462 LAST WORDS OF MOHAMMED. קלד Tizi*, and they shall spread their arms from thence over all the countries of Arabia, and they shall have power over the treasures of goldt." And his words were pleasing in his sight, and they went and besieged Tizi and took it, and put a garrison in the midst thereof. And there are two cities which are called Tizi, in the countries of Arabia. And they marched against the second also, and took it, and builded its walls round about it, and their fame went throughout the whole world. And they builded also Tarodante‡, which is Suez, and the men became very great; and whithersoever they turned, they prospered§, according as he had told them. 1225. And there was a son born unto the sherif who was the younger; and there was another also born unto Achmed, his brother. And the lads grew up, and became men of war, they and their parents all the days. 1226. And the time drew nigh that their father should die, and he charged his two sons, saying, "I go the way of all the earth¶; be ye strong, therefore, and be ye men**: and this is your kindness that ye shall shew unto mett, fall ye not out טיצי * .טארודאנטי * .חמד || ** 1 Sam. iv. 9. † Dan. xi. 43. § Psalm i. 3. ¶ Josh. xxiii. 14. tt Gen. xx. 13. קלר REBELLION OF ACHMED 463 about the government*; let this be the right of your government: Whosoever of your children shall be the eldest in yearst, shall reign after you; and whosoever he be that shall rebel against his commandment shall be put to death‡." And they said, “Behold, I would it might be according to thy words§." And the old man slept with his fathers, and his sons buried him, and they wept over him, and their government was firmly established. And it came to pass, after some days, that Achmed violated the statute of their father; he made void his covenant, and gathered together soldiers, and fought against his brother, but was smitten before him; and they took him alive at that time, and his son was left, and fled unto another country from the face of his uncle, and devised mischief against the sherif. And the sherif said, "Now will the son of my brother go unto the Spaniards; and he also will join our enemies, and will be as thorns in my sides all the days. And now I will deal wisely with him, lest he increase; and I will bring out my brother from the prison-house, and we shall see what will become of his dreams." 1227. Then he brought his brother Achmed out *Gen. xlv. 24. Jos. i. 18. + Comp. Deut. xxi. 17. § Gen. xxx. 34. 464 MOHAMMED INVADES PORTUGAL. קלה of the pit*, and spake unto his heart, and both of them made a covenant. And Achmed went to his son and delivered him from his evil; so the war ceased. And Achmed violated again his covenant, and fought against his brother the second time. And he was also this time smitten before the sherif; and he and his son were taken alive. And the sherif sought to bring them down to the pit; and his mother besought for them at his feet and wept; and he was entreated by her at that time. And he left them a residue and a livelihood in that country; and they abide in the uttermost part of the cities of his kingdom until this day. 1228. And the sherif went on and increased until he became very great; and he reigned also over the city of Moroccot, and he was called king of Morocco [p] until this day. After that he fought against the king of Portugal, and took from his hand the cities which he had taken from the hand of the Ishmaelites; and the Portuguese fell before him slain to the ground, and he trode upon them as upon the mire in the street§, because the Lord was with him; and that which he did the Lord made it to prosper||. 1229. Against the king of Fez also he fought * Gen. xxxvii. 28. .מארואיקוש $ + Gen. xxvi. 13 § Is. xli. 21. Micah vii. 10. || Gen. xxxix. 23. קלה p ISHMAELITISH KING IN GENOA, 1550. 465 three times, and took all his land out of his hand*, and encamped also against the large city of Fez, and took it; and his fame went throughout the whole world. The sherif fought against King Beles della Gomerat also, and took all his land out of his hand. And the king fled before him into Spain, and besought the viceroy of the emperor and his nobles. And they gave presents unto him, and sent him away unto the emperor, who stood in Flanders in those days. 1230. And this Ishmaelitish king came unto Genoa on the twenty-third day of the month of January, in the year one thousand five hundred and fifty. And he went on his journeys unto the emperor, and cast himself down at his feet; and the emperor spake unto his heart, and he abode with him many days. 1231. And there was war between the Spaniards who were at Goletta, and between the king of Tunis day by day. And the Spaniards went unto the open cities which were nigh unto them to make spoil; this was their manner all the while‡. And the Spaniards laid an ambush; but the thing was known unto the king, and he set a watch over them. And they fell upon them suddenly, and * Num. xxi. 26. ביליש דילה גומירה + 1 Sam. xxvii. 11. VOL. II. HH 466 DRAGUT IN AFRICA, FEB. 17, 1550. קלה there fell of the Spaniards in the net which they hid*, about three hundred men at that time. And those who were left fled away, and their life was a prey. And the king said, How long shall these wars be a snare unto ust?" I will send a present unto the emperor, peradventure he will accept my persont. And he sent messengers unto him with a present in their hand, lions, horses, and fowls; and they came unto Genoa in the month of February in that year. And it grieved the emperor, and he wrote, "Ye shall not come to appear before me§, for I will take no present at your hands." And they sold the horses in Genoa, and returned unto their own country. 1232. And on the seventeenth day of the same month, Dragut went very suddenly¶ unto Africa the fenced city, and took it, and put a garrison into the midst of it. And the nobles of the Nazarenes feared, lest it should be a snare unto them; and their wrath was was burning within them**. 1233. And the duke of Mantua took unto himself to wife the daughter of Ferdinand, the brother of the emperor, and he loved her; and she came Ps. ix. 15 (Heb. 16). ** Esth. i. 12. + Exod. x. 7. § Is. i. 12. Num. vi. 9. |