volume one

HISTORY OF THE CEUSADES. 327
warriors commanded by Josselin, and had advanced into the
plain where the Saracens were encamped, when the garrison
of the citadel, warned by the tumult, made a sortie, and
uniting themselves with the soldiers of Noureddin, who
hastened towards the city, gained possession of the gates
by which the Christians were issuing. Many severe conflicts
were here maintained, of which darkness increased the
horrors. The Christians succeeded in opening themselves
a passage, and spread themselves about in the neighbouring
fields. They who carried arms united in battalions, and endeavoured
to pass through the camp of the enemy ; whilst
others, separated from the troop of warriors, went on at
hazard, wandered about the plains, and everywhere found
death following their footsteps. Whilst relating the events
of this horrible night, William of Tyre cannot restrain his
tears. " Oh disastrous night ! " cries the historian Aboulfarage,
" da^-n of hell, day without pity, day of misfortune
which arose upon the children of a city formerly worthy of
envy! " In Edessa, out of Edessa, nothing was heard but
cries of death. The warriors who had formed battalions,
after having pierced through the army of the infidels, were
pursued as far as the banks of the Euphrates, and the roads
were strewed with their remains, their arms, and their baggage.
Only a thousand of them succeeded in gaining the
city of Samosata, which received them within its walls, and
deplored
them.
their misfortunes, without being able to avenge
History relates that more than thirty thousand Christians
were slaughtered by the soldiers of Zengui and Noureddin.
Sixteen thousand were made prisoners, and dragged out
their lives in misery and slavery. Noureddin in his vengeance
did not spare either the ramparts or buildings of a
rebel city ; he razed the towers, the citadel, and the churches
of Edessa to the ground. He banished all the Christians
from it, and left nothing but a few mendicants to dwell
amidst the ruins of their country.
Zengiii had been considered as a saint, as a warrior
beloved by Mahomet, for having conquered the city of
Edessa ; the blood-stained expedition of Noureddin rendered
him dear to the Mussulmans, contributed much to the extension
of his renown and his power, and already the Imans