CHAP. II.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

137

they allowed themselves calmly to be butchered.Tancred and the Count of Flanders had donewonders, and broken through the Moslem line;and Duke Robert of Normandy, penetrating evento where the visier was giving his orders, seizedon the infidels’ standard, which was the signal fordefeat, and the whole armv took to flight. Allwas over, except a horrible massacre. Godfreywith about ten thousand horse, and three thousandfoot, made such rapid evolutions, he seemedubiquitous, and rendered vain every attempt torally. Of a large body of Moslem cavalry, pur-sued into the sea by the Christian, three thousandwere drowned in an idle endeavour to reach theEgyptian fleet, that had stood in as near as itcould. Other Moslems, that had mounted into thesycamores and olive trees to hide in their leaves,were burned there, trees and all, as the Arab writersconfess; adding, that some whom a lance or dartmight strike, fell down from the branches, like abird shot by the fowler. Thousands threw downtheir arms, and bowing, had their heads cut off.As many in consternation and trembling on thefield of battle stood waiting the Christian sword,which mowed them down, as a mower mows thethick grass of a meadow, or a reaper reaps the richwheat. A few escaped into the desert to die of