volume one

IIISTOIIT or THE CRUSADES. 101
of their fathers ; the religion of the prophet implored their
help, and the richest booty would be the reward of their
exploits." The Mussulmans, animated by the speeches and
the example of their chief, prepared for battle, and descended
the mountains. Their army, divided into two bodies, attacked
with impetuosity the quarter of Godfrey de Bouillon and
that of Eaymond de Thoulouse, who had just arrived before
Nice. The Provencals were not able to resist the first
shock, but they rallied soon at the voices of Eapnond and
Adhemar. " Then the two armies," says Matthew of Edessa,*
who speaks of this battle, "joined, mingled, and attacked
each other, with equal fury. Everywhere glittered casques
and shields ; lances rung against cuirasses ; the air resounded
with piercing cries ; the terrified horses recoiled at the
din of arms and the hissing of arrows ; the earth trembled
beneath the tread of the combatants, and the plain was for
a vast space bristling with javelins." Godfrey, Tancred, and
the two E/oberts, appeared to be everywhere at once, and
carried death and terror into the ranks of the infidels. The
Turks could not long withstand the impetuous valour of the
Crusaders ; they were put to the rout, and pursued by the
conquerors even to the mountains which served them as a
place of refuge.
The sultan, instead of deploring his defeat, only thought
of avenging the disgrace of his arms, and on the very morrow,
at break of day, led back his troops to the combat. The
Turks attacked the Christians, uttering loud cries. Sometimes
they rushed with fury into the ranks of the Crusaders,
sometimes they fought at a distance, pouring in showers of
arrows. Then they feigned to fly, only to return to the
charge with greater fury. This second battle, in which the
Turks showed the courage of despair seconded by all the
stratagems of war, lasted from morning till night. The
victory, which was for a long time doubtful, cost the Christians
two thousand lives. The Crusaders made a great many
* The Armenian history of Matthew of Edessa is among the manu-
scripts of the Imperial Library, " Ancien Fonds," No. 99. We quote it
from a translation which M. de St. Martin has been so kind as to communicate
to us, and likewise the translation which M. Cerbeid, Armenian
professor at the Imperial Library, has made for the purpose of elucidating
some manuscripts.