volume one

lOS mSTOKY OF THE CEUSADES.
Turks, and rendered tlie disposition the Christian army made
before the battle, entirely useless. Every leader, eyery
horseman, took counsel only of his o^^ii coui'age, and abandoned
himself to its dictates. The Christians fought in disorder
upon ground with which they were quite unacquainted,
and the bravest ran the greatest risks. Eobert of Paris,
the same who had seated himself on the imperial throne by
the side of Alexius, was mortally wounded, after having seen
forty of his companions fall around him. AVilliam, the
brother of Tancred. fell pierced with arrows. Tancred him-
self, whose lance was broken, and who had no weapon left
but his sword, onlv owed his safety to Bohemond, who came
to his succour, and extricated him from the hands of the
infidels. Whilst the victory between strength and agility
remained uncertain, new troops of Saracens descended from
the mountains and joined the fight. The sultan of Xice
took advantaofe of the moment at which the cavalry of the
Crusaders could scarcely resist the shock of the Turkish
army, to attack their camp. He ordered a body of his
choicest soldiers to draw their swords and follow him. He
crossed the river, and overcame every obstacle that was
placed in his way. In an instant the camp of the Christians
was invaded and filed by the Turks. The Saracens massacred
aU who came within reach of their swords ; sparing
none but younor and beautiful women, whom thev destined
for their seraglios. H we are to believe Albert of Aix, the
daughters and the wives of the barons and knights preferred
on this occasion slavery to death ;
for they were seen, in the
midst of the tumult, decking: themselves in their most beautifid
vestments, and presenting themselves thus before the
Saracens, seeking by the display of their charms to soften
the hearts of a pitiless enemy.* In the meanwhile Bohemond,
rendered aware of the attack upon the camp, came
promptly to its succour, and forced the sultan to rejoin the
body of his army. Then the confiict recommenced on the
banks of the river with increased fury. The duke of Xormandy,
who had remained alone with some of his knights
* Hdc crudelitate atrocissimcE mortis stitpefactce tenercE puellce et
nobilissimce, vesiibus ornari festinabant, se offerentes Turcis, ut saltern
amore honestarum formarum accensi et placati, discant captivarum
misereri.—Alb. Aq. lib. iii. cap. 4.