18

THE DECLINE AND FALL

chap. “ Asia is subject to our arms and our laws? thatLXV ‘ “ our invincible forces extend from one sea to

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“ the other? that the potentates of the earth“ form a line before our gate? and that we have“ compelled fortune herself to watch over the“ prosperity of our empire? What is the foun-“ dation of thy insolence and folly? Thou hast“ fought some battles in the woods of Anatolia ;“ contemptible trophies! Thou hast obtained“ some victories over the Christians of Europe ;“ thy sword was blessed by the apostle of God ;“ and thy obedience to the precept of the koran,u in w aging war against the infidels, is the sole“ consideration that prevents us from destroying“ thy country, the frontier and bulwark of the“ Moslem world. Be wise in time; reflect; re-“ pent; and avert the thunder of our vengeance,“ which is yet suspended over thy head. Thou“ art no more than a pismire; why wilt thou seek“ to provoke the elephants? Alas, they will“ trample thee under their feet.” In his replies,Bajazet poured forth the indignation of a soulwhich was deeply stung by such unusual con-tempt. After retorting the basest reproacheson the thief and rebel of the desert, the Otto-man recapitulates his boasted victories in Iran ,Touran, and the Indies; and labours to prove,that Timour had never triumphed unless by hisovui perfidy and the vices of his foes. “ Thy“ armies are innumerable : be they so; but what“ are the arrows of the flying Tartar against the“ scimetars and batlle-axes of my firm and iu-“ vincible janizaries? I will guard the princes