CHAP. I.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

103

Brienne once more expostulated: “ Let us encampwhere we are, we can entrench the army well;believe me, it is better not to be in a hurry, and ifwe were twenty years in conquering Egypt, itwould not be too much.’’ 1 At which words the legatecould no longer contain his rage. Brienne replied,“ Well, if you will go on, I’ll accompany you, andbe resigned to the will of God. Lead me whereyou please; you will see what will come of it!’’ 2And did come of it, that the deputies were given afiat refusal.

“ Ho! ho,” cried the Saracens and their horses too.“Now you may just wheel about and retire; forwe have lost all patience, and our scimitars arethirsty, and burning our hands to dash down onyou! ’’ 3 So we perceiving them reinforced and soresolute, thought it best to take them at theirword, and turned to withdraw in some confusion;but it was too late, for they attacked us, and agreat battle ensued, which we lost; and had it notbeen for the Hospitallers, and also the othermilitary orders, and Brienne himself, we shouldhave been cut to pieces to a man. 4 Nor was thisenough, but the sultan had the dykes broken, and

1 Arab. Chron., 418. 2 Id., 419.

3 Id., 418.

4 Potestats di Reggio.—Bib. Crois., ii. 603.