chap, ii.] ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM. 189

found themselves all of a sudden with wives andfamily; how our poorest, basest beggars becameopulent, our menial servants rigid masters ; ourfoot, horsemen. As to you, you see all that withthe eye of a person struck with death-like palsy;or when you are able to speak or hear our voice,you cry, How terrible it is! You know alsohow we leave Tripoli, like such as intendto return; willing to allow you a respite, buthours numbered and determined! You knowthat when we left your country, there did notremain a single flock behind us, nor one younggirl but had been subjected to our will andpleasure; nor a column but had fallen underour pickaxes ; how we destroyed all your pleasantplaces; not a harvest but we reaped, not a thingin existence worth having, but we deprived you ofit. No obstacle could stop us; nor wizard cavernsnor precipitous mountains, nor visionary valley; butwe took Antioch before any rumour of our advancehad reached it; we got the city while you thoughtus still far away from you. If we at present de-part, be assured of it we will return. We now aregoing to tell you of a matter that is quite andnaturally over; to instruct you of a disaster thathas swallowed up your whole happiness beyond allremedy. We set out from before Tripoli on the