volume one

10 HISTORY OF THE CEUSADES.
existed. Many who strayed from the army fell into the
ambushes of the Saracens, and lost either their lives or their
libert^^ Wlien some fortunate pilgrims discovered a spring
or a cistern in a remote or obscure place, they concealed it
from their companions, and prevented their approach to it.
Quarrels of a violent nature broke out on this account daily ;
and not unfrequently the Crusaders drew their swords for
the sake of a little muddy water ; in short, the want of water
was so insupportable an e^aL, that they hardly noticed the
scarcity of food. The intensity of thu'st and the heat of the
climate made them forget the horrors of the famine which
seemed to pursue the Christians everj^where.
If the besieged had at this period made a sortie, they
would have easily triumphed over the Crusaders, but the
latter were defended by the remembrance of their exploits ;
and in the distress to which they were now reduced, their
name alone still inspired the Saracens with dread. The Mussulmans
likewise might entertain the belief that their enemies
could not long resist the joint calamities of famine and
thirst. The old historians here employ the most pathetic
expressions to paint the frightful misery of the pilgrims.
Abbot Gruibert even goes so far as to say that men never
suffered so many e\'il3 to obtain benefits which were not of
this earth. Amidst such calamities, savs Ea^Tuondd'Aonles,
who was himself at the siege of Jerusalem, many forgot their
Grod, and thought no longer of either gaining the city, or
obtaining the divine mercy. The remembrance of their own
country increased their sufferings ; and so great was their
discouragement, that some deserted the standards of the
crusade entirely, and fled to the ports of Palestine and Syria
to wait for an opportunity of returning to Europe.
The leaders clearly saw there was no other remedy for the
evils the army endured but the taking of Jerusalem ; and yet
the labours of the siege went on very slowly, for they had
neither wood enough for the construction of machines, nor
workmen \Nith necessary implements. In addition, a report
was current that a formidable army had left Egypt for the
purpose of relieving the city. The wisest and the bravest
were beginning, in such a critical situation, to despair of the
success of the enterprise, when assistance was afforded them
of an unexpected kind.