The first man of the fugitives who arrived at the residence of Heraclius, and whom he knew, was an inhabitant of O’moryah. When the eyes of Heraclius alighted on him, he asked: ‘What news hast thou of the army?’ He replied: ‘The people have fled.’ The Qayssar continued: ‘What people?’ The man replied: ‘Our friends.’ The Qayssar, pretending not to have distinctly heard, inquired: ‘Have our friends put the Arab army to flight, or have the Arabs routed our friends?’ Hereon that little man became so confused that he was unable to give any reply. Heraclius then said to the persons standing near his throne: ‘This individual is frightened, and his tongue refuses to tell the tale; bring me another man who is able to speak, and whose words may be trusted.’ Thereon some officials departed from the assembly to meet the arriving fugitives, and found them approaching in the most wretched plight. They asked them what news they possessed of Mâhân and all the notables, and the fugitives replied: ‘May you live for ever! All the Battâryqah have struck the drum of departure.’ The officials then waited again upon Heraclius, and informed him of the true state of affairs. The Qayssar, becoming despondent, now said: ‘What information is this you are giving me? I ask for a man who has been present at the battle, that he may give me a detailed account of it.’ The courtiers, obeying orders, now brought Khozaymah B. A’mru Alshowkhi, who had fled from the battlefield and knew all the circumstances. The Qayssar asked him: ‘What information possessest thou about the state of our army?’ He replied: ‘Information than which there can be no worse.’ The Qayssar exclaimed: ‘The sign of evil and wickedness is manifest on thy countenance.’ Then he continued to inquire about the nobles who had congregated from all quarters to wage war against the Arabs, but to the name of everyone concerning whom he asked Khozaymah replied: ‘May thy life and reign be perpetual! He has not come out alive from the battle.’ Heraclius then, turning to his Amirs, said: ‘Bad news of a bad man.’ He then asked: ‘Art thou Khozaymah?’ and, having received an affirmative reply, continued: ‘Rememberest thou that when Muhammad the Arab sent me a letter* to accept his religion, and I was ready to do so, thou hast dissuaded me more than others?’ Khozaymah acknowledged that such was the case, but entertained hopes of being pardoned. The Qayssar, however, ordered during that very interview his body to be eased from the load of his head:
The head which is not at the feet of the mighty
Is too heavy a load to remain on the shoulders.
When the Qayssar perceived that it would become impossible for him to reside in Syria, he rode out from Antioch with his courtiers to a high mountain in the vicinity of the town, and, weeping aloud, said: ‘Farewell to thee, O holy land! farewell to thee, O pure country! and farewell to thee, O earth full of comforts, blessings, and benefits! Farewell to thee, O earthly paradise, farewell! He who bids thee adieu is certain that, after taking leave of thee, he will never again behold thee.’ The monarch, fettered by his love of power and wealth, having uttered these and similar expressions from the bottom of his sorrowful heart, then departed on the wings of celerity to Constantinople.