mould to see if the seeds were germinating. Thomson had his garden at Richmond, respecting which the old story of how he ate peaches off the trees with his hands in his pockets is related. Gibbon was a lazy man. Coleridge was content to sit from morning till night threading the dreamy mazes of his own mind. Gray said that he wished to be always lying on sofas, reading eternal new novels of Crebillon and Marivaux. Fenton, the eminent scholar, died from sheer inactivity: he rose late, and when he had risen, sat down to his books and papers. A woman who waited upon him in his lodgings said that "he would lie a-bed and be fed with a spoon." Contrary examples to that of Sir Walter Scott, who wrote all his finest works before breakfast!

To return to the recreations of celebrated persons. Oliver Cromwell is said to have

great Bayle would frequently wrap himself in his cloak, and hasten to places where mountebanks resorted: and this was his chief relaxation from the intensity of study. Spinoza delighted to set spiders fighting, and would laugh immoderately at beholding their insect-warfare. Cardinal Richelieu used to seek amusement in violent exercise, and was found by De Grammont jumping with his servant, to see which could leap the highest. The great logician, Samuel Clarke, was equally fond of such saltatory interludes to his hours of meditation, and has been discovered leaping over tables and chairs. Once, observing the approach of a pedant, he said: "Now we must leave off, for a fool is coming in!" The learned Petavius used to twirl his chair round and round for five minutes, at the end of every two hours. Tycho Brahè diverted himself with polishing glasses for spectacles. Paley, the author of Natural The-sometimes cast aside his Puritan gravity, and ology, was so much given to angling that he had his portrait painted with a rod and line in his hand. Louis XVI., of sad memory, amused himself with lock-making. Salvator Rosa used to perform in extempore comedies, and take the character of a mountebank in the streets of Rome. Anthony Magliabecchi, the famous librarian to the Duke of Tuscany, took a great interest in the spiders which thronged his apartments; and while sitting amongst his mountains of books, would caution his visitors "not to hurt the spiders!" Moses Mendelssohn, surnamed the Jewish Socrates, would sometimes seek relief from too much thought in standing at his window and counting the tiles upon his neighbor's roof. Thomas Warton, the poetical antiquary, used to associate with the school-boys, while visiting his brother, Dr. J. Warton. Campbell says: "When engaged with them in some culinary occupation, and when alarmed by the sudden approach of the master, he has been known to hide himself in a dark corner of the kitchen, and has been dragged from thence by the doctor, who had taken him for some great boy." Cowper kept hares, and made bird-cages. Dr. Johnson was so fond of his cat, that he would even go out himself to buy oysters for Puss, because his servant was too proud to do so. Goethe kept a tame snake, but hated dogs. Ariosto delighted in gardening; but he destroyed all he planted, by turning up the

played at Blind-man's-buff with his daughters and attendants. Henri Quatre delighted to go about in disguise among the peasantry. Charles II.'s most innocent amusement consisted in feeding the ducks in St. James's Park, and in rearing numbers of those beautiful spaniels that still bear his name. Beethoven would splash in cold water at all times of the day, till his chamber was swamped, and the water oozed through the flooring to the rooms beneath; he would also walk out in the dewy fields at night or morning without shoes or stockings. Shelley took an unaccountable delight in floating little paper-boats on any piece of water he chanced to be near. There is a pond on Hampstead-heath which has often borne his tiny fleets; and there is an anecdote related of him-rather too good, we fear, to be true-which says, that being one day beside the Serpentine, and having no other paper in his pocket wherewith to indulge his passion for ship-building, he actually folded a bank-bill for fifty pounds into the desired shape; launched the little craft upon its voyage; watched its steady progress with paternal anxiety; and, finally, went over and received it in safety at the opposite side.

This paper might be extended almost indefinitely; but there must be limits, even to an essay, and certainly to the good-nature of our readers.

From the Dublin University Magazine.

