volume one

HISTOET OF THE CEUSADES. 171
Aroused from his false security, the sultan of Mossoul ordered
the head of a deserter to be cut off who had announced
to him the speedy surrender of the Christians, and then set
himself seriously to the task of fighting an enemy whose
auxiliaries were fanaticism and despair.
On marching out of Antioch* the Christians advanced
westwards towards the spot where the mountains draw near
to the Orontes. Ranged in order of battle, in a vast space
where the mountains formed a semicircle around them and
secured them from surprise, they extended across the plain
a league from the city. Hugh, the two E-oberts. the count
de Belesme, and the count of Hainaut placed themselves at
the head of the left wing ; Grodfrey was on the right, supported
by Eustace, Baldwin du Bourg, Tancred, Einaldo de
Toul, and Erard de Puyset. Adhemar was in the centre,
with Graston de Beam, the count de Die, Eaimbaut of
Orange, "William of Montpellier, and Amanjeu d'Albret.
Bohemond commanded a body of reserve, ready to act upon
all points wdiere the Christians might require assistance.
Kerbogha, who saw the disposition of the Crusaders, ordered
the sultans of Nice, Damascus, and Aleppo, to make the
tour of the mountain and then reascend the Orontes, so as
to place themselves between the Christian army and the
city. He at the same time drew his army up in line of
battle to receive the Christians and repulse their attack.
He placed his troops partly on the heights and partly on the
plain. His right wing was commanded by the emir of
Jerusalem, and his left wing by one of the sons of Accien.
For himself he remained upon a high hill, to give his orders
and watch the movements of the two armies.
At the moment of the commencement of the battle, Kerbogha
was seized with fear, and sent to propose to the
* Pierre Angelli, author of a Latin poem o-n the first crusade, which
has for title, Syriados Libri XII., describes this battle at great length, and
reports one part of the miraculous circumstances by which it was accompanied
; but his recital is too diffuse to excite much interest. The Syriade
begins with the first voyage of Peter the Hermit to Jerusalem, and is
nothing but a copy in verse of the histories of William of Tyre, Albert
d'Aix, and others. After having described the march and the early
labours of the Crusaders, the Latin poet arrives, towards the end of the
last canto, at the siege of Jerusalem, to which he only consecrates a
hundred verses.