h,
in Abulfeda, Descript. Arabiae, p. 60, 61. In the xiiith century, there
were some ruins, and a few palms; but in the present century, the same
ground is occupied by the visions and arms of a modern prophet, whose
tenets are imperfectly known, (Niebuhr, Description de l'Arabie, p.
296-302.)]

[Footnote 1111: This extraordinary woman was a Christian; she was at
the head of a numerous and flourishing sect; Moseilama professed to
recognize her inspiration. In a personal interview he proposed their
marriage and the union of their sects. The handsome person, the
impassioned eloquence, and the arts of Moseilama, triumphed over the
virtue of the prophetesa who was rejected with scorn by her lover, and
by her notorious unchastity ost her influence with her own followers.
Gibbon, with that propensity too common, especially in his later
volumes, has selected only the grosser part of this singular
adventure.--M.]

[Footnote 2: The first salutation may be transcribed, but cannot be
translated. It was thus that Moseilama said or sung:--

Surge tandem itaque strenue permolenda; nam stratus tibi thorus est.
Aut in propatulo tentorio si velis, aut in abditiore cubiculo si malis;
Aut supinam te humi exporrectam fustigabo, si velis,
Aut si malis manibus pedibusque nixam.
Aut si velis ejus (Priapi) gemino triente aut si malis totus veniam.
Imo, totus venito, O Apostole Dei, clamabat foemina.
Id ipsum, dicebat
Moseilama, mihi quoque suggessit Deus.

The prophetess Segjah, after the fall of her lover, returned to
idolatry; but under the reign of Moawiyah, she became a Mussulman, and
died at Bassora, (Abulfeda, Annal. vers. Reiske, p. 63.)]

[Footnote 3: See this text, which demonstrates a God from the work of
generation, in Abulpharagius (Specimen Hist. Arabum, p. 13, and Dynast.
p. 103) and Abulfeda, (Annal. p. 63.)]

[Footnote 3111: Compare a long account of this battle in Price, p.
42.--M.]

From the rapid conquests of the Saracens a presumption will naturally
arise, that the caliphs [311] commanded in person the armies of the
faithful, and sought the crown of martyrdom in the foremost ranks of
the battle. The courage of Abubeker, [4] Omar, [5] and Othman, [6] had
indeed been tried in the persecution and wars of the prophet; and the
personal assurance of paradise must have taught them to despise the
pleasures and dangers of the present world. But they ascended the
throne in a venerable or mature age; and esteemed the