, one cannot but like him. A noble-minded creature, as he
shows himself, now and always afterwards; full of affection, of fiery
daring. Something chivalrous in him; brave as a lion; yet with a
grace, a truth and affection worthy of Christian knighthood. He died
by assassination in the Mosque at Bagdad; a death occasioned by his
own generous fairness, confidence in the fairness of others: he said,
If the wound proved not unto death, they must pardon the Assassin; but
if it did, then they must slay him straightway, that so they two in
the same hour might appear before God, and see which side of that
quarrel was the just one!

Mahomet naturally gave offence to the Koreish, Keepers of the Caabah,
superintendents of the Idols. One or two men of influence had joined
him: the thing spread slowly, but it was spreading. Naturally, he gave
offence to everybody: Who is this that pretends to be wiser than we
all; that rebukes us all, as mere fools and worshippers of wood! Abu
Thaleb the good Uncle spoke with him: Could he not be silent about all
that; believe it all for himself, and not trouble others, anger the
chief men, endanger himself and them all, talking of it? Mahomet
answered: If the Sun stood on his right hand and the Moon on his left,
ordering him to hold his peace, he could not obey! No: there was
something in this Truth he had got which was of Nature herself; equal
in rank to Sun, or Moon, or whatsoever thing Nature had made. It would
speak itself there, so long as the Almighty allowed it, in spite of
Sun and Moon, and all Koreish and all men and things. It must do that,
and could do no other. Mahomet answered so; and, they say, 'burst into
tears.' Burst into tears: he felt that Abu Thaleb was good to him;
that the task he had got was no soft, but a stern and great one.

He went on speaking to who would listen to him; publishing his
Doctrine among the pilgrims as they came to Mecca; gaining adherents
in this place and that. Continual contradiction, hatred, open or
secret danger attended him. His powerful relations protected Mahomet
himself; but by and by, on his own advice, all his adherents had to
quit Mecca, and seek refuge in Abyssinia over the sea. The Koreish
grew ever angrier; laid plots, and swore oaths among them, to put
Mahomet to death with their own hands. Abu Thaleb was dead, the good
Kadijah was dead. Mahomet is not solicitous of sympathy from us; but
his outlook at this time was one of the dismalest. He