CHAP. V.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

277

spiritual in the strife between the caliphs; thoughhe of Bagdad blessed Noureddin, and of Cairo cursedhim. To the vulgar it was religion, and had thepomp and circumstance of a holy war; yet Nou-reddin, in the bottom of his heart, might exclusivelydesire to extend his temporal kingdom. Thoughhis thoughts were principally turned towards theNile, yet from desultory conflicts with Christians henever ceased. In a surprise in Syria, he threw him-self on a horse still picketed, and might have beeneither taken or killed, but for a Curd , 1 who losthis own life in assisting him. And when atsome distance, he was advised to retire further,or that he might be attacked by the Franks :“ I swear by the living God not to lie under a roofbefore revenging Islam and myself for this in-dignity,” was his reply. On another occasion , 2 to oneof his own pay-masters he said, “ Give my soldiersthe indemnity they ask, simply, instead of swear-ing them, or examining their accounts at all, with-out heeding the sum. What right have you to curtailmy generosity ? ” And when his ministers, seeinghis immense expenses, hinted at seizing the churchproperty, he received the advice with serious dis-pleasure, and answered, “ Why deprive them of

1 Arab. Chron., 110.

2 Id., 110.