during the course of my travels, i saw in persia, on the plains watered by the tedjen, a dispute arise which divided the country and bred a surprising animosity in the people. i was curious to see how that matter stood: i placed the mirrour in the proper position, and then put the end of the rod upon the globe, so as i could see and hear what was doing.
the plain was covered with two numerous armies; which were just going to join battle. the ground of the quarrel was this:
86a pious and learned musulman, who used to read the alcoran with the zeal of an archangel and the penetration of a seraphim, took it in his head one day to ask whether the dove, that instructed mahomet, spoke hebrew or arabic. some said one thing, some another; and two parties were formed. they disputed, they wrote at large pro and con, and could not agree. to the warmth of the contest were added bitterness, malignity its inseparable companion, and policy, which endeavours to make an advantage of every thing. one party persecuted the other, or was persecuted, according as they were or were not uppermost. they began with the forfeiture of estates and banishments; and ended in an open war. the sectaries had caballed so well, that the people rose in arms against one another.
87the two armies were just going to ingage, when a venerable old man advanced, and convening the heads, made the following speech:
“hearken, o ye people of chorasan. there was in egypt a famous city called ombi; it was near another great city named tentyris: both were situated on the fertile banks of the nile[2]. in that part, the river bred a great number of crocodiles; and these voracious animals so fiercely attacked 88these two cities, that the inhabitants were going to remove. the governours of tentyris were apprehensive that their authority would vanish, and the citizens would come to be dispersed. they assembled therefore the tentyrites and said:
“you suffer the destructive animals to increase and multiply in peace. hear what we have to declare to you in the name of the nile your foster-father and your god. woe be unto you, if you remain any longer in this state of indolence! arm without delay, and wage war against the monsters that devour your wives and children.
“it was the injunction of the nile, and not to be disputed. the tentyrites 89took up arms, but it was with great disadvantage, and never was advice more imprudent. the crocodiles, invulnerable in almost all the parts of their bodies, killed many more men than the men killed monsters. the governours of ombi used a different artifice to keep the ombites from leaving their city.
“hearken, (said they to them) the god nile speaks to you by our mouth: i create plenty among the ombites, i inrich their lands, i fatten their flocks; my waters flow and they grow rich. the crocodile is my servant, and i permit him now and then to feed upon some of them; this is the only tribute i require for all my benefits: and, instead of rejoicing at having it in their power by a single act to render themselves agreeable 90to me, they destroy one another, if my servant seizes a few children. let them cease to complain, or i will cease to feed them; i will with-hold my waters and all shall perish.
“the moment the ombites knew the crocodile to be the favourite of the nile, they erected altars to him; and, far from complaining when he was pleased to feed on their children, they gloried in it. is there a woman more happy than i? (said an ombite) i enjoy a competent fortune, have a loving husband, and three of my children have been eaten by the servant of our god nile.
“in the mean time, the favourite of the nile was killed by the tentyrites and worshipped by the ombites. 91discord and animosity inflamed them against one another; they went to war, which ended in the destruction of both. thus perished two cities, dupes of their sincerity, devoured by the crocodile, and butchered by each other. let this example open your eyes, o ye unfortunate inhabitants of this happy climate. cease to be victims of an irregular zeal: worship god, keep silence, and live in peace.”
scarce had the old man done speaking, when a general murmur and menacing looks showed him how little he had moved the assembly, so he withdrew with a sigh. immediately the battle was joined; and i turned away my eyes that i might not behold 92these mad people destroy one another.
i have a great deal more to show you, (says the prefect) let us lay down the mirrour and rod, and walk on.
