262 THE PRICE OF BLOOD. 



he not find thee wandering in error, and hath he not 

 guided thee to truth ? Did he not find thee needy, 

 and hath he not enriched thee ? Wherefore oppress 

 not the orphan, neither repulse the beggar, but declare 

 the goodness of the Lord." 



This Voice was the echo of Mahomet's conscience, 

 and the expression of his ideas. Owing to his peculiar 

 constitution, his thoughts became audible as soon as 

 they became intense. So long as his mind remained 

 pure, the Voice was that of a good angel ; when after- 

 wards guilty wishes entered his heart, the voice became 

 that of Mephistopheles. 



Mahomet's family did not accept his mission : his 

 converts were at first chiefly made among the slaves. 

 But soon these converts became so numerous among 

 all classes, that the Meccans ceased to ridicule Mahomet, 

 and began to hate him. Nor did he attempt to in- 

 gratiate himself in their affections. " He called the 

 living fools, the dead denizens of hell-fire." The heads 

 of families took counsel together. They went to Abu 

 Talib, the Patriarch of the house to which Mahomet 

 belonged, and offered the price of blood, and then 

 double the price of blood, and then a stalwart young 

 man for Mahomet's life, and then being always refused, 

 went off, declaring that there would be war. Abu 

 Talib adjured Mahomet not to ruin the family. The 

 prophet's lip quivered : he burst into tears ; but he 

 said he must go on. Abu Talib hinted that his pro- 

 tection might be withdrawn. Then Mahomet de- 

 clared, that if the sun came down on his right hand, 

 and the moon on his left, he would not swerve from 

 the work which God had given him to do. Abu Talib, 

 finding him inflexible, assured him that his protection 

 should never be withdrawn. In the meantime, the 



