volume one

280 HISTORY or THE CRUSADES.
" It is gratitude," said he to him, " which brings me here.
Thou hast been generous towards a wife who is most dear to
me—thou hast restored her to me and her family, after
having saved her life. I brave a thousand dangers to acquit
rnvseli' of so sacred a debt. The Saracens surround the
city of thy retreat on all sides ; to-morrow it will be taken,
and not one of its inhabitants will escape death. I come to
offer thee means of safety. I am acquainted with a path
which is not guarded ;* hasten then, for time presses. Thou
hast but to follow me ; before the da^^^l of day thou wilt be
among thy people."
Baldwin hesitated—he shed tears at the idea of what
must be the fate of his companions in misfortune ; but, at
length, he yielded to the generosity of the Mussulman emir,
and, accompanied by a weak escort, they both departed from
the city, in the middle of a stormy night. On gaining the
distance of a few leagues from Eamla, they separated with
the emir rejoined the Mussulman army,
tears in their eyes ;
and Baldwin succeeded in getting to the city of Arsur.
At break of day the Saracens advanced towards the ramparts
of Eamla. They quickly gained possession of the
citj% and all they met with in the place were massacred.
Some soldiers who escaped the Saracens' swords, carried the
sad news to the neighbourino: cities. It was the first defeat
the Christians had experienced since their arrival in Palestine.
As it was confidently said that Baldwin had been
slain at the taking of Eamla, this loss added greatly to the
general consternation. The great bell of Jerusalem announced
the approach and invasion of the Saracens. The
priests, the monks, the pilgrims, clothed in sackcloth and
barefooted, went in procession through the streets of the
holy city ; women and children filled the churches^ and with
tears in their eyes and uplifted hands implored the mercy of
Heaven. The bravest were beginning to despah' of the safety
of the kingdom, when Bald\A'in suddenly appeared among
his people, says "William of Tyre, like the morning star, and
revived their hopes by his presence.
The king of Jerusalem assembled at Jaffa the wreck of his
armv: and the Christian cities sent him all their inhabitants
* This singular fact is related by William of Tyre with all its details.
Chap. X.
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