Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/77

Rh Ermengard Daps, on whom their choice had fallen, to accept the onerous post. This duty accomplished, they prepared to meet their fate in the hopeless struggle which now seemed imminent.

Saladin lost no time in securing the fruits of his victory. The various fortresses on his route, denuded as they were of their ordinary garrisons, fell an easy prey, and no opposition being offered to his advance, it was not long before he appeared in front of Jerusalem itself. A resistance ensued which was prolonged for fourteen days by the despair of the defenders, ending, however, in the capitulation of the city in the month of October, 1187. Thus, after having been at great sacrifice rescued from the domination of the Turk, and having continued for a period of eighty-eight years to be the seat of government of a Christian kingdom, it once more fell into the hands of the Molem, from whom no succeeding efforts were able permanently to wrest it. From that day to this the soil, hallowed by the passion of our blessed Saviour, has remained in the possession of the infidel. There are not, however, wanting symptoms that before very long it will once more fall from his enfeebled grasp, when it is devoutly to be hoped that it may revert permanently to Christianity.