chap, v.] ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM. 301

haps by an order from his master at Damascus 1 —isnarrated freely by the Christians, but the Moslemsare silent .; 2 nor is it improper to hesitate as togiving a verdict of guilty, without clear proof . 3It were murder, aggravated by deep ingratitude,for that caliph had made him vizier, which surpass-ing elevation Saladin is said to have at first beenafraid to accept, and it certainly brought him theenvy of his own sovereign. Saladin, who wasvery fond of pleasure in his youth, soon reformed 4into a grave courtly politician and saintly warrior,and decided to receive the robe, and other marksof that supreme dignity, and ascended to the palace,clothed in the caliph’s presents—a white turban,embroidered with gold; a robe sparkling withjewels; a tunic lined with scarlet; a mantle of a sin-gularly fine texture; a collar worth of itself aloneten thousand pieces of gold; a scimitar enrichedwith precious stones, of the value of five thousandpieces of gold; a chestnut mare taken from thecaliphate’s own private stables, and reputed to bethe fleetest in all Egypt, the animal herself valued

1 Michaud: Hist., ii. 229. The Bagdad Caliph seems to haveapproved of all the doings of any lord of the ascendant.

2 Michaud: Hist., ii. 239. 3 Id.: Id. 241.

4 Id.: Id. 239.—Vertot: xi., 190.