volume one

18 HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES.
affecting episode of Olindus and Sophronia. One of tlie
bitterest enemies of the Christians, in order to increase the
hatred of their persecutors, threw, in the night, a dead dog
into one of the principal mosques of the city. The first
who repaired thither to morning prayer were seized with
horror at the sight of this profanation, and proclaimed their
anger aloud. Threatening clamours soon resounded in every
part of the city ; the crowd assembled in a state of tumultuous
excitement around the mosque ;
the Christians were
at once accused of this act of sacrilege, and all swore to
wash out the outrage to their prophet in the blood of the
perpetrators. All Christians were about to be immolated
to the revenge of the Mussulmans, and already were they
prepared for death, when a yoimg man, whose name history
has not presen-ed, presented himself in the midst of them.
" The greatest misfortune that could happen," said he,
" would be that the church of Jerusalem should perish.
"Wlien a people is threatened with destruction, it is just that
a single man should sacrifice himself for the salvation of
all; I here and now offer myself as a \-ictira to die for
you ; to you I leave the charge of doing justice to my
memory, and I recommend myself to your prayers." After
pronouncing these words, which dissolved the assembly in
tears, he quitted them, and repaired to the chiefs of the
Mussulmans ;
he declared himself alone to be the author of
the crime imputed to the Christians, and invoked upon
himself the death with which his brethren were menaced.
The Mussubnans, without being in the least touched by his
generous devotion, were satisfied with the \'ictim who offered
himself to their vengeance : the sword was no longer suspended
over the heads of the Christians, and he who had
immolated himself for their safety, went, according to the
expression of AVilliam of Tyre,* to receive in heaven the
reward reserved for those whose mmds burn with a love of
perfect charity.
* Et ita pro fratribus animamponens, cumpietate dormitionem accepit
optimam, habens positayn gratiam.—William of Tyre. The translator
of the Latin historian Du Preau thus renders the thought of the original :
—" Thus, giving up his life for his brothers, exchanged the misery of this
world for a happy eternal repose, and received the high reward prepared
for all lovers of perfect charity."