THE ARABS IN SPAIN: THEIR HISTORY, LITERATURE, AND ARTS.*

THE very mention of the Moors in Spain | greater than she at present possesses under recalls to mind one of the most interesting the enfeebling rule of the Spaniards. chapters in the history of Europe, fertile in incident and full of romantic episodes of love | and war. Christian knights and Moorish cavaliers, the mosques and palaces of Cordova, the green Vega of Grenada, the courts and arcades of the Alhambra crowd upon the view, till one almost regrets that the slothful and bigoted Spaniard has supplanted the tolerant and industrious Moslem on the verdant plains of sunny Andalusia.

To the greater number of historic students, however, the Moors in Spain are associated chiefly with the history of Grenada, the last of the Mohammedan kingdoms, and only one of the many fragments which split off from the mighty empire of Cordova, which once ruled over seven-eighths of the Spanish peninsula, and whose annual revenue was equal to that of all the other kingdoms of Europe united. How few are aware that, prior to the Norman conquest of England, and at the time when the long night of the dark ages overshadowed the rest of Europe, many of the infidel monarchs of Cordova were accomplished and profound scholars, the founders of schools, colleges, and libraries, and the munificent patrons and rewarders of learning; that agriculture and commerce, as well as the elegant arts and philosophy, flourished under their enlightened sway; and that, nine centuries ago, Andalusia could boast of a population and a revenue at least five times

"The History of the Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain, translated from the Arabic of Ahmed Ibn Mohammed Al-Makkari." By Don Pascual de Gayangos, Member of the Oriental Translation Committee, and late Professor of Arabic in the Athenæum

of Madrid. 2 vols. 4to. London: 1840.

"History of the Dominion of the Arabs in Spain, translated from the Spanish of Dr. J. A. Conde." By Mrs. Jonathan Foster. 3 vols. (The third volume has just been published.) London: Henry G. Bohn, York-street, Covent-garden. 1854-5.

Chronologie Historique des Maures D'Espagne. L'art de Vérifier les Dates." Part ii. tom. i.

It is to the valuable collection of Arabic MSS. contained in the library of the British Museum, of Paris, Vienna, Leyden, and the Escurial, that we are indebted for the fullest account of the history of the Arabs during the long period of their residence in Spain. Until recently, however, the only historian who had derived his information solely from these sources, was Don José Antonio Condé. He was appointed by Joseph Bonaparte chief Librarian of the Royal Library at Madrid, an office which he continued to hold as long as the French remained masters of that capital. In the preface to his history of the Spanish Arabs, he clearly points out the absolute necessity for referring to Arabic MSS. in order to obtain a complete and accurate account of the Mohammedan tribes so long dominant in the Peninsula :-" For my purpose the consultation of such memorials as have been left to us by the Arabic writers was indispensable. The little we yet know of the extended dominion exercised by that nation on the soil of Spain, is taken from the superficial notices of our ancient Spanish Chroniclers; but these writers are not only disfigured by the extreme rudeness of their style as well as by their excessive brevity and lamentable inexactitude, but have also been so much injured by time as rarely to have reached us until reduced to a condition which leaves them deplorably incomplete. Even in things relating to ourselves they are frequently obscure, while the little they contain respecting the Arabs, is deformed by every kind of confusion and misrepresentation."

tic account of the Moors is to be found in the But by far the most complete and authen"History of the Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain," translated from the Arabic of Ahmed Al-Makkari, by Don Pascal de Gayangos, Member of the Oriental Translation Committee, and formerly Professor of Arabic in the Athenæum of Madrid. Not only is the text

