OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 311 Raymond's tower was reduced to ashes by the fire of the be- sieged ; but his colleague was more vigilant and successful ; the enemies were driven by his archers from the rampart ; the draw-bridge was let down; and on a Friday, at three in the [July is] afternoon, the day and hour of the Passion, Godfrey of Bouillon stood victorious on the walls of Jerusalem. His example was followed on every side by the emulation of valour ; and, about four hundred and sixty years after the conquest of Omar, the holy city was rescued from the Mahometan yoke. In the pil- lage of public and private wealth, the adventurers had agreed to respect the exclusive property of the first occupant ; and the spoils of the great mosque, seventy lamps and massy vases of gold and silver, rewarded the diligence, and displayed the generosity, of Tancred. A bloody sacrifice was offered by his mistaken votaries to the God of the Christians ; resistance might provoke, but neither age nor sex could mollify, their implacable rage ; they indulged themselves three days in a promiscuous massacre ; i^" and the infection of the dead bodies produced an epidemic disease. After seventy thousand Mos- lems had been put to the sword, and the harmless Jews had been burnt in their synagogue, they could still reserve a multi- tude of captives whom interest or lassitude persuaded them to spare. Of these savage heroes of the cross, Tancred alone be- trayed some sentiments of compassion ; yet we may praise the more selfish lenity of Raymond, who granted a capitulation and safe-conduct to the garrison of the citadel. ^^^^ The holy sepul- chre was now free ; and the bloody victors prepared to accom- plish their vow. Bareheaded and barefoot, with contrite hearts, and in an humble posture, they ascended the hill of Calvary, amidst the loud anthems of the clergy ; kissed the stone which had covered the Saviour of the world ; and bedewed with tears of joy and penitence the monument of their redemption. This union of the fiercest and most tender passions has been variously considered by two philosophers : by the one,^^^ as easy and ^1'^ Besides the Latins, who are not ashamed of the massacre, see Elmacin (Hist. Saracen, p. 363), Abulpharagius (Dynast, p. 243), and M. de Guignes (tom. ii. p. ii. p. 99), from Aboulmahasen. 11^ The old tower Psephina, in the middle ages Neblosa, was named Castellum Pisanum, from the patriarch Daimbert. It is still the citadel, the residence of the Turkish aga, and commands a prospect of the Dead Sea, Judea, and Arabia (D'Anville, p. 19-23). It was likewise called the Tower of David, i-vpyo^ iraij.ti.e- yefico-TOTot. [The Phasael of Josephus, B. J. 5, 4, 3.] ^1^ Hume, in his History of England, vol. i. p. 311, 312, octavo edition.
