348 CONQUESTS OF THK SARACENS. 



imboldened Yezdijird, who had been driven from 

 Jehvallah with the loss of 100,000 men and immense 

 treasure, to make another effort for the recovery of 

 his dominions. Troops drawn from Khorasan, Rlie 

 Hamadan, and tliose provinces which the spoliation 

 of the enemy had not yet reached, were assembled, 

 to the number of 150,000 ; the command of whom 

 was assigned to Firoozan, one of his ablest generals. 

 Amar applied to INIedina for reinforcements ; and 

 Nooman ibn Makran was the person selected by 

 Omar as leader of the Saracen host, which amounted 

 only to 30,000 men. 



Nahavund, an obscure town among the hills, 45 

 miles south of Hamadan (the ancient Ecbatana), 

 was the memorable post where the Persians ven- 

 tured to make a final stand for their religion and 

 their country. Their position was strong, fortified 

 with a rampart and a ditch ; and two months were 

 wasted in a series of partial and ineffectual hostili- 

 ties. Firoozan made tenders of accommodation, 

 which, as usual, ended in disappointment. On ad- 

 mission into his pavilion, the rude Arab who acted 

 as ambassador, perceiving him seated on a golden 

 throne with a radiant tiara on his brow, and a crowd 

 of officers standing around, insolently declared that 

 until they were masters of the royal emblems that 

 glittered so brilliantly before him, his countrymen 

 Vi^ould never consent to recede ; and without further 

 ceremony, bounding forward, he seated himself on 

 the throne by the side of the Persian satrap. The 

 negotiation ended with the alternative of tribute or 

 battle. The contest was long and obstinate before 

 success declared for either party. In marshalling 

 liis troops, Nooman thus addressed them : — " My 

 friends prepare yourselves to conquer, or to drink of 

 the sweet sherbet of martyrdom. I shall call the 

 tecbir three times ; at the first, gird your loins ; at 

 the second, mount your steeds ; at the third, point 

 your lances, and rush to victory or paradise." On 



