118 ANCIENT KINGS OF ARABIA. 



in his hall of audience, surrounded by the officers, 

 musicians, and ladies of the court, of whom there 

 were twelve thousand, " every one equal to the 

 moon in beauty." A huge crown, wrought of the 

 most costly jewels and pearls, and compared by Ta- 

 biri to an Eastern measure containing six bushels 

 of wheat, was suspended over the throne by a golden 

 chain from the roof; the weight being too much for 

 the royal brows to support. It was covered with a 

 veil, which was never removed except on state 

 occasions. 



Khoosroo listened with indifference to the invita- 

 tions of the suppliant prince. " Thy land," said 

 he, " is distant and barren. Its only productions are 

 sheep and camels ; these we want not ; nor can they 

 tempt the Persians to so fruitless an enterprise." 

 He then ordered Seiph a thousand pieces of 

 gold, and a robe of curious workmanship. The 

 wily Arabian immediately threw the gold to the 

 slaves and the crowds in the streets. "Of what 

 use," said he to the astonished monarch, " is the 

 wealth or the jewelry of Persia to me 1 The hills 

 of my own country are of gold, and its dust silver." 

 This appeal to the avarice rather than the sympathies 

 of the Persian had better success. Khoosroo ordered 

 a levy of all the prisoners and condemned criminals 

 within his dominions, to the amount of 3600 men. 

 " If they conquer these regions," said he, " it will 

 add to my kingdom ; if they perish, they but suffer 

 the just punishment of their crimes." With these 

 auxiliaries Seiph returned to Arabia ; a battle was 

 fought near Aden, where Masruk fell by an arrow 

 from the hand of Wehraz, a Persian nobleman, who 

 commanded the expedition. The victory diffused 

 universal joy among the Arabs. The successful 

 general took possession of Sanaa, where he put all 

 the Abyssinians to death, and planted his master's 

 standard on its walls ; having thrown down one of 

 the gates, rather than lower the proud banner of 

 Khoosroo. 



