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Itinerary
56
sides, and having their attention divided, were either defending
themselves against the attacks from without, or were engaged in storming
the city, and their strength was weakened from having so many objects to
contend with, the enemy set fire to our towers, which our utmost
endeavours could not extinguish, and being burnt with Greek fire, they
were rendered useless. And thus, by an unfortunate accident, our hope of
triumph fell, Ñ the more mortifying in the result from being considered so
certain at first.
Chapter XXXVII. Ñ Of the famine among the citizens and the succour brought in
by the galleys.
The besieged were now so sorely pressed from the great want of
provisions, that they ate up their horses and spared not beasts of other
kinds, forgetful of the Mahometan law, while, reduced by hunger to eat
forbidden things, they satisfied their ravening appetites. Meanwhile, they
turned out the older Christian captives, whom they reckoned useless,
having become speechless and decrepit, but they reserved the younger
captives, who were hale and fit for work. While the Turks were thus
straitened, there arrived three vessels of burthen, whose crews suddenly
threw themselves into the city, for fear of meeting the Christians, in such
haste that some of them were wrecked, but those that carried provisions
were saved. Whereupon the besieged, overcome with excessive joy, as if
their wishes had been gratified, testify their deliverance by howling in loud
tones to the music of cymbals and pipes; they hoped by these rejoicings to
confirm the belief that they had not sustained any loss.
Chapter XXXVIII. Ñ How Saladin, having collected the armies of his kingdom
together, attacks our men, who by their bold resistance force him to retire in
confusion.
Meanwhile, Saladin, having gathered together the forces of all Asia,
from the Tigris as far as India, as well as from the parts between the Tigris
and Euphrates, and thence to the southern districts, led them forth to war.

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Itinerary
57
From Africa too, there came countless tribes; the Nadabar¾, G¾tulians,
and Numidians, and from the scorching south, the people named Moors or
Mauritanians, from the Greek word mauros, which means black. Thus two
divisions of the globe attacked the third; against both of which Europe
entered into conflict, the only one of them which acknowledged the name
of Christ. Most of these troops served Saladin as stipendiaries; so that the
money which had been raised was no longer sufficient for their pay. For by
common agreement the barbarians decreed that whoever died, should
leave the third of his property to the defenders of the law. Some, however,
served for nothing as a sort of pilgrimage, and instead of performing the
ceremonies of the law, went to fight against the Christians. The pouring
out, therefore, of these multitudes from all parts, gave the king excessive
joy; and falling on our men boldly, he hoped either to carry them all away
captive, or to exterminate them with the edge of the sword. And if we read
that Darius king of the Persians fought with seven hundred thousand men,
we may judge of the multitude on the present occasion; for his army could
be numbered, but this army none could count. That large plain, stretching
from sea to sea, over which they were spread far and wide, would not hold
so many thousands; and had the ground been itself much more extensive,
it would have been narrow compared with the numbers engaged. The
Christians, though pressed by the townsmen on one side and by the enemy
on the other, stood their ground manfully; and having placed guards at the
trenches, repelled the assaults of both. The attack commenced on the
Saturday of Pentecost, and continued for eight days, the great slaughter on
both sides bearing witness to the fury of the combat. Our men found the
holidays no holidays; but their resolute valour strengthened them to the
confusion of the foe; and He who ordained of old the Apostles to prophecy,
now inflamed his soldiers to battle. All had strict charge not to go beyond
the camp; for there was no need to go in search of an enemy, when one was
at their doors. And so great was the multitude which came to attack, that
darts thrown at random were not without effect; nor did any take aim,
when the crowded squadrons afforded so many objects to wound. On the
eighth day, a blow from a sling killed one of the sultanÕs sons, whose death
put a stop to the attack which had begun, and terrified the hostile army.

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