volume one

328 HISTOEY OF THE CEUSADES.
and the poets promised to his arms the much more glorious
conquest of Jerusalem.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem and other Christian cities
shed tears of despair on learning the fall and destruction of
Edessa, sinister presages adding much to the terror which
the news from the banks of the Euphrates inspired them
^vith. Thunder fell upon the churches of the Holy Sepulchre
and Mount Sion ; a comet with shining hair was seen
in the heavens, and spread general consternation ; several
other signs appeared, says William of Tyre, contrary to custom,
and out of time, indicative of future things. As a
c^o^vning misfortune, Eodolphe, chancellor of Jerusalem,
was taken by force to the siege of Tyre, and scandal prevailed
in the sanctuary. All the faithful of the East were
persuaded that Heaven had declared itself against them, and
that horrible calamities were about to fall upon the Christian
people.