292 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

profligate manners Syria or Palestine had fallen,the warning was as applicable in 1168 as in theperiod of the Old Testament.

One other call from the emir, before Almeric canget off, who had received a hundred thousandpieces of gold in part payment of the sum promisedhim; and shall he return home with them ? 1 “ Thevizier begs you to send him back half the money. ”

“ Assuredly.” “ Upon my word, your majestyis extremely generous, having an army that makesyou master of our lives! ” “ It is, I am very cer-

tain,” replied the King, “ that your having spoken tome in such a way is proof something extraordinaryhas happened.” “You are right,” rejoined theEmir; “for Noureddin’s troops have passed ourfrontiers; so you are in no safety here any longer.The vizier advises you to depart. We mean torespect the treaty. The cash we have, added to thisfrom you, may suffice to satisfy Noureddin’s general;and as to our debt to you, we’ll pay it when wecan.” “Just as you like,” answered the King;“ I shall at all times endeavour to be useful to you;you have only to command.” And with mostmelancholy reflections, the Christian continued his

1 Arab. Chron., 132.