LIFE OF MOHAMMED. 249 



tanks so as to magnify their numbers, contrived to 

 spread a false apprehension among the vanquished 

 Greeks, who fled with precipitation, leaving their 

 camp, with the baggage and abundance of rich spoil, 

 in the possession of the victors. This brilliant 

 achievement added fresh laurels to the renown of 

 Khaled. The Prophet bestowed on him the title of 

 the Sword of God. To the science of an able cap* 

 tain he joined the most heroic personal courage; 

 and during the battle, nine swords had broken m his 

 hand. 



The Greek writers speak less pompously of the 

 battle of Muta than the romantic Arabs, and repre- 

 sent it as an action of no great importance to either 

 side ; but they seem to corroborate the leading fact 

 that victory declared for the Sloslems, who lost 

 three emirs ;* though their description of the im- 

 perial army, as " a body of troops hastily drawn 

 together," would lead us to doubt of its numerical 

 strength. 



Two of the ten years' truce with the Meccans liad 

 scarcely elapsed when Mohammed accused them of 

 a breach of their engagement, ^^^^en a cause of 

 quarrel is sought it is easy to find a pretext ; but the 

 truth is, that the condition of the contracting powers 

 had somewhat changed, ^^'hile his enemies \yere 

 w^eakened by desertion and conquest, he had gained 

 strength by the seduction or submission of various 

 petty tribes. The opportunity was too favourable 

 to be lost, as he had secretly determined to humble 

 the pride of the idolaters and get possession of his 

 native city. An army of 10,000 was ready to obey 

 his will. Enthusiasm and revenge impelled their 

 march ; and, notwithstanding several attempts to 

 give the enemy intimation, so completely were their 



* Georgrius Cedreniis (Historiar. Compend. p. 429), Theo- 

 phaTies (Chronograph, p. 278), mention the loss of three Arabian 

 emirs, and the escape of Khaled, whom they call Moxaipav Ton 

 Gsov. 



