volume one

392
UISTOUT OF THE CRUSADES.
bad a sliare in liis bounties, proportionate to the fear tbe
Franks inspired bim with. The Christian warriors returned
to Jerusalem, bearing with them riches which dazzled both
people and nobles, and inspii^ed them witli other thoughts
than that of defending the heritage of Chi'ist.
As Amaury returned to his capital, the sight of his mountainous
and 'sterile provinces, the poverty of his subjects,
and the narrow limits of his kingdom, made him deeply regret
having missed the opportunity of conquering a great
empire. Soon after his return he married a niece of the
emperor flannel ; but whilst the people and his court gave
themselves up to joy, and put up vows for the prosperity of
his familv and his kingdom, one single thought occupied him
night and day, and haunted him even amongst the most sumptuous
and brilliant festi\ities. The riches of the caliph of
Cairo, the populousness and fertility of Egypt, its numerous
fleets, and the commodiousness of its ports, presented themselves
constantly to the mind of Amaury. His first endeavour
was to make the marriage he had just contracted subservient
to his projects, and he sent ambassadors to Constantinople,
with instructions to induce Manuel to assist him in the
conquest of Egypt. Manuel approved of the plans of the
king of Jerusalem, and promised to send him fleets and
share with him the glory and perils of a conquest which
must so deeply interest the Christian world. Then Amaury
hesitated no longer to declare his designs, and called together
the barons and principal people of his kingdom. In
this assembly, in which it was proposed to invade Egypt, the
wisest, among whom was the grand master of the Templars,
declared loudly and decidedly that the undertaking was
unjust. '• The Christians," said they, ''ought not to set the
Mussuhnans the example of violating treaties. It perhaps
would not be a difficult matter to obtain possession of Egypt,
but it would not be so easy to keep it as to conquer it.
Xoureddin was the most formidable enemy of the Christians
: it was asrainst him they should bring all the imited
forces of the kingdom to bear. Egypt must belong to the
power that should remain ruler of Svria, and it was not prudent
or wise to endeavour to anticipate the favoiu-s of fortune,
and send armies into a country of which they should
only open the gates to the son of Zengui, as they had done