A.I). 12-28.] LAMENTATIONS OF THF. CIIUIM II. conquered without a battle, borne down without an enemy, and, to his utter disgrace, so ignominioiisly debased. It no less bewails the extermination of the Christian army, which has faded not owing to the swords of the enemy, or to want of valour, but has been wasted away by such a dreadful calamity. It also mourns that the remaining portion of the troops, exposed to the dangers of the sea, and to the tempestuous waves, without a guide, preceptor, or chief, arc driven they know not whither, doing but little good to the cause of the Holy Land; and we arc unable according to our vow to afford them consolation or assistance, owing to the stormy state of the sea, and the inclemency of the season. It moreover mourns for the ruin of the Holy Land, which we were hoping was now to be rescued from the hands of the pagans ; which the Christian army would formerly, as it is reported, have recovered in exchange for Damictta, had they not been several times forbidden to do so by the letters of the emperor : and he himself would not have been a prisoner in the hands of the pagans, if a supply of ships had been provided as. had been promised on his part, and as could have been done ; for Damictta, which, as was said, was delivered into the charge of his messenger, and was decorated « ith the imperial eagles, was on the same day cruelly pillaged, and, after being shamefully damaged, was by them restored to the infidels. It also adds to our sorrow and losses aforesaid, when we recollect the labour and expense incurred at Damictta, as well as the mortality amongst the Christians, and the time spent, all which were expended to no purpose ; and there is no one of all its children to comfort it, or to wipe the tears from its checks. Since therefore her voice has already sounded in Rama, and Rachel is with incurable grief mourning, not only for her children but for all these mishaps, what Christian can refrain from lamentation ? Which of the sons, on seeing the floods of tears flowing from the eyes of the mother, will not shed tears? What one will not pity the sorrows of the mother, and share in her deep grief: What Christian will not, on account of these events, be inflamed with more ardent desire to assist the Holy Land, that the Christian youth may not seem to be entirely prostrated and panic-struck by these unexpected events r Ought not wise men, and the sons of Jesus Christ, to be the more encouraged to assist the Holy Lami, the more they see that.