such slaughter done that posterity will always
speak of the battle of that night. Having no further confidence in life,
the traitors as a last resort all subscribe to this design. Despair
emboldened them to fight, whatever the result might be; for they see
nothing sure in store for them save death or imprisonment. Such an
outcome is not attractive; nor do they see any use in flight, for they
see no place where they could find refuge should they betake themselves
to flight, being completely surrounded by the water and their enemies.
So they spend no more time in talk, but arm and equip themselves and
make a sally by an old postern gate [220] toward the north-west, that
being the side where they thought the camp would least expect attack.
In serried ranks they sallied forth, and divided their force into five
companies, each consisting of two thousand well armed foot, in addition
to a thousand knights. That night neither star nor moon had shed a ray
across the sky. But before they reached the tents, the moon began to
show itself, and I think it was to work them woe that it rose sooner
than was its wont. Thus God, who opposed their enterprise, illumined
the darkness of the night, having no love for these evil men, but rather
hating them for their sin. For God hates traitors and treachery more
than any other sin. So the moon began to shine in order to hamper their
enterprise.

(Vv. 1713-1858.) They are much hampered by the moon, as it shines upon
their shields, and they are handicapped by their helmets, too, as they
glitter in the moonlight. They are detected by the pickets keeping watch
over the host, who now shout throughout the camp: "Up, knights, up! Rise
quickly, take your arms and arm yourselves! The traitors are upon us."
Through all the camp they run to arms, and hastily strive to equip
themselves in the urgent need; but not a single one of them left his
place until they were all comfortably armed and mounted upon their
steeds. While they are arming themselves, the attacking forces are eager
for battle and press forward, hoping to catch them off their guard and
find them disarmed. They bring up from different directions the five
companies into which they had divided their troops: some hug the woods,
others follow the river, the third company deploys upon the plain, while
the fourth enters a valley, and the fifth proceeds beside a rocky cliff.
For they planned to fall upon the tents suddenly with great fury.
But they