volume one

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HISTOllY OF THE CRUSADES. 81
either perceiving the causes of them or foreseeing their consequences.
The most wise blindly followed that invisible
destiny which orders the world as it pleases, and makes use
of the passions of men as of an instrument to accomplish its
designs.
In a superstitious age the sight of a prodigy or of an
extraordinary phenomenon had more influence over the
minds of men than the oracles of wisdom or reason.* Historians
inform us, that whilst the barons were assembled,
the moon, which was in eclipse, appeared of the colour of
blood. AVhen the eclipse was over, its disc was surrounded
by an unprecedented splendour. Some weeks after, says the
Abbe Guibert, the northern horizon was seen to be all on
fire, and the terrified people rushed from the houses and
cities, believing that the enemy was advancing, fire and
sword in hand. These phenomena, with several others,
were regarded as signs of the will of God, and presages of
the terrible war about to be made in his name. They everj^where
redoubled the enthusiasm for the crusade. Men who
had hitherto remained indifferent now partook of the general
delirium. All Frenchmen called to the profession of arms,
and who had not yet taken the oath to fight against the
infidels, hastened now to take the cross.
The men of the Yermandois marched with the subjects of
Philip under the colours of their count Hugh, a young
prince whose brilliant qualities had been much admired by
the coui't. Proud of being a brother of the king of Prance
and the first of the Prench knights, he distinguished himself
by his bravery and the ostentation of his manners. He
displayed invincible courage in the field of battle, but
allowed himself to be too easily overcome by flattery, and
was wanting in perseverance in reverses. Although fortune
* Eo tempore cuyn inter regni primates super Tide expeditione res
fieret, et colloquium ah eis cum Hugone Magna, sub Philippi regis prasentid,
Parisiis haberetur, mense Februario, tertio idus ejusdem, tuna,
ecHpsim patiens, ante noctis medium, sanguineo paulatim coepif colore
velari, donee in cruentissimum iota horribiliter est converse ruborem ; et
ubi aurora crcpvsculo naturce redid, circa ipsum lunarem circulum
iusolitus splendor emicuit. Quidam autem cestivi diei vespertind irruente
hord, tanta aquilonis plagce efflagratio apparuit, ut plurimi e domibus
suis sese proriperent, qucerentes quinam hostes provincias suas adeo gravt
ambusti'jiie vastarent.— Guibert, Abb. lib. i. ch. 17.