314 CONQUESTS OF THE SARACENS. 



and the battle, or rather the slaughter, continued till 

 evening. Fifty thousand of the Christians fell under 

 the scimitars of the enemy, and the remains of the 

 imperial troops fled — some to Caesarea, others to 

 Damascus or Antioch. Four hundred and seventy 

 martyrs Avere left on the field. The spoil was in- 

 estimable, including banners, crosses of gold and 

 silver, chains, precious stones, suits of armour, and 

 rich apparel. The glorious intelligence was imme 

 diately transmitted to the caliph, and diffused uni 

 versaljoy. The Meccans and other tribes, hostile • 

 to the first preaching of the Koran, were now eager 

 to thrust their sickles into the bloody but lucrative 

 harvest of Syria. 



The tidings of this defeat filled the Damascenes 

 with grief and terror ; and from their ramparts they 

 beheld the ferocious conquerors return to the siege- 

 Amru led the van at the head of nine thousand horse ; 

 and the rear was brought up by Khaled in person, 

 with the standard of the black eagle. The wretched 

 citizens had made every preparation during this 

 short respite. For a time their courage was revived 

 by the example and authority of Thomas, an excel- 

 lent soldier, though living in a private station, and 

 son-in-law to the Grecian emperor. He aff'ected to 

 despise the " contemptible Arabs— poor Avretches, 

 going about with hungry belhes, naked and bare- 

 foot"— and advised the citizens to attempt a sally 

 next morning, and defend themselves to the last, 

 rather than surrender. Watch was kept during the 

 night, and the absence of the sun was supplied with 

 numberless lights placed in the turrets. At the gate 

 through which they were to march a lofty crucifix 

 was erected in sight of both armies, and before it 

 the bishop with his clergy placed a copy of the New 

 Testament, on the cover of which, as he passed, 

 Thomas imprecated the overthrow of the oppress- 

 ors, and prayed the Author of that divine book to 

 defend his servants and vindicate his truth. 



