volume one

202 HISTOEY or THE CRUSADES.
stars, says Albert d'Aix, reassured their companions by
telling them that the sight of such a phenomenon announced
the triumph of the Christians and the destruction of the
infidels.
Bv the break of day, on the 10th of June, 1099, the
Crusaders ascended the heights of Emmaus. All at once
the holy city presented itself to their eyes.* The first who
perceived it exclaimed together, " Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! "
The rear ranks rushed forward to behold the city that was
the object of all their wishes, and the words, " It is the icill
of God ! It is the will of God ! " were shouted by the whole
army, and resounded over Moimt Sion and the Mount of
Olives, which offered themselves to the eager gaze of the
Crusaders. The horsemen dismounted from their horses,
and marched barefooted. Some cast themselves upon their
knees at beholding the holy places, whilst others kissed with
respect the earth honoured by the presence of the Saviour.
In their transports they passed by turns from joy to sad-
ness, and from sadness to joy. At one moment they feli-
citated themselves with touching the last term of their
labours ; and then wept over their sins, over the death of
Christ, and over his profaned tomb ; but all renewed the
oath they had so often made to deliver the holy city from
the sacrilegious yoke of the Mussulmans.
History furnishes very few positive notions of the foun-
* Tasso has spoken of the enthusiasm of the Crusaders at the sight of
Jerusalem. The historians of the crusades, Albert d'Aix, the author of
the Gesta Francorum, Robert the Monk, Baldric or Baudry, and William
of Tyre, present us with the same picture that Tasso does. We will
content ourselves with quoting here a passage from the " History of
Jerusalem and Hebron," which proves that the sight of that city likewise
awakens the enthusiasm of Mussulmans :
" The coup cVoeil of Jerusalem,"
says this history, " is very fine, particularly when seen from the Mount
of Olives. When the pilgrim arrives there, and sees the buildings nearer,
his heart is tilled with an inexpressible joy, jind he easily forgets all the
fatigues of his voyage." Hatiz, the son of Hadjar, improvised on his
arrival at Jerusalem four verses, of which this is the translation : " When
we approached the holy city, the Lord showed us Jerusalem ; we had
suffered much during our voyage, but we beheved ourselves then entering
into heaven." We have heard several modern travellers, of different man-
ners, religions, and opinions, say that they all felt a lively emotion at
seeing Jeru^alem for the first time. See the beautiful description that
JM. de Chateaubriand has given of it in his Itinerary.