Islam and the English Enlightenment, 1670–1840

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Islam and the English Enlightenment, 1670–1840 This page intentionally left blank Islam and the English Enlightenment, 1670–1840 h u m b e rto g a r c i a The Johns Hopkins University Press Baltimore © 2012 The Johns Hopkins University Press All rights reserved. Published 2012 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 The Johns Hopkins University Press 2715 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21218-4363 www.press.jhu.edu Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Garcia, Humberto, 1978– Islam and the English enlightenment, 1670–1840 / Humberto Garcia. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn-13: 978-1-4214-0353-3 (hardcover : alk. paper) isbn-10: 1-4214-0353-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Islam in literature. 2. English literature—18th century—History and criticism. 3. English literature—19th century—History and criticism. 4. Enlightenment— Great Britain. 5. Great Britain—Relations—Islamic countries. 6. Islamic countries— Relations—Great Britain. I. Title. pr149.i8g37 2011 820.9 ' 38297—dc22    2011011299 A catalog record for this book is available from the British Library. Special discounts are available for bulk purchases of this book. For more information, please contact Special Sales at 410-516-6936 or specialsales@press.jhu.edu. The Johns Hopkins University Press uses environmentally friendly book materials, including recycled text paper that is composed of at least 30 percent post-consumer waste, whenever possible. For Shimy Mahomet Utter the Song, O my Soul! the flight and return of Mohammed, Prophet and Priest, who scatter’d abroad both Evil and Blessings, Huge wasteful Empires founded and hallow’d slow Persecution, Soul-withering, but crush’d the blasphemous Rites of the Pagan And idolatrous Christians.—For veiling the Gospel of Jesus, They, the best corrupting, had made it worse than the vilest. Wherefore Heaven decreed th’ enthusiast Warrior of Mecca, Choosing Good from Iniquity rather than Evil from Goodness. Loud the Tumult in Mecca surrounded the Fane of the Idol;— Naked and Prostrate the Priesthood were laid—the People with mad shouts Thundering now, and now with saddest Ululation Flew, as over the channel of rock-stone the ruinous River Shatters its waters abreast, and in mazy uproar bewilder’d, Rushes dividuous all—all rushing impetuous onward. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Mahomet” (composed 1799) ...