The circumjacent country is equally destitute of trees
for the uses of shade or building, but some large beams were discovered
in a cave by the crusaders: a wood near Sichem, the enchanted grove of
Tasso, [109] was cut down: the necessary timber was transported to the
camp by the vigor and dexterity of Tancred; and the engines were framed
by some Genoese artists, who had fortunately landed in the harbor of
Jaffa. Two movable turrets were constructed at the expense, and in the
stations, of the duke of Lorraine and the count of Tholouse, and rolled
forwards with devout labor, not to the most accessible, but to the most
neglected, parts of the fortification. Raymond's Tower was reduced to
ashes by the fire of the besieged, but his colleague was more vigilant
and successful; [1091] the enemies were driven by his archers from the
rampart; the draw-bridge was let down; and on a Friday, at three in the
afternoon, the day and hour of the passion, Godfrey of Bouillon stood
victorious on the walls of Jerusalem. His example was followed on every
side by the emulation of valor; and about four hundred and sixty years
after the conquest of Omar, the holy city was rescued from the Mahometan
yoke. In the pillage of public and private wealth, the adventurers had
agreed to respect the exclusive property of the first occupant; and the
spoils of the great mosque, seventy lamps and massy vases of gold
and silver, rewarded the diligence, and displayed the generosity, of
Tancred. A bloody sacrifice was offered by his mistaken votaries to the
God of the Christians: resistance might provoke but neither age nor sex
could mollify, their implacable rage: they indulged themselves three
days in a promiscuous massacre; [110] and the infection of the dead
bodies produced an epidemical disease. After seventy thousand Moslems
had been put to the sword, and the harmless Jews had been burnt in
their synagogue, they could still reserve a multitude of captives, whom
interest or lassitude persuaded them to spare. Of these savage heroes of
the cross, Tancred alone betrayed some sentiments of compassion; yet
we may praise the more selfish lenity of Raymond, who granted a
capitulation and safe-conduct to the garrison of the citadel. [111]
The holy sepulchre was now free; and the bloody victors prepared to
accomplish their vow. Bareheaded and barefoot, with contrite hearts, and
in an humble posture, they ascended the hill of Calvary, amidst the loud
anthems of the