it those formidable champions
with gifts of horses and silk robes, of vases, and purses of gold and
silver; and in his estimate of their merit or power, the first place was
assigned to Bohemond, and the second to Godfrey. In either fortune, the
answer of the crusaders was firm and uniform: they disdained to inquire
into the private claims or possessions of the followers of Mahomet;
whatsoever was his name or nation, the usurper of Jerusalem was
their enemy; and instead of prescribing the mode and terms of their
pilgrimage, it was only by a timely surrender of the city and province,
their sacred right, that he could deserve their alliance, or deprecate
their impending and irresistible attack. [103]

[Footnote 101: See M. De Guignes, tom. ii. p. ii. p. 223, &c.; and the
articles of Barkidrok, Mohammed, Sangiar, in D'Herbelot.]

[Footnote 102: The emir, or sultan, Aphdal, recovered Jerusalem and
Tyre, A. H. 489, (Renaudot, Hist. Patriarch. Alexandrin. p. 478. De
Guignes, tom. i. p. 249, from Abulfeda and Ben Schounah.) Jerusalem
ante adventum vestrum recuperavimus, Turcos ejecimus, say the Fatimite
ambassadors]

[Footnote 103: See the transactions between the caliph of Egypt and the
crusaders in William of Tyre (l. iv. c. 24, l. vi. c. 19) and Albert
Aquensis, (l. iii. c. 59,) who are more sensible of their importance
than the contemporary writers.]

Yet this attack, when they were within the view and reach of their
glorious prize, was suspended above ten months after the defeat of
Kerboga. The zeal and courage of the crusaders were chilled in the
moment of victory; and instead of marching to improve the consternation,
they hastily dispersed to enjoy the luxury, of Syria. The causes of this
strange delay may be found in the want of strength and subordination. In
the painful and various service of Antioch, the cavalry was annihilated;
many thousands of every rank had been lost by famine, sickness, and
desertion: the same abuse of plenty had been productive of a third
famine; and the alternative of intemperance and distress had generated
a pestilence, which swept away above fifty thousand of the pilgrims. Few
were able to command, and none were willing to obey; the domestic feuds,
which had been stifled by common fear, were again renewed in acts, or at
least in sentiments, of hostility; the fortune of Baldwin and Bohemond
excited the envy of their companions; the bravest knights were enlisted
for the defence of their new