Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 5 (1897).djvu/471

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 449 For myself and my brethren, we are resolved to live and die -in the profession of the gospel and unity of Christ. It is impossible for us to embrace the revelations of your prophet ; but we are desirous of peace, and cheerfully submit to pay tribute and obedi- ence to his temporal successors." The tribute was ascertained at two pieces of gold for the head of every Christian ; i^" but old men, monks, women, and children of both sexes under sixteen years of age, were exempted from this personal assessment ; the Copts above and below Memphis swore allegiance to the caliph, and promised an hospitable entertainment of three days to every Musulman who should travel through their country. By this charter of security the ecclesiastical and civil tyranny of the Melchites was destroyed ; ^-'^ the anathemas of St. Cyril were thundered from every pulpit ; and the sacred edifices, with the patrimony of the church, were restored to the national com- munion of the Jacobites, who enjoyed without moderation the moment of triumph and revenge. At the pressing summons of Amrou, their patriarch Benjamin emerged from his desert ; and, after the first interview, the courteous Arab affected to declare that he had never conversed with a Christian priest of more inno- cent manners and a more venerable aspect. ^■^■' In the march from Memphis to Alexandria, the lieutenant of Omar entrusted his safety to the zeal and gratitude of the Egyptians ; the roads and bridges were diligently repaired ; and, in every step of his progress, he could depend on a constant supply of provisions and intelligence. The Greeks of Egypt, whose numbers could scarcely equal a tenth of the natives, were overwhelmed by the universal defection ; they had ever been hated, they were no longer feared ; the magistrate fled from his tribunal, the bishop from his altar ; and the distant garrisons were surprised or starved by the surrounding multitudes. Had not the Nile afforded a safe and ready conveyance to the sea, not an individual could have escaped who by birth, or language, or office, or religion, was connected with their odious name. i27[And also a not oppressive property tax. Cp. Weil, i. p. no, iii.] 128 The prsefecture of Egypt, and the conduct of the war, had been trusted by Heraclius to the patriarch Cyrus (Theophan. p. 280, 281 [szei A.M. 6126]). " In Spain," said James II. "do you not consult your priests?" " We do," replied the Catholic ambassador, " and our affairs succeed accordingly." I know not how to relate the plans of Cyrus, of paying tribute without impairing the revenue, and of converting Omar by his marriage with the emperor's daughter (Nicephor. Breviar. p. 17. 18). i'-9See the life of Benjamin, in Renaudot (Hist. Patriarch. Alexandrin. p. 156-172), who has enriched the conquest of Egypt with some facts from the Arabic text of Severus, the Jacobite historian. VOL. V. 29