OF THE EOMAN EMPIRE 425 the faith of a companion of Mahomet, that all hostilities should cease ; that the voluntary emigrants might depart in safety, with as much as they could carry away of their effects ; and that the tributary subjects of the caliphs should enjoy their lands and houses, with the use and possession of seven churches. On these terms, the most respectable hostages, and the gate nearest to his camp, were delivered into his hands ; his soldiers imitated the moderation of their chief; and he enjoyed the submissive gratitude of a people whom he had rescued from destruction. But the success of the treaty had relaxed their vigilance, and in the same moment the opposite quarter of the city was betrayed and taken by assault. A party of an hundred Arabs had opened the eastern gate to a more inexorable foe. " No quarter," cried the rapacious and sanguinary Caled, " no quarter to the enemies of the Lord ; " his trumpets sounded, and a torrent of Christian blood was poured down the streets of Damascus. When he reached the church of St. Mary, he was astonished and provoked by the peaceful aspect of his com- panions : their swords were in the scabbard, and they were surrounded by a multitude of priests and monks. Abu Obeidah saluted the general : " God," said he, " has delivered the city into my hands by way of surrender, and has saved the believers the trouble of fighting". "Andam/not," replied the indignant Caled, am /not the lieutenant of the commander of the faithful. Have I not taken the city by storm . The unbelievers shall perish by the sword. Fall on." The hungry and cruel Arabs would have obeyed the welcome command ; and Damascus was lost, if the benevolence of Abu Obeidah had not been supported by a decent and dignified firmness. Throwing himself between the trembling citizens and the most eager of the barbarians, he ad- jured them by the holy name of God to respect his promise, to suspend their fury, and to wait the determination of their chiefs. The chiefs retired into the church of St. Mary ; and, after a vehement debate, Caled submitted in some measure to the reason and authority of his colleague ; who urged the sanctity of a covenant, the advantage as well as the honour which the Mos- lems would derive from the punctual performance of their word, and the obstinate resistance which they must encounter from the distrust and despair of the rest of the Syrian cities. It was agreed that the sword should be sheathed, that the part of Damascus which had surrendered to Abu Obeidah should be immediately entitled to the benefit of his capitulation, and that the final decision should be referred to the justice and wisdom
