OF THE HOMAN EMPIliE 25 dred lions were brought out, with a keeper to each Uon." Among the other spectacles of rare and stupendous luxury, was a tree of gold and silver spreading into eighteen large branches, on which, and on the lesser boughs, sat a variety ol birds made of the same precious metals, as well as the leaves of the tree. While the machinery affected spontaneous motions, the several birds warbled their natural harmony. Through this scene of magnificence, the Greek ambassador was led by the visir to the foot of the caliph's throne." -'^ In the West, the Ommiades of Spain supported, with equal pomp, the title of commander of the faithful. Three miles from Cordova, in honour of his favourite sultana, the third and greatest of the Abdalrahmans constructed the city, palace, and gardens of Zehra. Twenty-five years, and above three millions sterling, were employed by the founder : his liberal taste invited the artists of Constantinople, the most skilful sculptors and architects of the age ; and the buildings were sustained or adorned by twelve hundred columns of Spanish and African, of Greek and Italian marble. The hall of audience was encrusted with gold and pearls, and a great bason in the centre was surrounded with the curious and costly figures of birds and quadrupeds. In a lofty pavillion of the gardens, one of these basons and fountains, so delightful in a sultry climate, was replenished not with water, but with the purest quicksilver. The seraglio of Abdalrahman, his wives, concubines, and black eunuchs, amounted to six thousand three hundred persons ; and he was attended to the field by a guard of twelve thousand horse, whose belts and scymetars were studded with gold.'^'-* In a private condition, our desires are perpetually repressed n. conae- by poverty and subordination ; but the lives and labours of private and public hapiii- De3ii ^^ When Bell of Antermony (Travels, vol. i. p. 99) accompanied the Russian ambassador to the audience of the unfortunate Shah Hussein of Persia, two lions were introduced, to denote the power of the king over the fiercest animals. '*'* Abulfeda, p. 237; d'Herbelot, p. 590. This embassy was received at Bag- dad A.n. 305, A.D. 917. In the passage of Abulfeda, I have used, with some variations, the English translation of the learned and amiable Mr. Harris of Salis- bury (Philological Enquiries, p. 363, 364).
- " Cardonne, Histoire de I'Afrique el de I'Espagne, torn. i. p. 330-336. A just
idea of the taste and architecture of the Arabians of -Spain may be conceived from the description and plates of the Alhambra of Grenada (.Swinburne's Travels, p. 171-188). [Owen Jones, Plans, elevations, sections and details of the Alhambra, 2 vols., 1842-5. On Saracen architecture and art in general, see E. S. Poole's Appendix to sth ed. of Lane's Modern Egyptians, i860. .A.rchitecture in Spain may be studied in the colossal Monumentos Architectonicos de Espaf.a (in double elephant folio). For a brief account of Saracenic architecture in .Spain, see Burke's History of Spain, vol. ii. p. 15 sqq.^
