Saladin sent for him to his army, and promised the brave Conrad to
restore his father to him, and give him rich possessions in Syria,
if he would open the gates of Tyre. He at the same time threatened
to place the old marquis de Montferrat in the front of the ranks of
the Saracens, and expose him to the arrows of the besieged. Conrad
replied with haughtiness, that he despised the presents of infidels,
and that the life of his father was less dear to him than the cause of
the Christians. He added that nothing should impede his endeavours,
and that if the Saracens were barbarous enough to put to death an old
man who had surrendered on his parole of honour, he should think it
a glory to be descended from a martyr. After this reply the Saracens
recommenced their assaults, and the Tyrians defended themselves with
firmness and courage. The Hospitallers, the Templars, and most of
the bravest warriors left in Palestine, hastened within the walls
of Tyre, to share in the honour of so great a defence. Among the
Franks who distinguished themselves by their valour, was a Spanish
gentleman, known in history by the name of “_The Green Knight_,” from
the colour of his armour. He alone, say the old chroniclers, repulsed
and dispersed whole battalions; he fought several single combats,
overthrowing the most intrepid of the Mussulmans, and made the Saracens
wonder at and admire his bravery and skill in arms.
There was not a citizen in the place who would not fight; the children,
even, were so many soldiers; the women animated the men by their
presence and by their words. Upon the waters, at the foot of the
ramparts, fresh combats were continually taking place. In all parts the
Saracens met with the same Christian heroes who had so often made them
tremble.
Despairing of taking the city of Tyre, Saladin resolved to raise the
siege, in order to attack Tripoli, and was not more fortunate in that
expedition. William, king of Sicily, being informed of the misfortunes
of Palestine, had sent succours to the Christians. The great Admiral
Margarit, whose talents and victories had obtained for him the name of
the King of the Sea and the New Neptune, arrived on the coast of Syria
with sixty galleys, three hundred horse and five hundred foot-soldiers.
The Sicilian warriors flew to the defence of Tripoli, and, led on by
the Green Knight, who had so distinguished himself at Tyre, forced
Saladin to abandon his enterprise.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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