LIFE OF MOHAMMED.
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if victorious, glory and riches awaited them; but, if doomed to fall in the ensanguined field, their brows would be encircled with the martyr's crown!
Whilst all was fervour and enthusiasm among them, Mohammed, like the presiding genius of the storm, was cool and collected, controlling and directing the ardour of his troops to the accomplishment of his self-interested and ambitious projects. His first attacks were directed against the caravans, to revenge himself on the Koreish, by which plunder was acquired. The battle of Beder[1], in the second year of the Hegira, tended principally to establish his reputation, and is the continued theme of Arabian panegyric, as
- ↑ The Koran, (c. 8.) speaking of the victory of Beder, says, "God diminished your numbers in their eyes:" the Arabian Commentators endeavour to reconcile the contradiction by observing, that just before the battle begun, the Prophet's army seemed fewer than they were, to bring the enemy to an engagement, but afterwards they appeared superior, to terrify and dismay their adversaries.
