CHAPTER III.

What had been a fine town, and strong, inSaladin’s day, had now, in a century, become finerand stronger; far stronger than when it had resistedall the forces of Europe for three years. Its villasand gardens already had been somewhat wasted,but not completely. Its fortifications added to bynearly all the Franks of eminence who visited it;amongst whom, St. Louis. The commerce of theEast and Europe, during a hundred years, graduallyincreasing its riches, the treasures of Asia andEurope for or from the shipping that thronged itsharbour, everywhere life and industry, buyers andsellers, shops, artizans, warehouses; if seaward,its walls were so thick that two chariots could goabreast, its walls and ditches were all double ortreble towards the land, and every one of its gates