volume one

420 HISTOET OF THE CEUSADES.
tians Tvere compelled to stop, and fight with the enemv that
disputed their passage.* The first shock was impetuous and
terrible ; but as the Franks had for many days been short
of both provisions and water, and were oppressed by heat
and thirst, they had less strength than courage, and fell
more from lassitude than in consequence of their wounds.
The bishops passed through the ranks, and endeavoured to
revive the ardour of the soldiers by the images of religion.
The true cross, placed upon an elevated spot, for a
moment reanimated them, and drew around it the most
fervent and the most intrepid. Saladin himself said, in a
letter, that the Christian soldiers fought around the cross
with the gi^atest bravery, and that they seemed to consider
it the strongest tie that bound them together, and as their
impenetrable buckler. t But the sight of a revered sign,
and the passing ardour which it created, only served to increase
the disorder of the fiijht. All the Mussulman forces
united in one body to attack the Christians, The cavalry of
8aladin poured down upon them several times with irresist-
ible impetuosity, and penetrated through their ranks ;
victory
was evidently about to incline to the side of the Saracens,
when night put an end to the conflict. The Franks and
the Saracens both remained on the plain where they had
fought all day, and prepared to renew the battle on the
morrow.
The Saracens were confident of victory. Saladin went
through the ranks of his army, inflaming the courage of the
Mussulman soldiers by his presence and his speeches.
" To-morrow," said he, "is a festival for the true believers,
for it is on Friday that Mussulmans otfer up their prayers,
and that Mahomet listens to the vows that are made to
* Among the Christian historians who have spoken of the battle of
Tiberias, the following may be consulted : Chronica Ten'CB Sanctts ; the
two continuations of WiiHam of Tyre, by Harold and Hugh de Plagon ;
and the Latin history of Jerusalem. Jacques de Vitri, William de Xewbridi^e,
the Chronicle of Gervais, Paiile Emile Roger de Hoveden, and
Matthew Paris also give some details of this battle, and of the events by
vrhich it was followed. None of these authors, however, have described
it at sufficient length to give a complete idea of it ; they are not even
always agreed, and ought to be read with much precaution.
t Saladin adds in his letter that the Franks flew round the cross like
muths round light.