University of Virginia Library

14. CHAPTER XIV.

Shortly after the arrival of Taric el Tuerto
at Damascus, the caliph fell dangerously ill, insomuch
that his life was despaired of. During
his illness, tidings were brought that Muza ben
Nozier had entered Syria with a vast cavalcade,
bearing all the riches and trophies gained in the
western conquests. Now Suleiman ben Abdelmelec,
brother to the caliph, was successor to
the throne, and he saw that his brother had not
long to live, and wished to grace the commencement
of his reign by this triumphant display
of the spoils of christendom; he sent
messengers, therefore, to Muza, saying, “The
caliph is ill and cannot receive thee at present;
I pray thee tarry on the road until his recovery.”
Muza, however, paid no attention to
the messages of Suleiman, but rather hastened
his march to arrive before the death of the

caliph. And Suleiman treasured up his conduct
in his heart.

Muza entered the city in a kind of triumph,
with a long train of horses and mules and camels
laden with treasure, and with the four hundred
sons of gothic nobles as hostages, each
decorated with a diadem and a girdle of gold;
and with one hundred christian damsels, whose
beauty dazzled all beholders. As he passed
through the streets he ordered purses of gold
to be thrown among the populace, who rent the
air with acclamations. “Behold,” cried they,
“the veritable conqueror of the unbelievers!
Behold the true model of a conqueror, who
brings home wealth to his country!” And they
heaped benedictions on the head of Muza.

The caliph Waled Almanzor rose from his
couch of illness to receive the emir; who, when
he repaired to the palace, filled one of its great
courts with treasures of all kinds; the halls, too,
were thronged with the youthful hostages, magnificently
attired, and with christian damsels,
lovely as the houries of paradise. When the
caliph demanded an account of the conquest of
Spain, he gave it with great eloquence; but, in
describing the various victories, he made no
mention of the name of Taric, but spoke as if
every thing had been effected by himself. He
then presented the spoils of the christians as if

they had been all taken by his own hands; and
when he delivered to the caliph the miraculous
table of Solomon, he dwelt with animation on
the virtues of that inestimable talisman.

Upon this, Taric, who was present, could no
longer hold his peace. “Commander of the
faithful,” said he, “examine this precious table,
if any part be wanting.” The caliph examined
the table, which was composed of a single emerald,
and he found that one foot was supplied
by a foot of gold. The caliph turned to Muza
and said, “Where is the other foot of the table?”
Muza answered, “I know not; one foot
was wanting when it came into my hands.”
Upon this, Taric drew from beneath his robe a
foot of emerald of like workmanship to the
others, and fitting exactly to the table. “Behold,
O commander of the faithful!” cried he,
“a proof of the real finder of the table; and
so is it with the greater part of the spoils exhibited
by Muza as trophies of his achievements.
It was I who gained them, and who captured
the cities in which they were found. If you
want proof, demand of these christian cavaliers
here present, most of whom I captured; demand
of those moslem warriors who aided me
in my battles.”

Muza was confounded for a moment, but
attempted to vindicate himself. “I spake,” said

he, “as the chief of your armies, under whose
orders and banners this conquest was achieved.
The actions of the soldier are the actions of the
commander. In a great victory it is not supposed
that the chief of the army takes all the
captives, or kills all the slain, or gathers all the
booty, though all are enumerated in the records
of his triumph.” The caliph, however, was
wroth, and heeded not his words. “You have
vaunted your own deserts,” said he, “and have
forgotten the deserts of others; nay, you have
sought to debase another who has loyally served
his sovereign; the reward of your envy and
covetousness be upon your head!” So saying,
he bestowed a great part of the spoils upon
Taric and the other chiefs, but gave nothing
to Muza; and the veteran retired amidst the
sneers and murmurs of those present.

In a few days the Caliph Waled died, and
was succeeded by his brother Suleiman. The
new sovereign cherished deep resentment
against Muza for having presented himself
at court contrary to his command, and he listened
readily to the calumnies of his enemies;
for Muza had been too illustrious in his deeds
not to have many enemies. All now took courage
when they found he was out of favour, and
they heaped slanders on his head; charging
him with embezzling much of the share of the

booty belonging to the sovereign. The new
caliph lent a willing ear to the accusation, and
commanded him to render up all that he had
pillaged from Spain. The loss of his riches
might have been borne with fortitude by Muza,
but the stigma upon his fame filled his heart
with bitterness. “I have been a faithful servant
to the throne from my youth upwards,”
said he, “and now am I degraded in my old
age. I care not for wealth, I care not for life,
but let me not be deprived of that honour which
God has bestowed upon me!”

The caliph was still more exasperated at his
repining, and stripped him of his commands;
confiscated his effects; fined him two hundred
thousand pesants of gold, and ordered that he
should be scourged and exposed to the noontide
sun, and afterwards thrown into prison.[21] The
populace, also, reviled and scoffed at him in his
misery, and as they beheld him led forth to the
public gaze, and fainting in the sun, they pointed
at him with derision and exclaimed—“Behold
the envious man and the impostor; this is he
who pretended to have conquered the land of
the unbelievers!”