﻿l6 THE FOURTH DISCOURSE : 



pound words, which poetry and oratory, one would 

 conceive, might require as much as any meaner art 

 whatsoever. 



So great, on the whole, was the strength of parts or 

 capacity, either natupl or acquired from habit, for 

 which the Arabs were ever distinguished, that we can- 

 not be surprised when we see that blaze of genius 

 which they displayed, as far as their arms extended, 

 when they burst, like their own dyke of Arim, through 

 their ancient limits, and spread, like an inundation, 

 over the great empire of Iran. That a race of Tazis, 

 or Coursers, as the Persians call them, * who drank 



* the milk of camels and fed on lizards, should enter- 



* tain a thought of subduing the kingdom oiFeridun' 

 was considered by the General of Yezdegird's army 

 as the strongest instance of fortune's levity and muta- 

 bility ; but Firdausi, a complete master of Asiatic 

 manners, and singularly impartial, represents the Arab?, 

 even in the age of Feridun, as c disclaiming any kind 

 ' of dependence on that monarch, exulting in their 



* liberty, delighting in eloquence, acts of liberality, 

 « and martial achievements, and thus making the whole 

 ' earth,' says the poet, * red as wine with the blood 



* of their foes, and the air like a forest of canes with 



* their tall spears.' With such -a character they were 

 likely to conquer any country that they could invade , 

 and, if Alexander had invaded their dominions, they 

 would unquestionably have made an obstinate, and 

 probably a successful resistance. 



But I have detained you too long, gentlemen, with 

 a nation who have ever been my favourites, and hope 

 at our next anniversary meeting fo travel with you 

 over a part of Asia which exhibits a race of men dis- 

 tinct both from the Hindus and from the Arabs. ]n 

 the mean time, it shall be my care to superintend the 

 publication of your transactions ; in which if thelearned 



