volume one

198 HISTOILY OJT THE CEUSADES.
scarcely numbered fifty thousand figating men under its
banners.
The leader3, however, did not hesitate to pursue their
enterprise. They who did remain in the ranks had borne
every trial ; they did not drag in their train a useless, embarrassmg
multitude ; and it was much more easy to supply
them with provisions and estabhsh order and discipline
amongst them. Strengthened in some sort by their losses,
they were perhaps more formidable than they were at the
siege of Xice. The remembrance of their exploits increased
their confidence and courage, and the terror which their
arms inspired might well make the Saracens believe that
their army was still innumerable.
Most of the princes whom the war had ruined were in
the pay of the count of Thoidouse. This species of degradation
was doubtless painful to their pride ; but as they
approached the holy city it might be said that they lost
some of their indomitable arrogance, and that they forgot
both their pretensions and their quarrels. The most perfect
imion now prevailed among the Crusaders. In their impatience
to see Jerusalem, neither moimtains, defiles, rivers,
nor any other impediments at all damped their ardour ; the
soldiers would not even consent to take repose, and often,
contrary to the wishes of their leaders, marched dui'ing the
night.
The Christian army followed the coasts of the sea, where
they might be provisioned by the Pisan, G-enoese, and
Flemish fleets. A crowd of Christians and pious sohtaries
who inhabited the neighbouring mountaias, hastened to meet
their brethren of the AYest, brought them fresh provisions,
and guided them on their way. After a paiaful march over
rocks and along the dech\'ities of precipices, they descended
into the plaui of Berytus, and traversed the territory of
Sidon and T^tc.
"^Tiilst they remained three days on the banks of the
liver Eleuctera, thev were assailed by serpents called tarenta^
whose bite produced death, attended by ^-iolent pain and
unquenchable thirst. The sight of these reptiles, which
they attempted to frighten away by striking stones one
against another, or by the clashing of their bucklers, filled
the pilgrims with fear and surprise ; but that whicli must