volume one

HISTORY OP THE CEUSADES. 499
rivals and enemies beyond tlie seas ; but as lie began to fear
being left without an army, and dreaded the enterprises
of Phdip, and the plots of his brother John, against his
Eiu-opean states, he determined to resume his negotiations
\Yith Saladin. The various thou2:hts that harassed his
mind, the shame of not having couquered Jerusalem, the
fear of losing his own kingdom, made him adopt and reject
resolutions of the most opposite nature. At one time he
determined upon returning to Europe without making peace
at all—first lie supplicated, then he menaced Saladin, and
endeavoured to frighten him, by spreading a report that the
pope was about to arrive in Palestine with an army of two
hundred thousand Crusaders.
Winter had not yet passed away, and the passage of the
Mediterranean was not without danger. "The sea is stormy,"
wrote he one day to Saladin, " but I will brave its tempests,
and return to Europe if you are disposed to make peace.
But if you stdl desire war, I will brave all its perils, and will
lay siege to Jerusalem." Saladin was encamped in the
vicinity of Hamla, and called his emirs together to deliberate
upon the proposals of Kichard. "Up to this period," said
he, " we have fought with glory, and the cause of Islamism
has triumphed by our arms. I fear that death may surprise
me during a peace, and may prevent my terminating the
good work we have begun. Since Grod gives us victory, he
commands us to continue the war, and we ought to obey his
\^tLi." Most of the emirs applauded the courage and firm-
ness of Saladin, but they represented to him, " that the cities
were without defence, and the provinces were devastated;
the fatigues of war had weakened the Mussulman army ; the
horses wanted forage, and provisions for the soldiers were
dearer than gold." "If we reduce the Franks to despair,"
added they, " they may still overcome us, and wrest all our
victories from our hands. It is wise to observe the maxim
of the Koran, which orders us to grant peace to our enemies
when they ask it. Peace will give us time to fortify our
cities, to recruit our forces, and resume the war with advan-
tage ; when the Pranks, always faithless in treaties, will
offer us fresh pretexts for attacking them."
Saladin plainly perceived by this speech of his emirs, that
the greater part of the Saracen warriors were beginning to
Vol. I.—23