volume one

236 HiSTOEv: or the ceusades.
tlie gi'avest historians, vras nominated pastor of the church
of Jerusalem.
In the meanwhile fame had proclaimed the conquesi of
the holy city throughout all the neighbouring countries.
In all the churches foiuided by the Crusaders in their passage,
thanks were offered up to God for a victory which must
necessarily cause the triumph of the worship and the laws of
Christ in the East. The Christians of Antioch, Edessa, and
Tarsus, with those who inhabited Cilicia, Cappadocia, Syria,
and Mesopotamia, came in crowds to Jerusalem, some for the
purpose of fixing their abode there, others to visit the holj'
places.
"VYhilst the faithfid were rejoicing over their conquest, the
Mussulmans gave themselves up to despair. The few who
had escaped from the swords of the Crusaders spread consternation
wherever they Avent. The historians Abul-Mahacam,
Elmacin, and Aboul-Feda have described the desolation
which reigned at Bagdad. Zeimeddin, cadhi of Damascus,
tore out his own beard in the presence of the Caliph. The
whole divan shed tears whilst listening to the recital of the^
misfortunes of Jerusalem. Fasts and prayers were ordered
to mitigate the anger of heaven. The Imans and poets deplored
in pathetic verses and discourses the fate of the Mussulmans
who had become slaves of the Christians. " "VYhat
blood," said they, "has not flowed ? "Wliat disasters* have
not befallen the true believers ? "Women have been obliged
* We here give the translation of some passages of an elegy of the poet
Modhaffer Abyverdy upon the taking of Jerusalem by the Crusaders,
inserted by Aboul-Feda in his Annales, torn. iii. p. 319. This translation
is by M. Jourdain.
" Our blood is mingled with our tears, and no part of our being remains
to us that can be the object of the blows of our enemies.
" O misfortune I if tears take the place of true arms, when the fires of
•war break forth !
" How can the eye close its lids, when catastrophes such as otirs would
awaken even those who slept in the most profound repose !
*' Your brethren have no other resting-places in Syria but the backs ol
their camels and the entrails of vultures I
" The Franks treat them like vile slaves, whilst you allow yourselves to
be drawn carelessly along by the skirt of the robe of effeminacy, as people
would do in perfect security !
" What blood has not flowed ! how
modesty to conceal their beauty with their bracelets !
many women have been forced by