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410 THE DECLINE AND FALL the Tigris and the Gulf; penetrated through the passes of the mountains into the valley of Estachar or Persepolis ; and pro- faned the last sanctuary of the Magian empire. The grandson of Chosroes was nearly surprised among the falling columns and mutilated figures, — a sad emblem of the past and present fortune of Persia : ^** he Hed with accelerated haste over the desert of Kirman, implored the aid of the war-like Segestans, and sought an humble refuge on the verge of the Turkish and Chinese power. -^^ But a victorious army is insensible of fatigue ; the Arabs divided their forces in the pursuit of a timorous enemy ; and the caliph Othman promised the government of Chorasan to the first general who should enter that large and populous country, the kingdom of the ancient Bactrians. The condition was accepted ; the pi'ize was deserved ; the standard of Mahomet Avas planted on the v.alls [AD. T'js] of Herat, Merou, and Balch ; and the successful leader neither halted nor reposed till his foaming cavalry had tasted the waters of the Oxus. In the public anarchy, the independent governors of the cities and castles obtained their separate capitulations ; the terms were granted or imposed by the esteem, the prudence, or the compassion of the victors ; and a simple profession of faith established the distinction between a brother and a slave. [Hormuzan] After a noble defence, Harmozan, the prince or satrap of Ahwaz [A.D. G39 40] and Susa, was compelled to surrender his person and his state to the discretion of the caliph ; and their interview exhibits a portrait of the Arabian manners. In the presence, and by the command, of Omar, the gay barbarian was despoiled of his silken robes embroidered with gold, and of his tiara bedecked with rubies and emeralds. "Are you now sensible," said the conqueror to h's naked captive ; "are you now sensible of the judgment of God and of the different rewards of infidelity and obedience.^" "Alas!" replied Harmozan, "I feel them too deeply. In the days of our common ignorance, we fought with the weapons of the flesh, and my nation was superior. God was then neuter : since he has espoused your quarrel, you have subverted our kingdom and religion." Oppressed by this painful dialogue, the Persian complained of intolerable thirst, but discovered some apprehension lest he should be killed whilst he was drinking ^•^ We are indebted for this curious particular to the Dynasties of Abulpharagius, p. ii6; but it is needless to prove the identity of Estachar and Persepolis (d'Herbelot, p. 327), and still more needless to copy the drawings and descriptions of Sir John Chardin or Corneille le Bruyn. ^[Cp. Tabari, iii. p. 503, tr. Zotenberg ; de Goeje's text, i. 2691. By "Segestans" are meant the people of Sijistan (or Sistan).]