CHAP. II.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

187

opposite to the sultan’s desire, ensued. These,'hisatrocities, and others still worse, that may passnameless, not to disgust readers so near the outset,and frighten them away from these pages, whichmust lead you to sup with horrors before I havedone with you, but it shall not last long—his in-human enormities depriving those of Acre of everyhope, mere castles in the air, mountains in the moon,were trainings for a desperate defence, which standsas a memorial to far future generations. More thanany languid ruin, the fiery overwhelming at hand,was to warn, terrify, petrify, myriads of nations allalike interested to arrest the march of such ruthless,lawless, diabolical invaders.

On the fall of Tripoli, the sultan had menacedAcre with the same, if not instantly, yet in thenext month of March . 1 But finally, since theother longer truce had been broken by the Chris-tians themselves, he, out of his inexhaustiblegenerosity and compassion, accorded them insteada new truce for two years two months two weekstwo days and two hours, at the expiration ofwhich time they might surely expect his avengingsword for any ill conduct; and at the same time,with most horrible sincerity, handed them a copy ofBibars’ letter to the refugee when within Tripoli after1 Michaud: Hist., v. 123.