large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_10_mitchell_64kb_92
large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_10_mitchell_64kb
English
12430
Thus, on the field of Cadesiya[d], which decided the fate of Persia, the Sura _Jehad_, with the stirring tale of the thousand angels that fought on the Prophet's side at Bedr was recited, and such texts as these: _Stir up the faithful unto battle. THUS ON THE FIELD OF CADESIA WHICH DECIDED THE FATE OF PERTHIA THE SURAJJI HATH WITH THE STIRRING TALE OF THE THOUSAND ANGELS THAT FOUGHT ON THE PROPHET'S SIDE AT BED WAS RECITED AND SUCH TEXTS AS THESE STIRRUP THE FAITHFUL UNTO BATTLE
ate. For those who survived there was the less ethereal but closer prospect of Persian, Greek, or Coptic women, both maids and matrons, who, on "being taken captive by their right hand," were forthwith, according to the Koran, without stint of number, at the conqueror's will and pleasure. These, immediately they were made prisoners, might (according to the example of Mohammed himself at Kheibar) be carried off without further ceremony to the victor's tent; and in this respect the Saracens certainly were nothing loath to execute upon the heathen the judgment written in their law. So strangely was religious fanaticism fed and fostered in the Moslem camp by incentives irresistible to the Arab--fight and foray, the spoil of war and captive charms. [Sidenote: Martial passages from Koran recited on field of battle.] The courage of the troops was stimulated by the divine promises of victory, which were read (and on like occasions still are read) at the head of each column drawn up for battle. G THUS THE AGED WARRIOR FIRED AGAIN WITH THE ARDOR OF YOUTH REST UPON THE ENEMY AMID THE ENVIED FATE FOR THOSE WHO SURVIVED THEY WAS THE LESS ETHEREAL BUT CLOSER PROSPECT OF PERSIAN GREEK OR CAPTIC WOMAN BOTH MATES AND MATRONS WHO ON BEING TAKEN CAPTIVE BY THEIR RIGHT HAND WERE FORTHWITH ACCORDING TO THE KORAN WITHOUT STINT OF NUMBER AND THE CONQUEROR'S WILL AND PLEASURE THESE IMMEDIATELY THEY WERE MADE PRISONERS MIGHT ACCORDING TO THE EXAMPLE OF MOHAMMATH HIMSELF AT CABAR BE CARRIED OFF WITHOUT FURTHER CEREMONY TO THE VICTOR'S TENT AND IN THIS RESPECT THE SARACENS CERTAINLY WERE NOTHING LOTH TO EXECUTE UPON THE HEATHEN THE JUDGMENT WRITTEN IN THEIR LAW SO STRANGELY WAS RELIGIOUS FANATICISM FENT AND FOSTERED IN THE MOSLEM CAMP BY INCENTUES IRRESISTIBLE TO THE ARAB FIGHT AND FORAY THE SPOIL OF WAR AND CAPT YOU CHARMS THE COURAGE OF THE TROOPS WAS STIMULATED BY THE DIVINE PROMISES OF VICTORY WHICH WERE READ AND ON LIKE OCCASION STILL ARE RED AT THE HEAD OF EACH COLUMN DRAWN UP FOR BATTLE
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