OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

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fioned at Chaibar by the revenge of a Jewish female.' 0 During four years, the health of theprophet declined ; his infirmities increased ;but his mortal disease was a fever of fourteendays, which deprived him by intervals of theuse of reason. As soon as he was conscious ofhis danger, he edified his brethren by the hu-mility of his virtue or penitence. “ If there be“ any man,” said the apostle from the pulpit,“ whom I have unjustly scourged, I submit“ my own back to the lash of retaliation.“ Have I aspersed the reputation of a Mussul-“ man ? let him proclaim my faults in the face“ of the congregation. Has any one been des-“ poiled of his goods? the little that I possess“ shall compensate the principal and the inte-“ rest of the debt.” “ Yes,” replied a voicefrom the crowd, I am entitled to three drams“ of silver.” Mahomet heard the complaint,satisfied the demand, and thanked his creditorfor accusing him in this world rather than atthe day of judgment. He beheld with tempe-rate firmness the approach of death ; enfran-chised his slaves, (seventeen men, as they are

phanes, Zonaras , and the rest of the Greeks; aud is greedily swallow-ed by tbegioss bigotry of Hottinger, (Hist. Orient, p. 10, 11) Pri-deaux, (Life of Mahomet, p 12) and Marncei (tom. ii, Alcoran, p.762, 7G3). The titlts, (the tcrapped vp y the coveredJ of two chapters ofthe Koran (73, 74) cau hardly be straiued to siuh an interpretation ;the silence, the ignorance of the Mahometan commentators, is moreconclrsive than the most peremptory denial ; and the charitable sideis espoused by Ockley, (Hist, of the Saracens , tom. i, p 301) Gag-nier, (ad Abulfcda, p. 9 ; Vie de Mahomet, tom. i, p. IIS) and Sale,(Koran, p 469 474).

“ This poison (more ignominious since it was offered as a test ofhis prophetic knowledge) is frankly confessed by his zealous votaries,Ahrilfeda (p. 92) and A1 Jonnabi (apud Gagnier, tom. ii, p. 286 288).

CHAP.

L.