340 CONQUESTS OF THE SARACENS. 



when you return to your native land you may feast 

 your countrymen. But be assured, if you are insen- 

 sible to my generosity, and still remain in Persia, 

 you shall not escape my just vengeance." 



The Arabian messengers heard unmoved a speech 

 displaying at once the extremes of pride and of 

 weakness. They did not palliate or deny the scanty 

 resources of their country ; and briefly offered to his 

 choice the Koran, tribute, or the sword. Yezdijird 

 was too proud to listen to such degrading terms ; the 

 embassy was dismissed, and war resumed with all 

 the vigour of v/hich the declining empire was capa- 

 ble. The hosts of Persia were as numerous and as 

 feeble as in the days of Darius ; and on this occasion 

 the force of the great king has been estimated at 

 120,000 men, the command of which was intrusted 

 to Roostum. The Saracens were strengthened by 

 recruits from Arabia and Syria,— their whole army 

 being augmented from 12,000 to 30,000 troops, the 

 best soldiers the East had ever seen. 



The plain of Cadesia or Kudseah, lying on the 

 skirts of the Desert, about two stages from Cufa, was 

 the scene of action ; but four months were spent by the 

 Persians in negotiating, and devising vain expedients 

 to protract hostilities without the hazard of a battle. 



The Arabs were disposed in three lines ; Saad 

 having directed his captains to consider the first 

 tecbir which they should hear him utter from his 

 post, a terrace of the castle, as the signal to adjust 

 their ranks ; the second, to fix their arrows in the 

 level, to couch then- lances, and draw their swords ; 

 and the third to rush upon their adversary. Various 

 skirmishes, and trials of individual valour in single 

 combat, took place in the interval between the two 

 armies ; but the battle itself lasted for several days ; 

 each distinguished by its peculiar appellation. On 

 the first, called the Day of Concussion, darkness put 

 an end to the contest ; both sides retiring to their 

 encampments without claiming any advantage. With 