of this work most interesting and instructive, the countless hosts of the Persians alike melted but the translator's notes, of considerably away before the burning zeal of the followers greater length, contain a mass of information of the prophet. Okbah, Lieutenant of the Cabearing upon the history, geography, and liph Moawyiah, led ten thousand Arabs from antiquities of Spain, and evince an amount of the mouths of the Nile to the pillars of Herlearning and assiduity equally rare and ad- cules; and on finding his further triumph mirable. Nearly forty Arabic MSS., besides stopped by the ocean, drew his cimeter, that of Al-Makkari, appear to have been pe- spurred his war-horse into the waves, and rused by De Gayangos, with the view of exclaimed:-" God of Mohammed, were not rendering his book as full and accurate as my progress barred by this sea, I would possible. Unfortunately, however, the size of advance to the unknown regions of the west, his work, two thick quartos, and its conse- preaching the unity of thy holy name, and quent price, render it too costly and inacces- destroying the idolatrous nations which worsible to be of much general utility. Its ship other gods than thee." When such was author, Ahmed Al-Makkari, was descended the spirit that animated the earlier converts from an illustrious Arabian family, and was to Mohammedanism, need we wonder at the born towards the end of the sixteenth centu- extent or the rapidity of their conquests? ry, at the town of Telemsàn, in Africa. He was distinguished throughout the East for his learning and eloquence, and besides "The Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain," which was completed in 1629, he composed numerous other works on theology, history, and biography. He died at Cairo of a fever,

about 1632.

Al-Makkari's work is almost entirely composed of passages transcribed or abridged from more ancient historians, and chronologically arranged. It is, therefore, more prop erly an historical compilation than a history. But the collection of historical extracts and fragments thus brought together, has the advantage of presenting to the reader a detailed and uninterrupted narrative of the conquests, wars, and settlements of the Spanish Arabs, from the date of their invasion until their final expulsion, and also brings before us the original text of ancient historians, many of whose writings have since been lost.

We shall now venture to attempt a slight sketch of the brilliant and stirring period embraced by the works at which we have thus shortly glanced.

More than twelve hundred years ago, an illiterate Arab, of the tribe of Koreish, announced his divine mission, and published at intervals, during a period of twenty-three years, the revelations which he professed to have received from above. One hundred years later the disciples of this eloquent impostor had conquered Arabia, Egypt, Africa, Persia, Syria, and had borne their victorious arms from the Indus to the shores of the Atlantic. All gave way before the irresistible fervor of their early fanaticism; and the Koran, the tribute, or the sword, seemed the destined fate of the rest of the world. The disciplined bands of the Greek empire, and

Africa subdued, the Gothic kingdom of Spain offered a tempting prize to the Moslem arms. Everything tended to facilitate the conquest of the peninsula. The Goths had degenerated from their warrior ancestors who conquered the Romans. Two centuries and a-half of sloth and luxury, in the mild climate and teeming soil of Spain, had impaired their warlike energies. The court was a scene of licentiousness and intrigue, in which King Roderic himself surpassed the wildest excesses of his nobles. He held the crown by an insecure and precarious tenure. The sons of Wetiza, his predecessor, viewed him as a usurper, and to them adhered a powerful party, headed by their uncle Oppas, archbishop of Toledo and Seville. Count Ju lian, also, a powerful and warlike noble, and governor of Ceuta, hated the monarch, who, according to the popular story, had debauched his daughter Florinda. The Spanish Jews, too, were numerous and wealthy, and suffered the most cruel persecutions under their Gothic rulers. Count Julian invited Musa, the lieutenant of the Caliph Al-Walid, to invade Spain, and furnished him with ships for the conveyance of his troops. Musa sent his servant Tarik, who, with 15,000 Moslems and the forces of Count Julian, encountered King Roderic at Xeres, on the banks of the Gaudelete, and there gained a complete victory, owing chiefly to the treachery of Bishop Oppas and the sons of Witiza, who deserted the Christian army at the critical moment of the battle. This defeat was fatal; the king and the flower of the Gothic chivalry perished on the field or in the pursuit. Spain, which had resisted the arms of Rome for two hundred years, was conquered by the Arabs in a few months-in fewer months than its recovery cost the Spaniards centuries. Musa was jealous of Tarik's suc

