hich lay scattered over the field of battle,
when all at once twenty thousand Saracens, whom their chief had
rallied, fell upon them. The Crusaders overwhelmed with heat and
fatigue, and not expecting to be attacked, showed at first a
surprise which bordered on fear. Taki-Eddin, nephew of Saladin, at
the head of the bravest enemies, led on the Turks, at the head of
whom were seen the Mameluke guard of Saladin, distinguished by
their yellow banner. So vehement was their onset, that it ploughed
deep into the Crusaders' ranks; and they had need of the presence
and example of Richard, before whom no Saracen could stand, and
whom the contemporary chronicles compare to a reaper cutting down
corn. At the moment when the Christians, again victorious, resumed
their march towards Assur, the Mussulmans, impelled by despair,
again attacked their rear-guard. Richard, who had twice repulsed
the enemy, no sooner heard the outcry, than, followed only by
fifteen knights, he flew to the scene of combat, shouting aloud the
war-cry of the Christians--'God protect the Holy Sepulchre!' The
bravest followed their king; the Mussulmans were dispersed at the
first shock, and their army, then a third time vanquished, would
have been totally destroyed, had not night and the forest of Assur
sheltered them from the pursuit of the enemy. As it was they lost
eight thousand men, including thirty-two of their bravest emirs
slain; while the victory did not cost the Christians a thousand
men. Among the wounded was Richard himself, who was slightly hurt
in the breast. But the victory was prodigious, and if duly improved
by the Crusaders, without dissension or defection, would have
decided the fate of Palestine and of that Crusade."--_Hist. des
Croisades_, i. 468-471.

These extracts convey a fair idea of M. Michaud's power of description
and merits as an historian. He cannot be said to be one of the highest
class. He does not belong to the school who aim at elevating history to
its loftiest pitch. The antiquarian school never have, and never will do
so. The minute observation and prodigious attentions to detail which
their habits produce, are inconsistent with extensive vision. The same
eye scarcely ever unites the powers of the microscope and the telescope.
He has neither the philosophic mind of Guizot, nor the pictorial ey