story of the founders of nations, and the conquerors
of empires. In the mean time, his understanding was enlarged by
travel. It is not to be supposed that he frequented the
neighbouring countries, without making some of those profound
observations upon the decline of the two great empires of the
East and of Persia, which were calculated to expand his views,
and to mature his projects. The energies of his mind led him to
despise the fopperies of idolatry; and he found the Christians,
in the most unfavourable situation, torn into innumerable
parties, by the sectaries of Athanasius, Arius, Eutyches,
Nestorius. In this situation, he extracted that from every
system that bordered most nearly upon the dictates of reason,
and framed to himself a sublime doctrine, of which the unity of
God, the innocence of moderate enjoyment, the obligation of
temperance and munificence, were the leading principles. But it
would have contributed little to his purpose, if he had stopped
here. Enthusiastically devoted to his extensive designs, and
guided by the most consummate art, he pretended to divine
communications, related a thousand ridiculous and incredible
adventures; and though he constantly refused a prodigy to the
importunities of his countrymen, laid claim to several frivolous
miracles, and a few thinly scattered prophecies. One of his most
artful devices was the delivering the system of his religion,
not in one entire code, but in detached essays. This enabled him
more than once to new mould the very genius of his religion,
without glaringly subjecting himself to the charge of
inconsistency. From these fragments, soon after his death, was
compiled the celebrated Alcoran. The style of this volume is
generally turgid, heavy, monotonous. It is disfigured with
childish tales and impossible adventures. But it is frequently
figurative, frequently poetical, sometimes sublime. And amidst
all its defects, it will remain the greatest of all monuments of
uncultivated and illiterate genius.

[Footnote A: "Abuleda, Chron. p. 27. Boulainvilliers, Vie de
Mahomet, b. ii. p. 175. This latter writer exhibits the singular
phenomenon of the native of a Christian country, unreasonably
prejudiced in favour of the Arabian impostor. That he did not
live, however, to finish his curious performance, is the