________________
APRIL, 1884.)
THE BURNING OF THE ALEXANDRIAN LIBRARY.
107
present hour. He exhibited, if possible, more literature of the Persians." These invaluablo of the spirit of Muhammadanism than even records of Persian genins and learning, co Muhammad himself did, and his reckless and lected by the zeal of the Sassinido princes in wanton destruction of treasures held sacred by Modain, were hurled, by the order of 'Umar, persons of other religions has earned for him into the waters of the Tigris. & notoriety anique among the most faithful The obvions conclusion, from the facts thus copyists of the Original. The other Khalifas- bronght together is, that the burden of proof Abø Bikr, 'Uthman, and 'Ali-were mildness rests with those who deny the story. The itself in comparison with 'Umar,—the very grounds on which Gibbon bases his scepticism archetype of the Wahhabt of the earlier years regarding it, we have seen to be worthless; it of our own contury." Characterized, though wonld have been interesting to have learnt on his reign was, by all the worst fruits of what grounds so eminently careful a writer as his religion, the act of folly which history Humboldt was would justify the contemptuous thus fastens upon him has done more to term by which he characterizes it. A story familiarize posterity with his name than all
80 long credited, upon high authority, calls for the other devastations committed under his more critical treatment than, from all that anthority."
appears, the worthy Baron devoted to it. Thus Whether the world is indebted to the fa- much, at any rate, seems beyond possibility of naticism of 'Umar or not, for this coarse doubt that the story is in entire harmony destruction of the untold treasures of the wis- with the known character of 'Umar and with dom of the ancients," and whether the words the practices of Muhammadans in the earlier of the sentence of destruction were or were ages of The Faith. not the product of his peculiar genins-Are Taking the account as recorded, it is impoints which it is now-a-days impossible to possible to estimate the logs which literature decide and fruitless to discuss; but, as has has sustained by the destruction of the treasures been well observed, if the words are not his, of this library. It is true that in speaking of at least they are full of historical versimilitude
the libraries of times which preceded the inand significance." Lest it should be supposed vention of printing, we must not be misled that this opinion is the offspring of Christian
by magnificent descriptions, or by the ample sentiment in Dr. Marcus Dods, we may add catalogues of their contents. The manuscripts that the elder Disraeli, who must be acquitted were numerous, indeed, but the matter they of any suspicion of collusion with the Chris- contained would in modern print be compressed tian teacher, gives his opinion in concurrent
within a space much smaller than might at language. He remarks, in referring to this
first be supposed. The fifteen Books,' for lamentable catastrophe, that though modern example, of Ovid's Metamorphoses, which in paradox attempt to deny the facts of the story, classic times composed literally as many voyet the tale would not be singular even if it lumes, are all of them together reduced now. should turn out to be true, -inasmuch as it s-days to a few dozens of pages. Still, we perfectly suits the character of 'a bigot, a bar- cannot renounce the belief that though much barian, and a blockhead!' He goes on to of the ancient literature has escaped the reshow that we owe to the same destructive vages of ignorance and the calamities of war, spirit of the Mohammadan religion the loss, & great deal that would have been of value and by this same resort to the agency of the interest perished in the sack of this famed devouring flame, much of the most ancient metropolis.
» Palgrave, in his Central and Eastern Arabia, has surpassed all writers in the exquisite delicacy of his judgment on the Wahhabt renaissance.
* Crichton, History of Arabia, vol. I, p. 398.
35 We should here observe that beyond the statement that the parchments supplied the public baths of Alex. andria for half a year, there is no alue by which the measure of the loss might be approximately estimated. There were, in fat, several libraries in different parts of the city; and it is now impossible to ascertain whether the one now under consideration wm or was not one
of those that had been previously destroyed. If it was not, the loss to the world is one which it clearly in impossible to exaggerate.
* Dods, Mohammed, Buddha, and Christ, p. 110. As to the character of 'Umar as ruler, noto some judicious remarks in Taylor, History of Mohammedaniom, p. 174.
» D'Israeli, Curiosities of Literature, p. 18 (ed. Lond. 1866).
Taylor, History of Mohammedaniom, p. 175. * Crichton, History of Arabia, vol. I, p. 894.
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