The fame and merit of Mahomet would ennoble a plebeian race, and the ancient blood of the Koreish transcends the recent majesty of the kings of the earth.

[186] [Footnote 181: The general article of Imam, in D'Herbelot's Bibliotheque, will indicate the succession; and the lives of the twelve are given under their respective names.] [Footnote 182: The name of Antichrist may seem ridiculous, but the Mahometans have liberally borrowed the fables of every religion, (Sale's Preliminary Discourse, p.

80, 82.) In the royal stable of Ispahan, two horses were always kept saddled, one for the Mahadi himself, the other for his lieutenant, Jesus the son of Mary.] [Footnote 183: In the year of the Hegira 200, (A.D.

815.) See D'Herbelot, p.

146] [Footnote 184: D'Herbelot, p.342.The enemies of the Fatimites disgraced them by a Jewish origin.