fcONQtJEST OF AFRICA AND SPAIN. 403 



tions ill a fine of 200,000 pieces of gold. His accu- 

 sers charged him viith. concealing a jewel more 

 valuable than any that had been seen since the con- 

 quest of Persia. The justice of Tarik's cause was 

 acknowledged, and his unworthy treatment amply 

 revenged. 



Among the contested spoils was the celebrated 

 Table said to have belonged to Solomon, and brought 

 from Jerusalem to Rome, where it was found by the 

 Goths when they sacked and burnt that ancient 

 capital. Whatever may have been its origin, whether 

 a Jewish or a Christian relic (for the latter were in 

 the custom of bequeathing such valuable property 

 to their churches), its richness and workmanship 

 are highly extolled. The fabric was of pure gold, 

 others say one solid piece of green jasper, set with 

 the most precious rubies and emeralds. Its feet, 

 composed of the same materials, are reported to 

 have amounted to 365 in number. This famous 

 trophy was found in the palace or cathedral of To- 

 ledo when it surrendered to Tarik, and constituted 

 one of the charges brought by him against Musa, 

 \vho claimed it for himself, and denied it had ever 

 been in the possession of his rival. But this asser- 

 tion was disproved on the spot ; for the wily Tarik 

 had taken the precaution to break off one of the 

 legs, which he now produced from under his dress, 

 and convinced the court that the splendid booty had 

 been first in his hands. New indignities were 

 heaped on the degraded commander. After a public 

 whipping, he was compelled to stand a whole day in 

 the sun before the gate of the caliph. So utterly 

 was he reduced by heavy exactions, that on being 

 released from prison he was led about like another 

 Behsarius, as a common beggar, to solicit from 

 pubUc charity the scanty means of subsistence. 

 Nor was the resentment of Soliman appeased by the 

 ruin of the father : his vengeance demanded the 

 extirpation of the whole family. A sentence of 



