Glutted with slaughter, the ungodly herd now turned towards Hungary; but at Mersburg they were encountered by a large Hungarian force, which disputed their passage over the Danube, absolutely refusing the road through that kingdom to any future band of crusaders. The fanatics forced their way across the river, attacked Mersburg itself with great fury and perseverance, and succeeded in making a breach in the walls, when suddenly an unaccountable terror seized them--none knew how or why--they abandoned the siege, dispersed in dismay, and fled like scattered deer over the country. The Hungarians suffered not the opportunity to escape, and pursuing them on every side, smote them during many days with a merciless fury, that nothing but their own dreadful cruelties could palliate. The fields were strewed with dead bodies, the rivers flowed with blood, and the very waters of the Danube are said to have been hidden by the multitude of corpses. Disaster and death had, sooner or later, overtaken each body of the crusaders that had hitherto, without union or command, set out towards the Holy Land; but each of these very bands had been composed of the refuse and dregs of the people. I do not mean by that word _dregs_ the poor, but I mean the base--I do not mean those who were low in station, or even ignorant in mind; but I mean those who were infamous in crime, and brutal in desire. Doubtless, in these expeditions, some fell who were animated by noble motives or excellent zeal; but such were few compared with those whose objects were plunder, licentiousness, and vice. The swords of the Hungarians and the Turks lopped these away; and I cannot find in my heart to look upon the purification which Europe thus underwent with any thing like sorrow. The crusade itself was by this means freed from many a base and unworthy member; and Chivalry, left to act more in its own spirit, though still participating deeply in the faults and vices of a barbarous age, brought about a nobler epoch and a brighter event. CHAPTER V. _The Chivalry of Europe takes the Field--The Leaders--Godfrey of Bouillon--Conducts his Army towards Constantinople--Hugh the Great--Leads his Army through Italy--Embarks for Durazzo--Taken Prisoner--Liberated-- Robert, Duke of Normandy--Winters in Italy--Arrives at Constantinople-- Robert, Count of Flanders--Joins the rest--Boemond of Tarentum--Tancred-- Their March--Defeat the Greeks--Boemond does Homage--Tancred avoids it-- The Count of Toulouse arrives--Refuses to do Homage--Robert of Normandy does Homage._