ously
expressed in favor of the people of God; while whatever is said of the
wicked and ungodly, and of all the terrors and judgments denounced
against them, they bestow with a liberal hand upon their neighbors.
After their prayers were over, the Saracens began their assault. The
Ierosolymites never flinched, but sent them showers of arrows from the
walls, and maintained the fight with undaunted courage till the
evening. Thus they continued fighting ten days, and on the eleventh Abu
Obeidah came up with the remainder of the army. He had not been there
long before he sent the besieged the following letter:

"In the name of the most merciful God.

"From Abu Obeidah Ebn Aljerahh, to the chief commanders of the
people of AElia and the inhabitants thereof, health and happiness to
everyone that follows the right way and believes in God and the
apostle. We require of you to testify that there is but one God,
and Mahomet is his apostle, and that there shall be a day of
judgment, when God shall raise the dead out of their sepulchres;
and when you have borne witness to this, it is unlawful for us
either to shed your blood or meddle with your sustenance or
children. If you refuse this, consent to pay tribute and be under
us forthwith; otherwise I shall bring men against you who love
death better than you do the drinking of wine, or eating hogs'
flesh: nor will I ever stir from you, if it please God, till I have
destroyed those that fight for you and made slaves of your
children."

The eating swine's flesh and drinking wine are both forbidden in the
_Koran_, which occasioned that reflection of Abu Obeidah upon the
practice of the Christians. The besieged, not a whit daunted, held out
four whole months entire, during all which time not one day passed
without fighting; and it being winter time, the Saracens suffered a
great deal of hardships through the extremity of the weather. At last,
when the besieged had well considered the obstinacy of the Saracens;
who, they had good reason to believe, would never raise the siege till
they had taken the city, whatever time it took up or whatever pains it
might cost them, Sophronius the patriarch went to the wall, and by an
interpreter discoursed with Abu Obeidah, telling him that Jerusalem was
the holy city, and whoever came into the Holy Land with any hostile
intent would render himself obnoxious to the divine displ