CHAP. V.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

325

but there is a circumstance mentioned by thechronicler, 1 which marks the spot out still; and itis the threshing-floor of a farm-house of El-Majed,which, however strange it seems, survives to ourown days, amid changes of everything else of muchmore importance, particularly in that extraordi-nary land, where nearly universal have been thechanges during so many centuries, and a rapidsuccession of masters. Cities, dynasties, andempires, have gone; and here is the threshing-floor,and there is the small hamlet of Cana, still knownfor ever by the same name. 2 “ It was there,” saysMr. Gillot, with most pardonable warmth, “thatthe France of the East had her Leonidas and Spar-tans, and they expired under the shade of MountThabor, and their Therinopyke were the passesthrough those naked calcareous rocks and preci-pices.” 3 More astonishing still, Bonaparte’s victoryof 11th of April, 1799, called battle of Cana, tookplace on nearly the same spot; and there are notwanting Frenchmen who may consider this asreprisals of that—tremendous length of interval!And the valiant actors—Templars, Hospitallers, and

1 Bernard le Tresorier : Chron.—Michaud: Orient., v. 455.—Bib. Crois., ii. 574.

2 Michaud: Orient., y. 458. 3 Id.: Id., 461.