LIFE OF MOHAMMED. 265 



either fictitious or impossible; we shall therefore 

 leave out of our portrait the sweetness and nutri- 

 tive qualities of his spittle — the faculty of vision 

 from behind — his miraculous exemption from ver- 

 min, which would neither touch his garments nor 

 taste his blood— the odorous exhalations of his arm- 

 pits — and the delicious perfumes that exuded from 

 his body like drops of liquid coral. We must also 

 pass in silence his miraculous skill in the sciences ; 

 his arsenal and wardrobe, with his two black and 

 white standards, called the Eagle and the Sun ; his 

 horses, mules, asses, camels, sheep, goats, and other 

 bestial, of which many remarkable anecdotes are 

 related in oriental authors. 



The private and moral character of Mohammed 

 was checkered by a strangely inconsistent mixture 

 of virtue and vice, of dignity and condescension. 

 Though vested with the power and ensigns of roy- 

 alty, he despised its pomp, and was careless of its 

 luxuries. The familiarity which gained the hearts 

 of the nobles, and endeared him to his companions, 

 was extended to the meanest of the people, whose 

 wishes and complaints he always listened to with 

 patience. He even entertained them occasionally 

 at his table, or shared with them their homely meal 

 while seated on benches around the mosque. When 

 not occupied in matters of graver importance, he 

 threw aside the forms and restraints of official eti- 

 quette, and condescended to partake in the amuse- 

 ments or jocular conversation of his friends. At 

 the head of his army he could maintain the stateli- 

 ness and cold taciturnity of Wellington or Bona- 

 parte ; with his soldiers he could relax without 

 losing his authority, mixing in their pastimes and 

 pleasantries with that freedom which reminds us 

 of the sportive freaks of Cromwell, whose character 

 for military genius, fanaticism, and h>T)ocrisy he in 

 many points resembled. 



He courted no distinction bevond others in food 



Vol. I.— Z 



