254 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

Mahomet, since it cannot be possibly true; liehaving been never near it. Yet its wines arepraised by Ezekiel.

The Christian camp was fine, and contained thechief nobility of France; small remnant of thevast army Louis VII. had led. As to the emperorand few Germans , 1 these behaved with magnificentbravery. The emperor’s charge was irresistible. TheFrench as became them. Why did the Christiansthen not conquer? No one knows. The Syrianlords are said to have given bad advice from corruptmotives. But treason and perfidy are always inthe mouth of the vanquished . 2 On the Jordan orin Europe, treason is the cant at every failure.And it is to be generally observed that the Latinchroniclers always went with public opinion . 3Fact is, the Christians retreated. Ayoub, father ofSaladin, was the Moslem who directed the defence;and under him was the youth who was soon to beso distinguished a warrior , 4 which is perhaps themost remarkable event of the siege . 5 Dreadfullyeloquent is the silence of annalists. So are theMoslems brief or mute while losing. The samespirit on both sides. No glory compensates

1 Michaud: Hist., ii. 184. 2 Id.: Id., 191.

3 Id.: Id., 190. 4 Arab. Cliron., 97.

5 Michaud: Hist., ii. 187.