re by this time far
advanced beyond the frontiers of Arabia, and with fanatic zeal
endeavoring to obey the prophet's injunction to Islamize mankind.
"_Allah il Allah!_" ("God is God!") was their inspiring war-cry,
and "Mahomet is the prophet of God" their watchword. With cimeter
and _Koran_ in either hand they offered the conquered "Infidels"
"Islam or the sword."

The Oxus, which alone separated Saracen territory from that of
Syria, was easily passed. Damascus was conquered, and the impetuous
spirit of the Moslems led them rapidly on to Heliopolis, then to
Hems or Emesa. In subtlety they were no less practised than they
were well proved in courage, and by many arts they succeeded in
creating diversions among their adversaries, and often in enlisting
them under the Saracen standard. By making the Syrians understand
something of their language, customs, and religion, they prepared
them for assimilation when once subjected. In some cases
dissensions among the Syrians led them to invoke the intervention
of those who came to subjugate them.

In less than two years the Saracens had conquered the Syrian plain
and valley, but still they reproached themselves for loss of time,
and with redoubled zeal pressed on to new victories. The forces
arrayed against them were greatly augmented both from Asia and
Europe, but the disciplined veterans of the Roman emperor
Heraclius, and the recruits from the provinces, vainly confronted
the Arabs, whose valor was of the nature of religious frenzy, which
no assault could cause to quail. They won, at fearful cost to
themselves, but with greater loss to their enemies at the battle of
Yermouk, and there caused the Roman army to abandon active warfare
against them.

It was then open to the victors to select their own objective among
the Syrian cities, and following the counsel of Ali, they entered
at once upon the siege of Jerusalem, although they held that city
next to Mecca and Medina in veneration.

After a siege of four months Jerusalem capitulated, her defenders
having no rest from the ceaseless assaults of the besiegers. Hard
work still lay before the Saracens in Syria; but after the
reduction of Aleppo, which cost several months' siege, with great
loss of lives to the invaders, they passed on to Antioch