volume one

428 HJSTOEY OF THE CEUSADES.
"^ single one of us shall make ten inJideJs fiy^ and ten of us
sliall put to flight ten thousand'^ They performed prodigies
of valour, but they could not interrupt the progress of the
siege. Ivepulsedby the Saracens, they were forced to return
to the citv, whither their appearance brought terror and
discouragement. The towers and ramparts appeared ready
to fall at the first signal for a general assault. Despair then
took entire possession of the inhabitants, who saw no means
of defence \vithin their power but tears and prayers. The
soldiers crowded to the churches instead of flying to arms
and not even the promise of a hundred pieces of gold could
keep them on the tottering ramparts for one night. The
clergy made processions through the streets, to invoke the
protection of Heaven. Some struck their breasts with stones,
whilst others tore their bodies with hair-cloth, cryiug aloud
for mercy ! 2s othing was heard in Jerusalem but sobs and
groans; '''hut our Jesus Christ j'^ says an old chronicle,
" would not hear them, for the luxury and impurity that icere
in the city v:ould not allow either orisons or prayers to
ascend before him.'' The despair of the inhabitants inspired
them with the most contradictoiy projects at the same time;
at one moment thev formed the resolution of issuins: in a
body from the city, and seeking a glorious death in the
ranks of tlie infidels ; whilst, the next, they placed their
last hope in the clemency of Saladin.
Amid the general trouble and agitation, the Greek and
S}Tian Christians, with the Melachite Christians, endured
verv unwillino:lv the authoritv of the Latins, and accused
them of aU the misfortunes of the war. A plot for giving
up the city to the Mussulmans was discovered, which redoubled
the general alarm, and made the principal inhabitants
determine upon demanding a capitulation of Saladin.
Accompanied by Baleau d'Ibelin, they went and proposed
to the sultan to give up the place to him upon the conditions
he had himself proposed before the siege. But
Saladin remembered that he had sworn to take the citv by
assault, and put the inhabitants to the sword ; and he sent
back the deputies without giving them the least hope.
Baleau d'Ibelin retiurned several times, renewing his supplications
and his prayers, but always found Saladin inexo-
rable. One day, whilst the Christian deputies were earnestly
;