A.D. 1198. LETTEE OP POPE rfrNOCENT. 441 on which the salvation of the world had been suspended, and had thereby blotted out the handwriting of former death, the Apostolic See, alarmed at the sad occurrence of mishaps so unfortunate, was affected with agonizing grief, exclaiming and bewailing to such a degree that, from her continual crying, her throat became hoarse, and from excessive weeping, her eyes became dim. But, in the words of the prophet,4 ' If I forget thee, Ο Jerusalem, let my right hand fbrget.her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth.' Still does the Apostolic See shout aloud, and like a trumpet does she raise her voice, endeavouring to arouse the nations of Christendom to fight the battles of Christ, and to avenge the injuries done to Him crucified, using the words of him who says, ' All ye that pass by, behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.'5 For behold, our inheritance has gone to strangers, our houses to other people, ' The ways of Zion mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts . . her adversaries are the chief.'6 The Sepulchre of the Lord, which the prophet foretold should be so glorious, has been profaned by the unrighteous, and has been thereby made inglorious. Our glory, of which the Apostle speaks when he says, ' God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,' ' is held in the hands of the enemy, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who,bydying for us, led our captivity captive, as though Himself a captive, is driven in exile from His inheritaiicei In former days, when the ark of the Lord of Sabaoth abode in tents, Uriah refused to enter his8 house, and withheld himself from the lawful embraces of his wife.9 But at the present day, our princes, the glory of Israel having been transferred from its place, to our disgrace, give themselves up to adulterous embraces, thereby abusing their luxuries and their wealth ; and, while they are harassing each other, with inexorable hatred, while one is using all his endeavours to take vengeance on another for injuries done, there is not a person who is moved by the injuries of Him crucified, not considering that now our enemies are insulting us, saying, ' Where is your God, who can neither deh ver himself nor yon from our hands ? Behold ! now have we profaned your sanctuaries ; behold ! now have we extended our hands to the ob * Psalm exxxvii. 5, 6. It is well known that this psalm is not a composition of king David. 5 Lament, i. 12. 6 Lament, i. 4, 5. ' Gal. vi. 14. 0 " Sanctam" is most probably a misprint. 9 2 Sam. χ. 11.