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Itinerary
46
marched by a tortuous circuit, that while our men were in doubt whether
they meant to attack the camp or the army, they might fall suddenly upon
the latter, and close them in from the rear. The Templars, inferior to none in
renown, devoted to slaughter, had by this time burst through the enemiesÕ
squares, and, if the remainder of the army had pressed on in pursuit, they
would that day have been the fortunate conquerors as well of the city as of
the battle; but when the Templars in their ardour had advanced too far in
following up their fortune, they were suddenly attacked by the townsmen;
and although multitudes overcame them, it was not without great
slaughter of their own men that the enemy triumphed. There Gerard de
Riddeford the master of the Templars, of whom we have made mention
before, was slain; happy he on whom the Lord conferred so great glory,
that he should gain the laurel which he had earned in so many wars, and
be admitted into the fellowship of martyrs. In another part, while the
Germans were too eagerly bent upon plunder, the old deceiver offered to
their view a horse escaping; and seeing them pursue him in a crowd, the
rest supposed that they were running away. By this slight but fatal accident
the whole army was thrown into a panic, and all turned their thoughts to
flight. At the same time, a new rumour increased their fear: for there was a
cry that the townsmen had gone forth to plunder the baggage. The army
was at once thrown into confusion; the battalions dispersed, and
abandoned their standards; even the commanders fly headlong, and scarce
any have courage to resist.
Chapter XXX. Ñ The flight and slaughter of the Christians.
The Turks, on seeing the confusion of the Christians, wondered at the
circumstance, but were ignorant of the cause; and having regained the
victory unexpectedly, they turned their horses and resumed the courage
which they had more from use than nature, yielding to those who pressed,
and pressing on those who yielded; for they will fly from those who attack,
and pursue those who fly. In this lamentable and disastrous tumult,
Andrew de Brienne, while calling upon his comrades to resume the battle,
was slain by the Turks who were pursuing; this man was so superior to all

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Itinerary
47
the other Frenchmen, that they awarded him the crown of chivalry, while
others were content to strive for the honour of being second to him. His
brother, the Count de Brienne, though he had seen him fall, passed him as
he lay on the ground, and though called upon, feared to stop, and, like a
coward, left him to his fate. Different from this was the conduct of a
soldier, who, seeing James dÕAvennes thrown from his horse, gave him the
one on which he was escaping, and nobly by his own death saved the life
of his lord. King Guy, also, was on the point of being slain by the foe, had
not the marquis come to his assistance, who forgot the wrongs he had
received from him, to discharge the duties of humanity, though to one
undeserving of it, and rescued him from destruction. Geoffrey, the kingÕs
brother, seeing the army in confusion, and all hastening to fly, at last
abandoned the care of the camp which he had undertaken to defend; and,
anxious for his brotherÕs safety, rushed forward to arrest the fugitives. O
miserable change of affairs! the Christians had gone forth with confidence
Ñ they return in confusion; they had marched in order Ñ they return in
disorder; victorious, they had routed the foe Ñ yet they run back
vanquished. AlanÕs presumption at length acknowledged what man and
what manÕs strength can effect, if it rely not on the LordÕs right hand; for he
powerfully works victory amongst his own people, who gives confidence
to the warrior, and a crown to the victor. Our men had presumed on their
own strength, they believed no enemy could be found who could put them
in fear, and yet they found that enemy too near them, for they lost one
thousand five hundred men. There was a knight named Ferrand, who
having been left behind naked and nearly lifeless, after lying hid amongst
the slain, returned by night to the camp, but was so disfigured by his
wounds, that he could not be recognized by his friends, and with difficulty
gained admission. The license of the poet or a lengthy dissertation might
depict the various incidents of the battle and the divers modes of death; but
we are obliged to be brief, and must say, not how, but what  occurred.
Saladin ordered the bodies of the Christians to be collected and cast into
the river which flowed near; that, being carried down by the current, the
sight of them might occasion terror, or becoming decomposed they might
infect the water.

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