J 18 Specimen of a Summary of History. 



First did the young Ayesha's sire succeed. 



Then Omar, and next Othman claims the meed. 



All, who near to him in hlood allied, 



Calls Fatima, his dearest daughter, bride. 



Yet mounts that seat but fourth, and murder's thrust 



In Cufa's mosque soon bowed him to the dust. 



Him as their murdered saint the Shiahs own 



And Persia's thousands still that blow bemoan. 



Yet now deserted must his son resign 



The sacred title to the Ommiad line. 



First the faith's bitter foes in hour of need. 



But since keen champions of the conquering creed. 



PROGRESS OF CONQUEST UNDER THE OMMIAD CALIPHS. 



They subdue Africa and Spain, are repelled from Constantinople, 

 invade France, but are defeated by Charles Martel. 



Westwards o'er Afric's shores they pour afar 

 The all-prevailing tide of Moslem war. 

 Mark in th' Atlantic flood how Akbiih brave'6 

 Spurs his fierce steed, and blames the bounding wave. 

 Yet the wild Moorish queen maintains the field — 

 And Berber's arm, though Coth and Grecian yield. 

 Within a century since the prophet fled 

 O'er Calpe's straits his victor bands are led, '7 

 Whose rock preserves the chieftain Tarik's name 

 While Boetis swallows Gothic Roderic's shame. 

 Yet still Asturia's hills preserve the free,'^ 

 And shield that mountain nymph, fair liberty. 

 There yet beneath Pelayo's sword remain 

 Germs of the powers revived of Christian Spain. 



16 From 665 to 690, Akbah, the general of the caliph Moawyiah, carried his 

 victories across Africa, till arrested by the Atlantic. He spurred his horse into the 

 waves, and raising his eyes to heaven, exclaimed, " Had not my course beeen stopped 

 by this sea, I had gone on conquering and converting the unknown lands of the 

 west." Carthage, however, only submitted to Hassam, 698. The native Bei-bers, 

 however, under their Qrecn Cahina, resist, and at first obtain partial success in the 

 struggle, but are partially subdued, 709. 



•7 In 710, the 92 Hegira, the Arabs invaded Spain. The promontory, where they 

 landed, took a new name from their chieftain, Gebel, al Tarik, (Gibraltar) the rock 

 of Tarik. He defeated Roderic, the last king of the Spanish Goths, in the battle of 

 Xeres, near Cadiz ; and this defeated monarch, in his flight, was drowned in the 

 river Boetis, or Guadalquivir. 



18 In Asturia, however, a remnant of the Spaniards and Goths rallied under the 

 banner of Pelayo, and created a small but independent kingdom, which subsequently 

 expanded itself, and became the source, whence other Christian states which formed 

 on its borders. The Spanish dominions of the Arabs were thus gradually reduced, 

 and, about seven centuries after their foundation, finally extinguished. 



