About the same period, Sultan Saladin, the most formidable enemy the Christians ever encountered, died; an event which caused Pope Celestine to prevail on the emperor, Henry VI., of Germany, to make a new expedition against the Turks, who were in consequence defeated; but the emperor's general, the Duke of Saxony, being killed, and the emperor himself dying soon afterwards, the Germans returned home without accomplishing the object of their expedition. They had no sooner departed than the Turks, in revenge, nearly drove the Christians from the Holy Land, and took all the strong towns which the Crusaders had gained, excepting Tyre and Ptolemais. In 1199, a fleet was fitted out at the instigation of Pope Innocent III. against the infidels. On this occasion, the Christians, notwithstanding their strenuous exertions, failed of taking Jerusalem, though several other important places were delivered to them. In the year 1228, Frederic, Emperor of Germany, set out from Brundusium to Palestine, took Jerusalem, which the enemy had left in a desolate condition, and caused himself to be proclaimed king. But, after this conquest, he was obliged to return to his own country, where his presence was required. The Turks immediately assembled a prodigious army for regaining the Holy City, which they ultimately took, putting the German garrison to the sword, in the year 1234; since which time, the Christian powers, weary of these useless expeditions, have made no considerable effort to possess it. The Christians were entirely driven from Palestine and Syria in the year 1291, about one hundred and ninety-two years after the capture of Jerusalem by Godfrey of Boulogne. G.W.N. [1] An account of the original _instigator_ of the Crusades will be found in vol. viii. of the MIRROR, page 232. [2] The Turks generally show some regard to real piety and valour. * * * * * SHAKSPEARE.--A FRAGMENT. (_For the Mirror._) The empty passions of the angry world, The loves of heroes, the despair of maids, The rage of kings, of beggars and of slaves, Shakspeare alone attun'd to song.--The rest essay'd. Laureate of bards! thyself unsung Would stamp us reckless. CYMBELINE. * * * * * RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. * * * * * REGAL TABLET. (_Continued from page 111._) EDWARD II. began his reign 7th July, 1307, ended 25th Jan. 1327. _Popes_. Clement V., 1305. John XXII., 1316. _Emperor of the East._ Andronicus II., 1283. _Emperors of the West_. Albert I., 1278. Henry VII., 1308. Frederic III., 1314. _France_. Philip IV., 1285. Louis X., 1314. Charles IV. 1322. _Scotland_. Robert Bruce, 1306. * * * * * EDWARD III. began his reign 25th Jan. 1327, ended 21st June, 1377. _Popes_.