cess. They quarrelled and were both recalled | arms far into the French territory. Abdurahby the Caliph to Damascus. The subsequent man led a mighty host into France, which he fate of these two remarkable men furnishes a laid waste as far as Tours, and gained two striking proof of the fickleness of fortune, and battles over the Christians. He was at length, the ingratitude of princes. Musa was publicly however, encountered by Charles Martel, at and ignominiously disgraced, and fined 200,000 the head of the French and Burgundian pieces of gold, by order of the Caliph; his chivalry; and in the conflict that ensued son, Abdulaziz, whom he had left Governor Abdurahman himself fell, his numerous army of Spain, was put to death, and his severed was almost entirely destroyed, and Christenhead thrown at Musa's feet, who soon after- dom was saved. Under Okbah Assaluli, wards died of a broken heart, in the neigh- another of the Amirs, the Moslems took the borhood of Mecca, to which he had been ban- city of Narbonne, and pushed their conquests ished. Tarik was more fortunate; his as far as the banks of the Rhone. But the sovereign condescended to pardon his services, Amirs were not merely distinguished by milibut he was detained in inactivity amongst the tary talent, and thirst for conquest; Elzecrowd of slaves around the Caliph's foot- magh, one of their number, was a distinguishstool. ed patron of science and literature. He embellished Cordova, the Moorish capital, and exerted himself to attract thither learned men from every quarter. He was himself an author of eminence, and at that early epoch composed an elaborate topographical work, descriptive of Spain, of its cities, provinces, ports, rivers, mines, and of every production that could in any way promote useful knowledge, or minister to the comforts and conveniences of life.

For nearly forty years after the conquest, which took place A. D. 711, Spain was governed by Amirs appointed by the Caliphs of Damascus, or the Governors of Africa. There were twenty-two of these Amirs; some of them were men of great ability and enterprising spirit, who contributed to spread the renown of the Moslem arms. Under the government of Alahor the Christians began to recover from their panic, and to make head against their conquerors. They were headed by Pelagius, of the blood royal of the Goths, and by his son-in-law, Alphonso. They took refuge in the mountains of Asturias, and from this scanty band of warriors sprang the future conquerors of the Moors. At one time, so hard were the Christians pressed, that nothing remained to Pelagius but the rock on which he had taken refuge and three hundred followers. These were blockaded by the Moors until all but thirty men and ten women had perished from hunger. The Moslems then withdrew, partly from weariness and partly from contempt, saying, "What can come of those few barbarians?" This was the greatest military and political blunder which could have been committed; and deeply, in after times, did they expiate their contempt of that starved and scanty band. Eight centuries afterwards the descendants of the holders of that rocky fastness for ever expelled the Moors from their sunny homes in the south of Spain. But the Moslems "found in their success and imagined security a pretext for indolence; even in the cultivation of science, and contemplation of the magnificent architecture of their mosques and palaces, they forget their poor but daring enemies in the Asturias."* Several of the Moslem Amirs carried their

* Hallam's "Middle Ages," vol. ii. p. 3.

The Spanish Moors could seldom remain for any length of time free from internal feuds ; indeed one of the principal causes which led to the decline and fall of the Moorish power in Spain were the unceasing civil wars which raged among them. These originated partly in the fickle and jealous disposition of the Arab tribes, and partly in the mistaken policy adopted by the Amir Abu-l-Khater Alkally, who, instead of striving to fuse and blend together the conflicting nationalities of the different Arab and Moorish tribes which had flocked into Spain, by inducing or forcing them to mingle with each other, assigned to each tribe a separate district or city for its residence, thus keeping up and perpetuating the elements of civil commotion.

One very remarkable and distinguishing feature in the conquest of Spain by the Moslems, were the easy terms granted to the conquered, and the toleration which was uniformly extended to the Christians and the Jews. At the taking of Toledo, for example, the Arabs permitted all voluntary exiles to depart with their effects. Seven churches were set apart for Christian worship; the archbishop and his clergy were allowed to exercise their functions; and the Goths and Romans were left in all civil and criminal cases to their own laws and magistrates. The justice and toleration of Tarik protected the Christians, whilst his policy and gratitude.