his two captives who refused to abandon their religion were indignantly hurled into the midst of the city. The event of some general 52 Damascus is amply described by the Sherif al Edrisi (Geograph. Nub. p. 116, 117); and his translator, Sionita (Appendix, c.4); Abulfeda (Tabula Syriæ, p. 100); Schultens (Index. Geograph. ad Vit. Saladin); d'Herbelot (Bibliot. Orient. p. 291); Thevenot, (Voyage du Levant, part i. p. 688698); Maundrell (Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 122-130); and Pocock (Description of the East, vol. ii. p. 117–127.) 53 Nobilissima civitas, says Justin. According to the Oriental traditions, it was older than Abraham or Semiramis. Joseph. Antiq. Jud. 1. i. c. 6, 7. p. 24. 29. edit. Havercamp. Justin. xxxvi. 2. 54. Έδει γαρ οιμαι την Διος πολιν αληθώς, και της Εωας απασης οφθαλμον, την βεραν και μεγίτην Δαμασκον λέγω, τοῖς τε άλλοις συμπασιν, οιον ιερων καλλεί, και νέων μεγέθει, και ώρων ευκαιρία και πέγων αγλαια και ποταμων πληθεί, και γης Expopia vincσur, &c. Julian, epist. xxiv. p. 392. These splendid epithets are occasioned by the figs of Damascus, of which the author sends an hundred to his friend Serapion and this rhetorical theme is inserted by Petavius, Spanheim, &c. (p 390-396), among the genuine epistles of Julian. How could they overlook that the writer is an inhabitant of Damascus (he thrice affirms, that this peculiar fig grows only wapi nu) a city which Julian never entered or approached? 55 Voltaire, who casts a keen and lively glance over the surface of his tory, has been struck with the resemblance of the first Moslems and the he roes of the Iliad; the siege of Troy and that of Damascus (Hist. Generale, tom. i. p. 348.) LI. CHAP. and partial actions reduced the Damascenes to a closer defence but a messenger whom they dropt from the walls, returned with the promise of speedy and powerful succour, and their tumultuous joy conveyed the intelligence to the camp of the Arabs. After some debate it was resolved by the generals to raise or rather to suspend the siege of Damascus, till they had given battle to the forces of the emperor. In the retreat, Caled would have chosen the more perilous station of the rear-guard ; he modestly yielded to the wishes of Abu Obeidah. But in the hour of danger he flew to the rescue of his companion, who was rudely pressed by a sally of six thousand horse and ten thousand foot, and few among the Christians could relate at Damascus the circumstances of their defeat. The importance of the contest required the junction of the Saracens who were dispersed on the frontiers of Syria and Palestine; and I shall transcribe one of the circular mandates which was addressed to Amrou the future conqueror of Egypt. "In the name "of the most merciful God: from Caled to Amrou, "health and happiness. Know that thy brethren the "Moslems design to march to Aiznadin, where there " is an army of seventy thousand Greeks, who purpose "to come against us, that they may extinguish the light "of God with their mouths; but God preserveth his "light in spite of the infidels. As soon therefore as "this letter of mine shall be delivered to thy hands, "come with those that are with thee to Aiznadin, where "thou shalt find us if it please the most high God." The summons was cheerfully obeyed, and the forty-five thousand Moslems who met on the same day, on the same spot, ascribed to the blessing of providence the effects of their activity and zeal. About four years after the triumphs of the Persian war, the repose of Heraclius and the empire was again disturbed by a new enemy, the power of whose religion was more strongly felt than it was clearly understood by the Christians of the East. In his palace of Constantinople or Antioch, he was awakened by the invasion of Syria, 56 These words are the text of the Koran, c. ix. $2. lxi. 8. Like our fanatics of the last century, the Moslems, on every familiar or important occasion, spoke the language of their scriptures; a style more natural in their mouths, than the Hebrew idiom transplanted into the climate and dialect of Britain. LI. the loss of Bosra, and the danger of Damascus. An ar- CHAP. my of seventy thousand veterans, or new levies, was assembled at Hems or Emesa, under the command of his general Werdan"; and these troops, consisting chiefly of cavalry, might be indifferently styled either Syrians, or Greeks, or Romans: Syrians, from the place of their birth or warfare; Greeks, from the religion and language of their sovereign; and Romans, from the proud appellation which was still profaned by the successors of Constantine. On the plain of Aiznadin, as Werdan rode on a white mule decorated with gold chains, and surrounded with ensigns and standards, he was surprised by the near approach of a fierce and naked warrior, who had undertaken to view the state of the enemy. The adventurous valour of Derar was inspired, and has perhaps been adorned, by the enthusiasm of his age and country. The hatred of the Christians, the love of spoil, and the contempt of danger, were the ruling passions of the audacious Saracen; and the prospect of instant death could never shake his religious confidence, or ruffle the calmness of his resolution, or even suspend the frank and martial pleasantry of his humour. In the most hopeless enterprises, he was bold, and prudent, and fortunate after innumerable hazards, after being thrice a prisoner in the hands of the infidels, he still survived to relate the achievements, and to enjoy the rewards, of the Syrian conquest. this occasion, his single lance maintained a flying fight against thirty Romans, who were detached by Werdan; and after killing or unhorsing seventeen of their number, Derar returned in safety to his applauding brethren. When his rashness