Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/330

 308 THE DECLINE AND FALL Delay of the Yct tliis attack, whcn they were within the view and reach of Franks AD -' *' 1098, July- ■ their jjlorious prize, was suspended above ten months after the A T 1099 May ' defeat of Kerboga. The zeal and courage of the crusaders were chilled in the moment of victory : and, instead of marching to improve the consternation, they hastily dispersed to enjoy the luxury, of Syria. The causes of this strange delay may be found in the want of strength and subordination. In the painful and various service of Antioch the cavalry was annihilated ; many thousands of every rank had been lost by famine, sickness, and desertion ; the same abuse of plenty had been productive of a third famine ; and the alternative of intemperance and distress had generated a pestilence, which swept away above fifty thousand of the pilgrims. Few were able to command and none were willing to obey : the domestic feuds, which had been stifled by common fear, were again renewed in acts, or at least in senti- ments, of hostility ; the future of Baldwin and Bohemond ex- cited the envy of their companions ; the bravest knights were enlisted for the defence of their new principalities ; and count Raymond exhausted his troops and treasures in an idle expedi- tion into the heart of Syria. ^^'^ The winter was consumed in discord and disorder ; a sense of honour and religion was re- kindled in the s])ring ; and the private soldiers, less susceptible of ambition and jealousy, awakened with angry clamours the Their march indolencc of their chiefs. In the month of May, the relics of A. D.^ 1099,'^"' this mighty host pi'oceeded from Antioch to Laodicea : about jlSiVe^^ forty thousand Latins, of whom no more than fifteen hundred horse and twenty thousand foot were capable of immediate service. Their easy march was continued between Mount Libanus and the sea-shore ; their wants Avere libei-ally supplied by the coasting traders of Genoa and Pisa ; and they drew large contributions from the emirs of Tripoli, Tyre, Sidon, Acre, and Caesarea, who granted a free passage and promised to follow the example of Jerusalenn. From Caesarea ^'^^ they advanced into the midland country ; their clerks recognised the saci'ed geography of Lydda, Ramla, Emaus, and Bethlem ; and, as soon as they descried the holy city, the crusaders forgot their toils, and claimed their reward, ^^^ i"S [Raymond captured Albara, and one of his men captured [the village of] Tell Mannas. They also attacked Maarra, but did not take it at the first attempt. Raymond and Bohemond captured it in December.] 11" [Before they reached Caesarea they were delayed by a three months' siege of Arka (a strong citadel under Mt. Lebanon, not far from Tripolis), which they left untaken.] ^The greatest part of the march of the Franks is traced, and most accurately traced, in Maundrells Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem (p. 11-67): un das