George Sale, The Koran, commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed, translated into English immediately from the original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, taken from the most approved Commentators. To which is prefixed A Preliminary Discource (1734)

to ask Kais’s assistance; being in want on the road. Whereupon the servant said, that he had rather supply his necessity, than wake his inaster; and gave him a purse of 7000 pieces of gold, assuring him that it was all the money then in the house. He also directed him to go to those who had the charge of the camels, with a certain token, and take a camel, and a slave, and return home with them. When Kais awoke, and his servant informed him of what he had done, he gave him his freedom, and asked him why he did not call him, for, says he, I would have given him more. The third man went to Arâbah, and met him coming out of his house, in order to go to prayers, and leaning on two slaves, because his eye-light failed him. The friend no sooner made known his case, but Arâbah let go the slaves, and clapping his hands together, loudly lamented his misfortune, in having no money, but desired him to take the two slaves; which the man refused to do, till Arâbah protested that if he would not accept of them, he gave them their liberty; and leaving the slaves, groped his way along by the wall. On the return of the adventurers, judgment was unanimously, and with great justice, given by all who were present, that Arâbah was the most generous of the three.

Nor were these the only good qualities of the Arabs; they are commended by the ancients for being most exact to their words¹, and respectful to their kindred ². And they have always been celebrated for their quickness of apprehension and penetration, and the vivacity of their wit ; especially those of the desart ³.

As the Arabs had their excellencies, so have they, like other nations, their defects and vices. Their own writers acknowledge that they have a natural disposition to war, bloodshed, cruelty, and rapine; being so much addicted to bear malice, that they scarce ever forget an old grudge: which vindictive temper, some physicians say, is occasioned by their frequent feeding on camels flesh (the ordinary diet of the Arabs of the desart, who are therefore observed to be most inclined to these vices) that creature being most malicious and tenacious of anger ⁴; which account suggests a good reason for a distinction of meats.

The frequent robberies committed by these people on merchants and travellers, have rendred the name of an Arab almost infamous in Europe; this they are sensible of, and endeavour to excuse themselves by alledging the hard usage of their father Ismael, who being