was mildly censured by the general, he excused himself with the simplicity of a soldier."Nay," said Derar, "I did not begin first: "but they came out to take me, and I was afraid that "God should, see me turn my back: and indeed I "fought in good earnest, and without doubt God assist❝ed me against them; and had I not been apprehen"sive of disobeying your orders, I should not have come On 57 The name of Werdan is unknown to Theophanes, and, though it might belong to an Armenian chief, has very little of a Greek aspect or sound. If the Byzantine historians have mangled the oriental names, the Arabs, in this instance, likewise have taken ample revenge on their enemies. In transposing the Greek character from right to left, might they not produce, from the familiar appellation of Andrew, something like the anagram Werdan? LI. 66 CHAP. away as I did; and I perceive already that they will "fall into our hands." In the presence of both armies, a venerable Greek advanced from the ranks with a liberal offer of peace; and the departure of the Saracens would have been purchased by a gift to each soldier, of a turban, a robe, and a piece of gold; ten robes, and an hundred pieces to their leader; one hundred robes, and a thousand pieces to the caliph. A smile of indignation expressed the refusal of Caled. "Ye Christian dogs, "you know your option; the koran, the tribute, or the "sword. We are a people whose delight is in war, ra"ther than in peace; and we despise your pitiful alms, "since we shall be speedily masters of your wealth, your families, and your persons." Notwithstanding this apparent disdain, he was deeply conscious of the public danger: those who had been in Persia, and had seen the armies of Chosroes, confessed that they never beheld a more formidable array. From the superiority of the enemy, the artful Saracen derived a fresh incentive of courage: "You see before you," said he, "the "united force of the Romans, you cannot hope to es66 cape, but you may conquer Syria in a single day. The " event depends on your discipline and patience. Re"serve yourselves till the evening. It was in the even"ing that the prophet was accustomed to vanquish.” During two successive engagements, his temperate firmness sustained the darts of the enemy, and the murmurs of his troops. At length, when the spirits and quivers of the adverse line were almost exhausted, Caled gave the signal of onset and victory. The remains of the Imperial army fled to Antioch, or Cæsarea, or Damascus ; and the death of four hundred and seventy Moslems was compensated by the opinion that they had sent to hell above fifty thousand of the infidels. The spoil was inestimable; many banners and crosses of gold and silver, precious stones, silver and gold chains, and innumerable suits of the richest armour and apparel. general distribution was postponed till Damascus should be taken; but the seasonable supply of arms became the instrument of new victories. The glorious intelligence was transmitted to the throne of the caliph, and the Arabian tribes, the coldest or most hostile to the prophet's mission, were eager and importunate to share the harvest of Syria. The cus. LI. The sad tidings were carried to Damascus by the CHAP. speed of grief and terror; and the inhabitants beheld from their walls the return of the heroes of Aiznadin. The Arabs Amrou led the van at the head of nine thousand horse: return to the bands of the Saracens succeeded each other in for. Damasmidable review; and the rear was closed by Caled in person, with the standard of the black eagle. To the activity of Derar he entrusted the commission of patrol. ling round the city with two thousand horse, of scour ing the plain, and of intercepting all succour or intelligence. The rest of the Arabian chiefs were fixed in their respective stations before the seven gates of Damascus; and the siege was renewed with fresh vigour and confidence. The art, the labour, the military engines, of the Greeks and Romans are seldom to be found in the simple, though successful, operations of the Sa racens : it was sufficient for them to invest a city with arms, rather than with trenches; to repel the sallies of the besieged; to attempt a stratagem or an assault; or to expect the progress of famine and discontent. Damas eus would have acquiesced in the trial of Aiznadin, as a final and peremptory sentence between the emperor and the caliph: her courage was rekindled by the example and authority of Thomas, a noble Greek, illus. trious in a private condition by the alliance of Heraclius. The tumult and illumination of the night pro claimed the design of the morning sally; and the Chris tian hero, who affected to despise the enthusiasm of the Arabs, employed the resource of a similar superstition. At the principal gate, in the sight of both armies, a lofty crucifix was erected; the bishop, with his clergy, ac. companied the march, and laid the volume of the New Testament before the image of Jesus; and the contending parties were scandalised or edified by a prayer, that the Son of God would defend his servants and vindicate his truth. The battle raged with incessant fury; and the dexterity of Thomas", an incomparable archer, 58 Vanity prompted the Arabs to believe, that Thomas was the son-inlaw of the emperor. We know the children of Heraclius by his two wives; and his august daughter would not have married in exile at Damascus (see Ducange, Fam. Byzantin. p. 118, 119). Had he been less religious, I might only suspect the legitimacy of the damsel. 59 Al Wakidi (Ockley, p. 101.) says, "with poisoned arrows;" but this savage invention is so repugnant to the practice of the Greeks and Romans, that I must suspect, on this occasion, the malevolent credulity of the Sara çens. |