shallhereobserve，whatImustoftenrepeat，thatthechargeoftheArabswasnot，likethatoftheGreeksandRomans，theeffortofafirmandcompactinfantry:theirmilitaryforcewaschieflyformedofcavalryandarchers；andtheengagement，whichwasofteninterruptedandoftenrenewedbysinglecombatsandflyingskirmishes，mightbeprotractedwithoutanydecisiveeventtothecontinuanceofseveraldays。TheperiodsofthebattleofCadesiaweredistinguishedbytheirpeculiarappellations。Thefirst，fromthewell—timedappearanceofsixthousandoftheSyrianbrethren，wasdenominatedthedayofsuccor。Thedayofconcussionmightexpressthedisorderofone，orperhapsofboth，ofthecontendingarmies。Thethird，anocturnaltumult，receivedthewhimsicalnameofthenightofbarking，fromthediscordantclamors，whichwerecomparedtotheinarticulatesoundsofthefiercestanimals。ThemorningofthesucceedingdaydeterminedthefateofPersia；andaseasonablewhirlwinddroveacloudofdustagainstthefacesoftheunbelievers。TheclangorofarmswasreechoedtothetentofRustam，who，farunliketheancientheroofhisname，wasgentlyreclininginacoolandtranquilshade，amidstthebaggageofhiscamp，andthetrainofmulesthatwereladenwithgoldandsilver。Onthesoundofdangerhestartedfromhiscouch；buthisflightwasovertakenbyavaliantArab，whocaughthimbythefoot，struckoffhishead，hoisteditonalance，andinstantlyreturningtothefieldofbattle，carriedslaughteranddismayamongthethickestranksofthePersians。TheSaracensconfessalossofseventhousandfivehundredmen；^!andthebattleofCadesiaisjustlydescribedbytheepithetsofobstinateandatrocious。^21
Thestandardofthemonarchywasoverthrownandcapturedinthefield—aleathernapronofablacksmith，whoinancienttimeshadarisenthedelivererofPersia；butthisbadgeofheroicpovertywasdisguised，andalmostconcealed，byaprofusionofpreciousgems。^22Afterthisvictory，thewealthyprovinceofIrak，orAssyria，submittedtothecaliph，andhisconquestswerefirmlyestablishedbythespeedyfoundationofBassora，^23aplacewhichevercommandsthetradeandnavigationofthePersians。AsthedistanceoffourscoremilesfromtheGulf，theEuphratesandTigrisuniteinabroadanddirectcurrent，whichisaptlystyledtheriveroftheArabs。Inthemidway，betweenthejunctionandthemouthofthesefamousstreams，thenewsettlementwasplantedonthewesternbank:thefirstcolonywascomposedofeighthundredMoslems；buttheinfluenceofthesituationsoonrearedaflourishingandpopulouscapital。Theair，thoughexcessivelyhot，ispureandhealthy:themeadowsarefilledwithpalm—treesandcattle；andoneoftheadjacentvalleyshasbeencelebratedamongthefourparadisesorgardensofAsia。UnderthefirstcaliphsthejurisdictionofthisArabiancolonyextendedoverthesouthernprovincesofPersia:
thecityhasbeensanctifiedbythetombsofthecompanionsandmartyrs；andthevesselsofEuropestillfrequenttheportofBassora，asaconvenientstationandpassageoftheIndiantrade。
[Footnote18:Acycleof120years，theendofwhichanintercalarymonthof30dayssuppliedtheuseofourBissextile，andrestoredtheintegrityofthesolaryear。Inagreatrevolutionof1440yearsthisintercalationwassuccessivelyremovedfromthefirsttothetwelfthmonth；butHydeandFreretareinvolvedinaprofoundcontroversy，whetherthetwelve，oronlyeightofthesechangeswereaccomplishedbeforetheaeraofYezdegerd，whichisunanimouslyfixedtothe16thofJune，A。D。
632。HowlaboriouslydoesthecuriousspiritofEuropeexplorethedarkestandmostdistantantiquities!HydedeReligionePersarum，c。14—18，p。181—211。FreretintheMem。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xvi。p。233—267。]