volume one

J.50
HISTOEY OF THE CEUSADES.
only ofwomen." These vebement words had all the success to
be expected among warriors accustomed to prevail by force
of arms, and who esteemed no conquest that was not the
reward of yalom\ The greater number of the leaders
rejected the proposition of the prince of Tarentum, and
added their railleries to those of Eaymond. Bohemond,
whom history has surnamed the Ulysses of the Latins, did-
all in his power to restrain himself and conceal his vexation.
He went out from the council smiling, persuaded that
necessity would soon bring the Crusaders to his opinion.
As soon as he had regained his tent, he sent emissaries
through all the quarters of the camp to spread secretly the
most alarming intelligence. As he foresaw, consternation
seized the Christians. Some of the leaders were sent to
ascertain the truth of the reports prevalent in the camp
and soon returned with an accoimt that Kerbogha, sultan of
Mossoul, was advancing towards Antioch with an army of
two hundred thousand men, collected on the banks of
the Euphrates and the Tigris. This army, which had
threatened the city of Edessa and ravaged Mesopotamia,
was at a distance of only seven days' march. At this
recital the fears of the Crusaders were redoubled. Bohemond
passed through the ranks, exaggerating the danger,
and affecting to show more depression and terror than all
the rest ; but in his heart he was dehghted, and smiled at
the idea of soon seeing all his hopes accomplished. The
leaders again assembled to deliberate upon the means necessary
to be taken in such perilous circumstances. Two
opijiions di^-ided the council. Some T^ished that the siege
should be raised, and that they should march to meet the
Saracens ; whilst others were of opinion that the army
should be formed into two bodies, one of which should act
against Kerbogha, whilst the other should remain to guard
the camp. This last opinion appeared likely to prevail,
when Bohemond demanded permission to speak. He had
not much difficulty in making them sensible of the impracticability
of both the plans proposed. If they raised the
siege, they would be placed between the garrison of Antioch
and a formidable army. If they continued the blockade of
the city, and half of the army only went to meet Kerbogha,
they were almost certain of a defeat. " The greatest penis,"
;