It was always received at Bagdad with
great ceremony. The day on which it arrived was made a holiday.
The Roman soldiers who came with it entered the gates in procession.
Moslem troops also took part in the parade.
When the gold had been delivered at the palace, the Roman soldiers
were hospitably entertained, and were escorted to the main gate of
the city when they set out on their journey back to Constantinople.
II
In 802 Nicephorus (Ni-ceph'-o-rus) usurped the throne of the Eastern
Empire. He sent ambassadors with a letter to Harun to tell him
that the tribute would no longer be paid. The letter contained
these words:
"The weak and faint-hearted Irene submitted to pay you tribute.
She ought to have made you pay tribute to her. Return to me all
that she paid you; else the matter must be settled by the sword."
As soon as Harun had read these words the ambassadors threw a
bundle of swords at his feet. The caliph smiled, and drawing his
own sword, or cimeter (sim'-e-ter), he cut the Roman swords in two
with one stroke without injuring the bald, or even turning the edge
of his weapon.
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