thedespotism，thepomp，andeventheharem，ofasultan；andaChristianpeoplewasoppressedandinsultedbytheascendantoftheeunuchs，whoopenlyprofessed，orsecretlycherished，thereligionofMahomet。Aneloquenthistorianofthetimes^126hasdelineatedthemisfortunesofhiscountry:^127theambitionandfalloftheungratefulMajo；therevoltandpunishmentofhisassassins；theimprisonmentanddeliveranceofthekinghimself；
theprivatefeudsthatarosefromthepublicconfusion；andthevariousformsofcalamityanddiscordwhichafflictedPalermo，theisland，andthecontinent，duringthereignofWilliamtheFirst，andtheminorityofhisson。Theyouth，innocence，andbeautyofWilliamtheSecond，^128endearedhimtothenation:
thefactionswerereconciled；thelawswererevived；andfromthemanhoodtotheprematuredeathofthatamiableprince，Sicilyenjoyedashortseasonofpeace，justice，andhappiness，whosevaluewasenhancedbytheremembranceofthepastandthedreadoffuturity。ThelegitimatemaleposterityofTancredofHautevillewasextinctinthepersonofthesecondWilliam；buthisaunt，thedaughterofRoger，hadmarriedthemostpowerfulprinceoftheage；andHenrytheSixth，thesonofFredericBarbarossa，descendedfromtheAlpstoclaimtheImperialcrownandtheinheritanceofhiswife。Againsttheunanimouswishofafreepeople，thisinheritancecouldonlybeacquiredbyarms；andIampleasedtotranscribethestyleandsenseofthehistorianFalcandus，whowritesatthemoment，andonthespot，withthefeelingsofapatriot，andthepropheticeyeofastatesman。
\"Constantia，thedaughterofSicily，nursedfromhercradleinthepleasuresandplenty，andeducatedintheartsandmanners，ofthisfortunateisle，departedlongsincetoenrichtheBarbarianswithourtreasures，andnowreturns，withhersavageallies，tocontaminatethebeautiesofhervenerableparent。
AlreadyIbeholdtheswarmsofangryBarbarians:ouropulentcities，theplacesflourishinginalongpeace，areshakenwithfear，desolatedbyslaughter，consumedbyrapine，andpollutedbyintemperanceandlust。Iseethemassacreorcaptivityofourcitizens，therapesofourvirginsandmatrons。^129InthisextremityheinterrogatesafriendhowmusttheSiciliansact?