The enchanting moonlight evenings of Andalusia were spent by the Moors in sequestered, fairy-like gardens or in orange-groves, listening to the romances of the story-teller, or engaged in philosophical discourse; consoling themselves for the disappointments of this life by such reflections as that, if virtue were rewarded in this world, we should be without expectations in the life to come; and reconciling themselves to their daily toil by the expectation that rest will be found after death--a rest never to be succeeded by labor.
In the tenth century the Khalif Hakein II.

had made beautiful Andalusia the paradise of the world.

Christians, Mussulmen, Jews, mixed together without restraint.

There, among many celebrated names that have descended to our times, was Gerbert, destined subsequently to become pope.

There, too, was Peter the Venerable, and many Christian ecclesiastics.