CHAP. IV.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

55

such astonishing strength, after resisting for somedays during which it was struck by three hundred ofthose enormous balls of solid rock, the greater partof the tower was uprooted from its foundations,and lay prostrate and torn to pieces. At which theenemy exulted and applauded, beating their handsloudly—vain joy, soon converted into sorrow! Forsolicitous as we were of preserving the tower, oncontemplating those extensive and horrid ruins,tried to prop up the remains of it; still further re-flection making us perceive the inutility of theattempt after that tremendous crush, we determinedon exerting all our vigilance, care, intellect, in de-fending, not the tower but St. Nicholas’s Moleitself. With the utmost resolution, therefore, we set.to work, and with a thousand labourers, day andnight, and various inventions, were indefatigable, andnot to no purpose, dug a deep trench, without amoment’s intermission for several days, and withstrengthenings of timber constructed a wall on themole, where the remains of the tower stood; andbuilding round outside, and uniting those freshworks to its middle and very foundations, so as tomake one with it (not without enormous expense),erected a new tower and mole that were inexpug-nable, and enclosed those that were there before.Then we placed a garrison of our bravest warriors