The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-06-06

cries, descended from the mountains.
and, as soon as they arrived within
bow-shot, let fall a shower Of arrows up
on the Christians. This discharge did
little injury to the knights, defended as
they were by their armour and shislds;
but great number Of horses were
wounded, and, in their pain, introduced
disorder in the ranks. The archers.
the singers, the crossbow-men, scat
tered along the flanks Of the Christian
army, in vain returned the discharge
with their stones and javslins; theirmis
sies could not reach the enemy, and
foil on the ground without doing any
mischief. The Christian horse, impa-
tent at being inactive spectators Of the
combat, charged across the river, and
fell headlong, with their ,lances in rest
on the Saracens; but they avoided the
shock, and, opening their ranks, dis
persed when the formidable mass ap-
preached them. Again rallying alta
distance in small bodies, thsy let Ry a
cloud Of arrows at their pondcrous as
sailants, whose heavy horses, cpprss-
sed with weighty armour, could not
overtake the swift steeds Of the desert.
This mode Of combating turned en-
tirely to the advantage Of the Turks.
The whole dispositions made by the
Christians before the battle became
useless. Every chief, almost every
cavalier, Tough! for himself; he took
council from his own ardour, and it
alone. The Christians combated al
most singly on ground with which
they were unacquainted; in that terrible
strife, death became the only reward
ofundisciplined valour. Robert Of Pa
ris,' the same who had sat on the impe-
rial throne beside Alexis, was mortally
wounded, after having seen forty ofhis
bravest companions fall by his side.--
William, brother Of Tancred, fell pierc-
edby arrows. Tancred himself, whose
lance was broken, and who had no 9TH
er weapon but his sword, owed his life
to Bohemond, who came up to the res
cue. and extricated him from the hands
Of the Infdsls. '..'.' ''l1s
While victory was still uncertain be-
tween force and address, agility and
valour, fresh troops Of the Saracens
descended from the mountains, and
mingled in overwhelming proportion
in the conflict. The Sultan Of Nice
took advantage Of the moment when
the cavalry Of the Crusaders withstood
with difficulty the attack of the Turks,
and directed his forces against their
camp. He assembled the elite of his
troops, crossed the river, and overcame
with ease all the obstacles which op-
posed his progress. In an instant the
camp Of the Cristians was invaded, and
filled with multitude ofbarbarians.-
The Turks massacred, without distinc-
ton, all who presented themselves to
their blows; except the women whom
youth and beauty rendered fit for their
seraglios. If we may credit Albert
d'Aix, the wives and daughters Of the
knights preferred, in that extremity,
slavery to death; Tor they were seen in
the midst of the tumult 10 adorn them
selves with their most elegant dresses,
and, arrayed in this manner, sought by
the display Of their charms, to soften
the hearts Of their merciIess enemies.
Bohemond, however, soon arrived TO
the succour Of the camp, and obliged
| the, Sultan to retrace his steps TO his
own army. Then the combat recon-
menced on the banks of the river with
more fury than ever. The, Duke Rob
ert of Normandy, who had remained
with some of his knights on the field Of
battle, snatched from his standard bear
er his pennon Of white, bordersd with
Igold, and exclaiming, "A moi, la Nor
mandien y penetrated the ranks of the
enemy, striking down with his sword
whatever opposed him, till he lay dead
at his feet one Of the principal emirs.
Tancred, Richard, the Prince Of Saler-
no, Stephen Count Of Blois, and other
chiefs, followed his example and emul-
|ated his valour. Bohemond, returning
from the camp, which he had delivered
from its oppressors, encountered q troop
Of fugitives. Instantly advancing a.
mong them, he exclaimed, "Withsr fly
you, O Christian soldiers! Delyounot
see thaththe enemies horses, ,swifter
than your own, will not fail soon to
reach you? Follow me; will show
you surer mode of safety thanflightp
With these words he threw himself,
followed by his own men and the raj
lied fugitives, into the midst Of the Sar-
acens, and striking down all who at
tempted to resist them, made a fright
fol carnage. In the midst or the tu-
multi, the women who had been taken
and delivered from the hands Of ihe
Mussplmans, burning to avenge their