CONQUESTS OF THE SARACENS. 339 



of the enemy may be estimated at 100,000 men. 

 Their want of success the fickle Persians attributed 

 to the incapacity of their queen, Arzemidocht, a 

 daughter of Khoosroo. " This we get," they mur- 

 mured, "by suffering a woman to rule over us ;" and 

 in the hope of bettering their fortune, the throne 

 was immediately transferred to Yezdijird, a descend- 

 ant of the renowned Nooshirwan. The first mea- 

 sure of the youthful monarch was to send an envoy 

 to Saad, the leader whom the caliph had appointed 

 to the chief command. A deputation of three old 

 Arab chiefs repaired to Madayn, the head-quarters 

 of the Persian army. Their mean appearance ex- 

 cited the disdain of the luxurious monarch ; for they 

 wore the striped camlets of their country, had small 

 whips in their hands, and rude sandals on their feet. 

 *' We have always," said he, " held you in the lowest 

 estimation. Arabs hitherto have been known in 

 Persia only in two characters ; as merchants and as 

 beggars. Your food is green lizards ; your drink 

 salt water ; your covering, garments made of coarse 

 hair. But of late you have come in numbers to 

 Persia ; you have eaten of good food ; you have 

 drunk of sweet waters ; and have enjoyed the luxury 

 of soft raiment. You have reported these enjoy- 

 ments to your brethren, and they are flocking to 

 partake of them. You appear to me like the fox in 

 our fable, who went into a garden where he found 

 plenty of grapes. The generous gardener would not 

 disturb him, and thought the produce of his vineyard 

 would be little diminished by a poor hungry fox en- 

 joying himself. But the animal, not content with 

 his good fortune, went and informed all his tribe. 

 The garden was filled with foxes ; and its indulgent 

 master was forced to bar the gates, and kill all the 

 intruders to save himself from ruin. However, as 

 I am satisfied that you have been compelled to this 

 conduct by absolute want, I will not only pardon 

 you, but load your camels with wheat and dates, that 



