volume one

298 nisTOET OF the ceusades,
liistorian we liave just now quoted, a light Kke to that of a
thunderbolt darted tlirough the air, and fell upon the army
of the Mussuhnans. This light, which the Christians considered
as a miracle from Heaven, became the signal for the
rout of the Saracens. The Mussulman warriors, still more
superstitious than the Christians, were fascinated by a sudden
terror, and no longer had either courage or strength to
defend themselves. Seven thousand of them fell on the
field of battle, and five thousand perished, swallowed up by
the waves of the sea. The victorious Christians returned to
Jerusalem, singing the praises of the Grod of armies.
The Christian knights thenceforth wept vdth. less bitterness
over the capti\-ity of a king without whom they had
been able to conquer the army of the Saracens ; but the
army of the Franks, employed in the defence of cities and
frontiers constantlv thi-eatened bv the enemv, could not leave
the kingdom to make new conquests ;
and the warriors, who
were detained in the Christian cities, after so great a victory,
were deeply afiiicted at their inaction, and appeared to place
all their hopes in succours from the AYest. It was just at
this time that a Venetian fleet arrived ofi" the coast of S}Tia.
The Venetians, who for several centuries enjoyed the commerce
of the East, and feared to break their profitable relations
with the Mussuhnans of Asia, had taken but very little
interest in the first crusade, or in the events that had followed
it. They waited the issue of this great enterprise, to
take a part and associate themselves without peril with the
victories of the Christians ; but at length, jealous of the advantages
that the Grenoese and the Pisans had obtained in
Svi'ia. they wished likewise to have a share in the spoils of
the Mussulmans, and prepared a formidable expedition
against the infidels. Their fleet, whilst crossing the Medi-
terranean, fell in with that of the Grenoese, which was retuminof
from the East : thev attacked it with furv, and
forced it to fly in great disorder. After having stained the
sea with the blood of Christians, the Venetians pursued their
course towards the coasts of Palestine, where thev met the
f.eet of the Saracens, just issuing from the ports of Egypt.
A violent conflict ensued, in which aU the Egyptian vessels
were dispersed or destroyed, and covered the waves with
their wrecks.