288 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book I.

had accompanied them to Rosselma, edge of thedesert, and, on taking leave of them, had giveneach soldier twenty pieces of gold over and abovehis pay; and besides splendid accoutrements to thecommander-iu-chief for himself, handed him ascredit for the public service (to face fortuitouscalls) a sum of two hundred thousand gold pieces.Human wisdom and generosity could go no further.No other Mussulman since the commencement ofthe crusades, had been able to go to any such ex-pense . 1 But is all soon enough? Let them havepinions! Not the third of Egypt, but will notthe whole of it be his, when he has his lieutenantthere? Whatever be Saladin’s Egyptian title, heto Noureddin will be but his lieutenant . 2

An advance of Almeric produced a return of theconfidential emir, who dwelt anew on the resolu-tion of those of Cairo; and thus the vizier had bidhim reason : “ If your Majesty even take it, muchblood at least will be lost—neither you nor I canbe sure of victory—on both sides numbers of bravemen must infallibly be slain; then is it not betterfor both of us to agree in sparing such slaughterby your receiving what I offer—four hundredthousand pieces of gold ? ” Some assure one

1 Arab. Chron., 132.

2 Id.,

139.