216 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OF [book II.

from its ramparts a little after sunrise, saw no one;and, at the sudden disappearance, flattered them-selves the Saracens had retreated. But not so, theyhad only gone to meet their sovereign, and returnedwith him in most magnificent triumph that sameafternoon . 1

At a really fine sight even the humblest-mindedbecomes poetical, and the chronicler tells us: “Nowit was, that splendour was to be seen, and theearth trembled to its centre at the aspect ( rewart ,old Fr.) of such mighty forces moving as far as theeye could reach in every direction. From Arabiahad come, and the Nile, Euphrates, Tigris, thedifferent divisions composing that brilliant army andthat strange variety of music. And as they passed,the sun was reflected by their golden targets, and thehills glittered to within their cores. The polishedsteel of their lance-points resembled the shining ofheaven’s stars on a serene night. And on thehost’s advancing, it was like a forest for the mul-titude of lances all held upwards; and well might itbe, for they were four hundred thousand fightingmen that covered the entire plain and mountains .” 2

Why talk of the coursers of Ivhorassan or Tur-

1 Michaud : Hist., v. 128.

2 MS. apud Michaud, Hist., v. 425.—It is said to he by aFrench knight there present.