te 195: I am happy enough to possess a splendid and interesting
work which has only been distributed in presents by the court of Madrid
Bibliotheca Arabico-Hispana Escurialensis, opera et studio Michaelis
Casiri, Syro Maronitoe. Matriti, in folio, tomus prior, 1760, tomus
posterior, 1770. The execution of this work does honor to the Spanish
press; the Mss., to the number of MDCCCLI., are judiciously classed by
the editor, and his copious extracts throw some light on the Mahometan
literature and history of Spain. These relics are now secure, but the
task has been supinely delayed, till, in the year 1671, a fire consumed
the greatest part of the Escurial library, rich in the spoils of Grenada
and Morocco. * Note: Compare the valuable work of Conde, Historia de la
Dominacion de las Arabes en Espana. Madrid, 1820.--M.]

The wars of the Moslems were sanctified by the prophet; but among the
various precepts and examples of his life, the caliphs selected the
lessons of toleration that might tend to disarm the resistance of the
unbelievers. Arabia was the temple and patrimony of the God of Mahomet;
but he beheld with less jealousy and affection the nations of the earth.
The polytheists and idolaters, who were ignorant of his name, might be
lawfully extirpated by his votaries; [196] but a wise policy supplied
the obligation of justice; and after some acts of intolerant zeal, the
Mahometan conquerors of Hindostan have spared the pagods of that devout
and populous country. The disciples of Abraham, of Moses, and of Jesus,
were solemnly invited to accept the more perfect revelation of Mahomet;
but if they preferred the payment of a moderate tribute, they were
entitled to the freedom of conscience and religious worship. [197] In a
field of battle the forfeit lives of the prisoners were redeemed by the
profession of Islam; the females were bound to embrace the religion of
their masters, and a race of sincere proselytes was gradually multiplied
by the education of the infant captives. But the millions of African
and Asiatic converts, who swelled the native band of the faithful Arabs,
must have been allured, rather than constrained, to declare their belief
in one God and the apostle of God. By the repetition of a sentence and
the loss of a foreskin, the subject or the slave, the captive or
the criminal, arose in a moment the free and equal companion of the
victorious Moslems. Every sin was expiated, every engagement was
dissolved: the v