volume one

502 HiSTonr or the CErsADEs.
Their cuirasses, and tlieir bucklers covered with thick leather,
defied the arrows of the Saracens ; and on the field of battle,
soldiers were often seen bristling M^ith arrows and darts,
whom the Arabs compared to porcupines, still keeping their
ranks and fighting bravely. The Saracens had likewise made
some progress in the art of war, and began to resume the use
of the lance, whch they did not employ when the first Crusaders
arrived in Svria. The Mussulman armies were not
confused multitudes ; they remained longer under their
banners, and fought with less disorder. The Curds and
Turks surpassed the i'ranks in the art of attacking and
defending cities and castles. The Mussulmans had, besides,
more than one advantage over the Crusaders ; they made
war upon their own territories and in their own climate ; they
were under the command of one single leader, who communicated
the same spirit to all, and only presented to them one
cause to defend.
In this crusade the Pranks appeared to be more polished
than they had been till that time. Great monarchs making
war against each other without ceasing to give evidences of
mutual esteem and generous feeling, was a new spectacle for
the world. Subjects followed the example of their princes,
and lost beneath the tent much of their barbarism. The
Crusaders were sometimes admitted to the table of Saladiu,
and emirs received at that of Eichard. By thus mingling
together, Saracens and Chi'istians might make a happy
exchange of usages, manners, knowledge, and even virtues.
The Christians, rather more enlightened than during the
first crusades, stood in less need of excitement from the
visions of fanaticism. The passion for glory was for them
almost as powerful a principle as religious entliusiasm.
Chivalry also made great progress in this crusade ; it was
held in such honour, and the title of k^'ight was so glorious,
even in the eves of the infidels, that Saladin did not disdain
to be decorated with it.
The sentiment of honour, and the humanity which is
inseparable from it, often dried tears that the disasters of
war had caused to flow ; tender and ATrtuous passions associated
themselves in the minds of heroes with the austere
maxims of religion and the sanguinary images of battle.
Amidst the comiption of camps, love, by inspiring the