volume one

172 UISTOEY OF THE CEUSADES.
Christian princes, that in order to spare the effusion of
blood, they should select some of their knights to fight
against an equal number of Saracens. This proposal, which
had been rejected the day before, could not be adopted by
the leaders of an armv full of ardour and confident of vietory.
The Christians entertained no doubt that Heaven
had declared itself in their favour, and this persuasion must
render them invincible. In their 'enthusiasm, they looked
upon the most natui-al events as prodigies announcing to
them the triumph of their arms. A globe of fire, which on
the preceding evening had passed across the horizon and
burst over the camp of the Saracens, appeared to them a
sign foretelling their Adctory. As they left Antioch a light
rain refreshed the burning air of the climate and the season,
and was in their eyes a fresh proof of the favour of Heaven.
A strong ^vind, which assisted the flight of their javelins
and impeded that of the arrows of the Turks, was for them
as the wind of heavenly anger raised to disperse the infidels.
Animated by this persuasion, the Christian army showed
the greatest impatience to begin the fight. They marched
towards the enemy in perfect order. A profound silence
reissued over the plain, on all parts of which shone the arms
of the Clu-istians. 2s o sound was heard in their ranks but
the voices of the leaders, the hymns of the priests, and the
exhortations of Adhemar.
All at once the Saracens commenced the attack by discharging
a cloud of arrows and then rushing on the Crusaders,
uttering barbarous cries. In spite of their impetuous
shock, their right wing was soon repulsed and penetrated by
the Christians. Godfrey met '>rith greater resistance in
then left wing ; he succeeded, however, in breaking it and
carrving disorder amons: their ranks. At the moment that
the troops of Kerbogha began to give way, the sultan of
Kice, who had made the tour of the mountain and returned
along the banks of the Orontes, fell with impetuosity upon
the rear of the Christian army, and threatened destruction
to the bodv of reserve commanded bv Bohemond. The
Crusaders, who fought on foot, could not resist the first
charge of the Saracen cavalry. Hugh the Great, warned of
the danger of Bohemond, abandoned the pursuit of the fugi-
tives, and hastened to the succour of the body of reserve.