His maxims of war were indeed the maxims of
the age, and ought not to be adopted as a particular imputation.
But the action of his striking off with his own hand the head of
a Christian prince, who had attacked the defenceless caravan of
the pilgrims of Mecca, exhibits to our view all the features of
a fierce and untutored barbarian[B] ."
[Footnote A: Bohaoddin, p. 71. He was an eye witness, and had a
considerable share in many of the transactions of Saladin. He is
generally accurate, and tolerably impartial. ]
[Footnote B: Ebn Shohnah, Heg. 589. Abulfarai, Renaudot, p. 243.
D'Herbelot, biblioth. orient. art. Togrul, &c. ]
As the whole of this excellent work is now before us, it may not be
impertinent, before we finally take our leave of it, to attempt an idea
of its celebrated author. We are happy in this place to declare our
opinion, that no author ever better obeyed the precept of Horace and
Boileau, in choosing a subject nicely correspondent to the talents he
possessed. The character of this writer, patient yet elegant, accurate
in enquiry, acute in reflexion, was peculiarly calculated to trace the
flow and imperceptible decline of empire, and to throw light upon a
period, darkened by the barbarism of its heroes, and the confused and
narrow genius of its authors.
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