volume one

HISTORY OF TKE CRUSADES. 383
Bagdad. Tliev were still the chiefs of Islamism ; their
approbation seemed necessary for the preservation of the
but their authority, which
power of usurpers or conquerors ;
was nothing but a sacred phantom, commanded nothing but
?ravers and vain ceremonies, and inspired not the least fear,
n this state of degradation their only employment seemed
to be to consecrate the fruit of treachery and \dolence. It
was not sufficient to bestow cities and employments which
they had no power to refuse ; all whom vi(?cory and license
had favoured came to prostrate themselves before the vicars
of the prophet ; and crowds of emirs, viziers, and sultans, to
borrow an Eastern expression,
dust of their feet.
appeared to rise from the
The Christians were not sufficiently aware of the state of
Asia, which they might have conquered ; aud agreed so ill
among themselves that they could never take advantage of
the divisions which prevailed among their enemies. They
seldom had, either in attack or defence, a well-sustained
])lan, and their impetuous bravery, directed generally by
chance or passion, could only be compared to the tempest,
whose fury rages or abates at the pleasure of the winds
which reign over the horizon. Fortime, which had offered
them such a brilliant opportunity for extending their empire,
became, at last, adverse to them, and from the bosom of the
chaos in "v^hich the East was plunged, arose a formidable
power, which was destined to conquer and destroy them.
JN'oureddin, son of Zengui, who had obtained possession
of Edessa before the second crusade, had inherited the conquests
of his father, and added to them by his valour. He
was bred among warriors who had sworn to shed their blood
in the cause of the Prophet, and when he mounted the
throne he revived the austere simplicity of the early caliphs.
Koureddin, says an Arabian poet, united the most noble
heroism with the profoundest humility. When he prayed
in the temple, his subjects believed they saw a sanctuary in
another sanctuar}^ He encouraged the sciences, cultivated
letters, and, above all, applied himself to the maintenance
of justice throughout his states. His people admired his
clemency and moderation ; and the Christians ^ven were
forced to praise his courage and his profane heroism. After
the example of his father Zengui, he made himself the idol
of his soldiers by his liberahty ; by taking charge of their