|
|
Previous | all pages
|
Next |
|
|
CHARLES J. ROSEBAULT.
Saladin. Prince of Chivalry
page 311
greater influence was the indisposition of the Moslems to fight. It seemed a wonderful opportunity to bag Richard and all his men, but in vain did the Sultan go from squadron to squadron offering liberal rewards to those who would charge the comparative handful of Franks. Only his son, ez-Zaher, responded, and he, being alone, was restrained by the Sultan. The explanation lay in the remark of el-Jenah, one of the Kurdish emirs, referred to earlier in this recital.
" Ο Salah ed-din," said he, " order your mamelukes who yesterday took the booty and beat the soldiers with blows of massue to go ahead and fight. When it is necessary to fight it is our turn, but if it is a question of booty it is they who receive it."
Naturally, Saladin was greatly chagrined, and his hurt was not minimized by the fact that Richard, as if emboldened by a perception of what was happening, was riding tauntingly, lance in hand, the whole length of the army, with never a Moslem to accept his challenge. Never did he stand out more picturesquely nor more truly earn his right to be called the Lion-Hearted.
Saladin left the field in hot anger. How he had conquered his feelings and invited the sulking emirs to partake of his fruit in camp that night has already been told. " He was a man kind and generous and much given to pardon when he had the power to take vengeance," wrote Imad ed-din.
Richard was finally constrained to make peace. News from England was too disturbing to permit him
|
|
|
Previous |
First |
Next |
|
|
|