Richland beacon., 1877-03-31

whom has been rarely known in thi:
world, was Iusef Salahed- Din, or as his
name is now commonly written. Saladin
A devOut MOhammedan constant in
prayer, brilliant in featsOt arms, the soul
of honor. accustomed TO victory but
always self restrained, stern and tremen.
dOus in battle but gentle and pitiful as a
woman to the conquered, unrelenting in
Justice but merciful beyond prudence,
ever ready TO forgive injuries even the
most foul, true as truth, know no more
respondent character among the heroes
of history. Scenes in his life are full of
poetic beauty. His ever open hand and
purse, filled again and again with the
spoils of conquest, were emptied in char
ity. A christian mother whose babe had
been seized by a Saracen and carried into
the hostile camp, rushed in frenzy across
the lines and made the air ring with her
walls. Saladn heard hei, called her to
him, found the child, paid the ransom 10
his soldier, and sent the mother back
rejoicing and safe. When Jerusalem tell
into his hands (November, llS7), the
terms of The capitulatiOn were fixed that
the christians should pay ten dinars
ransom for every Nun, live for every
woman, and two for every child, and
those who could not pay should he
prisoners and slaves 10 the conquerors.
Theclemency of Saladin wasunparalleled.
He discharged free large numbers I'M
solicited Then two of his generals OBJ
tanned the liberty of 1900 Armenians,
alleging that they were their country
men, and only pilgrims. Thousands of
poor christians remained unrarsOmed, of
whom many were women and children.
Selfcd-Din, brother of the sultan, said
to him, 81 have fought we'll: give me
thousand slaves" "What will you do
with them" said the sultan. "What l
see fit" The sultan approved his
brothers intent, gave him Thousand,
and they were at once set free. Then
the patriarch went to him, and the
sultan gave him seven hundred: and to
another who begged them, five hundred
more, all of whom went free. Now
will give my own gift of charity" said
Saladin; and opening the gates, he
directed that all the poor, known abso-
lutely to be too poor to pay the ransom,
should have free egress till sunset, and
thousands thus went out free. Then he
opened his purse and poured out actual
wealth on the widows and orphans Of the
christian knights that he had slain in
battle. And when the great companies
of the christians went to the part of the
land still in christian possession he sent
troops with them, charged to take such
care of the sick and feeble, that these
Saracens, irbued with the spirit of their
leader, put the women on their horses,
and walked, carrying the children in
their arms. 1t was not strange that
when hedied the morning OF the Moslems
of Damascus was greater than before or
since for any other khalif. The account |
Of his death, given by Ben-Sieddadi, his
who was with him to the
end, is exceedingly simple and touching. |
Lying in the delirium of fever, as the |
last night wore on, his faithful physician,
who says the historian, remained by his |
side to direct, if it might be, his wander
ing mind toward God, to read aloud now
and then passages from the koran.
Toward morning, as Abou-Sjafarus read
the words, "He is God, and beside him
there is none other" The face of the
dying monarch grew resplendent, he
"Itismost truc,' and so died.
Abulfeda says, ale let in his treasury
nothing save forty-seven pieces of silver
money and one piece of Tyrian gold, out
Of all the spoils of Egypt, Syria, the
eastern regions, and Arabia Felix; so
great had been his liberality. He trans
mitted neither house nor land to any
heir" Such was the leader of the
Saracens, who, as his name, Salahed- Din,
implies. was the hope of the religion,
The "Defended of the faith."-- w c.
Prime IN the Holy Cross.