THE UKEAT HISTORICAL AGES. 335
made up seven hundred thousand in the time of Julius
Csesar; by whose soldiers more than half of them were
destroyed. The library was, however, filled again, and
kept with great care, as a treasure of all that human in¬
tellect had ever produced most worthy But, in the year
642, when the Saracens or Moors conquered Egypt, who
were Mahomedans, and who reverenced the Koran, their
general, Omar, ordered the rich collection to be burnt,
like an ignorant barbarian, as he was; saying, " If there
is any thing in these books besides what is in the Koran,
it is false; and if it is only the same, we don't want them
while we have that." For some months, therefore, the
books of this most ancient and magnificent library were
used to cook their victuals, and to warm their baths.
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