History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 5

Name: History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 5
Author: Gibbon, Edward

Gibbon, Edward

Byzantine Empire -- History -- To 527; Rome -- History -- Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D.

abjure forever the Byzantine tyrant, his synod of Chalcedon, and
      his Melchite slaves. 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 obedience to his temporal successors.” The
      tribute was ascertained at two pieces of gold for the head of
      every Christian; 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 a hospitable entertainment
      of three days to every Mussulman who should travel through their
      country. By this charter of security, the ecclesiastical and
      civil tyranny of the Melchites was destroyed: 109 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 communion 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 innocent manners and a more venerable aspect. 110
      In the march from Memphis to Alexandria, the lieutenant of Omar
      intrusted 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.

      107 (return) [ See Herodotus, l. iii. c. 27, 28, 29. Aelian,
      Hist. Var. l. iv. c. 8. Suidas in, tom. ii. p. 774. Diodor.
      Sicul. tom. ii. l. xvii. p. 197, edit. Wesseling. Says the last
      of these historians.]

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Opening the text

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 5Gibbon, Edward

History

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 5

Gibbon, Edward

Byzantine Empire -- History -- To 527; Rome -- History -- Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D.

abjure forever the Byzantine tyrant, his synod of Chalcedon, and
      his Melchite slaves. 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 obedience to his temporal successors.” The
      tribute was ascertained at two pieces of gold for the head of
      every Christian; 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 a hospitable entertainment
      of three days to every Mussulman who should travel through their
      country. By this charter of security, the ecclesiastical and
      civil tyranny of the Melchites was destroyed: 109 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 communion 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 innocent manners and a more venerable aspect. 110
      In the march from Memphis to Alexandria, the lieutenant of Omar
      intrusted 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.

      107 (return) [ See Herodotus, l. iii. c. 27, 28, 29. Aelian,
      Hist. Var. l. iv. c. 8. Suidas in, tom. ii. p. 774. Diodor.
      Sicul. tom. ii. l. xvii. p. 197, edit. Wesseling. Says the last
      of these historians.]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 5

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 5

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