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THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

and even popular raillery, so that the sovereignsdid not dare face new reproaches. The holy warhad been ruinous to both nobility and clergy.Even St. Bernard refused his voice—holy warning!Yet on his death-bed Suger regretted he had notassisted the Eastern Christians. But how werethey fallen! The Mahometan dynasties too, theyhad forgotten even the names of their once re-nowned monarchs. Their descendants were in thedepths of Persia or some Indian province! Everyambitious emir set up for himself. Only eachusurper offered an unmeaning homage to the Caliphof Bagdad, or Cairo, protesting he had sprung^ from the dust of his feet . 1 Nor did theChristians know that Aleppo and Damascusare the two keys of Syria; nor did they everpossess either . 2 But Nourecldin built on hisfather’s victories, and had much of the austeresimplicity of the early caliphs, “ uniting thenoblest heroism with the profoundest humility,”say the Arabian poets; “and when he prayed in themosque, his subjects thought they beheld a sanc-tuary within a sanctuary .” 3 Encouraging thesciences, cultivating letters, he likewise applied him-self to making justice flourish in his states. Iiis

1 Michaud: Hist., ii. 212. 2 Id.: Id., vide Note (1).

3 Id. : Id., 213.