volume one

ISO IIISTOET OF THE CRUSADES.
violent quarrels. IS'otwitlistanding the sanctity of the place,
Eavmond, in the midst of the council, gave way to his pas-
sion and resentment. Even at the foot of the altar of Christ,
Bohemond hesitated not to make false promises in order to
draw the other chiefs to his party, and repeated several
times an oath which he never meant to keep, that of following
them to Jerusalem.
Every day trouble and disorder increased in the Christian
armv, some only thinking of aggrandising the states which
victorv had given them, whilst others wandered about S>Tia
in search of cities over which they might unfurl their standards.
Bands were seen dispersed in all parts where there
was a chance of a rich booty, fighting among themselves for
their conquests when they Avere victorious, and a prey to all
sorts of horrors and miseries when they met with unforeseen
resistance. The jealousy which prevailed among the
chiefs extended to the soldiers : the latter quarrelling for the
bootv gained from the enemy, in the same manner that the
princes and barons contended for the possession of cities
and proA-inces. Those whom fortune had not favoured complained
of their companions, until some lucky chance allowed
tliem in their turn to take advantage of all the rights of vic-
torv. On all sides the Crusaders accused each other reciprocallv
of ha^-ing enriched themselves by injustice and
violence, althou2:h evervbodv envied the most eruiltv.
And yet, amidst their conflicts or their misfortunes, the
Christians continued to show the most heroic bravery and
resignation ; they endured hunger, thirst, and fatigue without
a complaint, and neither destTts, rivers, precipices, the
heat of the climate, nor any other obstacle, could stop them
in their incursions. In every kind of peril they sought all
opportunities of proving their strength and skill, or of signaliziuir
their valour. Sometimes in the forests or mountains
they encountered savage animals. A French knight,
named Gruicher. rendered himself celebrated in the armv bv
overcomii^ a lion. Another knight, Geoffrey de la Tour,
gained great renown by an action which doubtless will
appear incredible. He one day saw in a forest a lion which
a serpent held within its monstrous folds, and which made
the air resound with his roaring. G-eoffrev flew to the
assistance of the animal, which appeared to implore his pity,