The Two Sieges of Conftantinople by the Arabs.-
Their Invafion of France, and Defeat by Charles
Martel.-Civil War of the Ommiades and Abbas-
fides.-Learning of the Arabs.-Luxury of the
Caliphs.-Naval Enterprises on Crete, Sicily, and
Rome. Decay and Divifion of the Empire of the
Caliphs.-Defeats and Victories of the Greek Em-
HEN the Arabs firft iffued from the defert, CHA P. they must have been surprised at the ease and rapidity of their own fuccefs. But when they The limits advanced in the career of victory to the banks of the Indus and the fummit of the Pyrenees; when conquests. they had repeatedly tried the edge of their fcymetars and the energy of their faith, they might be B