volume one

148 HISTOEY OF THE CEUSADES.
stancY, and in tlie hope of advancing his fortune ; he was
endowed with admirable self-possession, and with audacity
proof against any accident : and was at all times ready to
perform that for money which could only have been expected
from the most ardent fanaticism. Xothing appeared unjust
or impossible to him that promised to gratify his ambition
or his avarice. Being active, adroit, and insinuating, he had
wormed himself into the confideuce of Accien, and was
admitted into his council. The prince of Antioch had intrusted
him with the command of three of the principal
towers of the place. He defended them at first with zeal,
but without any advantage to his fortune, and he grew weary
of a barren fideht^' the moment his busy brain suggested
that treason might be more profitable. In the intervals of
the various conflicts he had had many opportunities of seeing
the prince of Tarentum. These two men divined each other's
character at the fii'st glance, and it was not long before this
spnpathy proouced mutual confidence. In their first meetings
Phirous complained of the outrages he had experienced
from the Mussulmans ; he deeply regretted having abandoned
the religion of Christ, and wept over the persecutions the
Christians had suflered in Antioch. Xo more than this was
required to place the prince of Tarentum in possession of
the secret thoughts of Phirous. He commended both his
remorse and his good feeling, and made him the most mag-
nificent promises. Then the renegado opened his heart to
him. They swore an inriolable friendship to each other,
and planned an active correspondence. They met several
times afterwards, but always with the greatest secrecy. At
everv interview Bohemond told Phirous that the fate of the
Christians was in his hands, and that it only rested with
himself to merit their gratitude, and receive from them vast
recompenses. On his side, Phirous protested that he was
anxious to serve the Christians, whom he considered as his
brothers, and, in order to assure the prince of Tarentum of
his fidelity, or else to excuse his treason, he said that Jesus
Christ had appeared to hitn, and had advised him to give up
Antioch to the Cliristians.* Bohemond required no such
* Apparuit enim ei Dominus Jesus Christus per visxim, et ait ; Vade et
redde civitatem Christianis.
—
Gesta Franconim, lib. v. cap. 12.