316 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OE [book I.

breach of the truce which Saladin, in spite of allhis prejudice, had contracted with the Christians . 1Strange that the Christians, whose best defence wasthat sworn truce, were the first to break it, whilethe infidels kept it . 2 Nor was it now alone; butRenaud was continually pouncing from either Petraor Montreale, and now, like a robber, was unable toresist the temptation of rifling a caravan passing nearon its quiet way to Mecca; but finally asked for peace,when the irritated Moslem was at the very gates ofPetra, the Christian’s den, which, to the surprise ofmany there, the soldan granted; for his late feverabated much of his ambition. And the truce he wouldprobably have maintained religiously, though in thebottom of his heart he might rejoice that such a pre-text came, as it were, forced upon him; but what-ever he might have felt, outwardly he exhibitedgreat anger, and swore to put the perj ured traitorto death, if ever he fell into his hands . 3 This is socontrary to the noble generosity we are frequentlyobliged to admire in Saladin, that it leads directlyto the observation of his having unfortunately beenof a religion that tended to embitter all his worst

1 Michaud: Hist, ii. 266. 2 Id.: Id., 266.

3 Arab. Chron., 189.