LITERATURE OF THE ARABS. 



provinces and cities, together with their respective 

 rivers, ports, and harbours, but also the nature of 

 the climate and different soils of Spain, its moun- 

 tains, plants, and minerals ; giving an exact account 

 of its imports, and of the manner in which its 

 various productions, natural or artificial, might be 

 manufactured and applied to the best advantage. 



In the speculative sciences the Arabs excelled as 

 much as they did in polite literature. Their acute 

 temperament of mind was well adapted to the study 

 of philosophy and metaphysics, and on these ac- 

 quirements is founded the reputation of many in- 

 genious and celebrated men whose names are still 

 revered in Europe. Gazali applied the doctrines of 

 metaphysics to theology ; and Alkendi, a native of 

 Bussora, who flourished in the caliphate of Alma- 

 moun, was so celebrated among his contemporaries, 

 that he was called, by way of eminence, the Arabian 

 Philosopher, the Great Astrologer, the Phoenix of his 

 Age. Notwithstanding the extravagant encomiums 

 of his friends, he was unquestionably endowed with 

 rare talents ; the 200 different works which he com- 

 posed show him to have been deeply versed in all the 

 learning of the Greeks, Persians, and Indians. 



But, however enthusiastically the Arabs pursued 

 these ingenious studies, their progress was more speci- 

 ous than real. Their ardour was ill regulated, prefer- 

 ring the subtilties to the more important and prac- 

 tical lessons of the science. The system of Aristo- 

 tle was well fitted to this prevailing taste of the Sa- 

 racens. Though they were neither unacquainted 

 with Plato, nor insensible to the merits of his works, 

 the Stagyrite became their exclusive favourite, and 



received from them an intellectual homage that was 



2 





