But the combat was about to change its character. All at once the
Crusaders beheld, on the Mount of Olives, a horseman, waving his
buckler, and giving the Christian army the signal to enter the city.
Godfrey and Raymond, who perceived him first, and at the same moment,
cried out that St. George was come to the succour of the Christians.
The tumult of the fight allowed of neither reflection nor examination,
and the sight of the celestial horseman fired the besiegers with fresh
ardour. They returned to the charge; even the women, the children, and
the sick crowded into the _mêlée_, bringing water, food, and arms, and
uniting their efforts with those of the soldiers to get the rolling
towers, the dread of the enemy, nearer to the walls. That of Godfrey
advanced, amidst a terrible discharge of stones, arrows, and Greek
fire, and let fall its drawbridge upon the wall. Fiery darts flew
at one and the same time against the machines of the besiegers, and
against the sacks of straw and hay, and the bales of wool which covered
the inner walls of the city. The wind kindled the fires, and drove
the flames full upon the Saracens, who, enveloped in fire and smoke,
recoiled at the aspect of the lances and swords of the Christians.
Godfrey, preceded by the two brothers Lethalde and Engelbert of
Tournay, and followed by Baldwin du Bourg, Eustache, Raimbaud, Créton,
Guicher, Bernard de St. Vallier, and Amenjeu d’Albret, broke through
the enemy, pursued them, and rushed with them into Jerusalem. The brave
men who had fought upon the platform of the tower with their intrepid
leader, followed them into the streets, and massacred all they met with
on their passage.
[Illustration: SIEGE OF JERUSALEM.--GODFREY OF BOUILLON.]
At the same time a report was spread in the Christian army, that the
holy pontiff Adhemar, and several Crusaders who had died during the
siege, had appeared at the head of the assailants, and unfurled the
banners of the Cross upon the towers of Jerusalem. Tancred and the
two Roberts, animated by this account, made fresh efforts, and threw
themselves into the place, accompanied by Hugh de St. Paul, Gerard
de Roussillon, Louis de Mousson, Conon and Lambert de Montargis, and
Gaston de Béarn. A crowd of heroes follow them closely; some enter
by a half-open breach, others scale the walls with ladders, many
spring from the wooden towers. The Mussulmans fly on all sides, and
Jerusalem resounds with the victory-cry of the Crusaders, _God wills
it! God wills it!_ The companions of Godfrey and Tancred hew down the
gate of St. Stephen with axes, and the city lies open to the crowd
of Crusaders, who press upon each other, and dispute the honour of
inflicting the last blow upon the infidels.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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