THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 39 



« fliould be liable, at cveiy inilani, to panic and dcfpon- 

 " dcncy, totally unwortliy the character of a veteran army.. 

 " You know," faid he, " that I came againft the king of Adel, 

 " and to recover that province, one of the old dependencies 

 " of my crown. And though it has happened that, in 

 " our march, you have loaded yourfclves with riches, which 

 *' I have permitted, as well out of my luve to you, as becaui'e 

 *' it diflrefles the encniy, yet my object was not to plunder 

 " merchants. If in battle to-morrow I be beaten, for God 

 " forbid that I Ihould decline it when offered, I fliall be the 

 " firft to let you the example how to die like men in the 

 " middle of your enemies. But while I am living, it never 

 " iliall be faid that I fuITered the Ilandard of Chrill to ily 

 " before the profane enfigns of infidels. As to what regards 

 " our prefent circuniftances, my fickncfs, and the number 

 " of the Moorifli troops, thefe make no alteration in my good 

 '• hopes that I fliall tread upon the king of Adel's neck to- 

 " morrow. For as it was never my opinion that it was my 

 "^ own ftrength and valour, or their want of it, which has fo 

 " often been the means of preferving me from their hands, 

 " fo Ido not fear at prefent that my accidental wcaknefs 

 " will give them any advantage over me, as long as I truft 

 ** in God's ftrength as much as ever I have done." 



The army, hearing with what confidence and firmnefs. 

 the king fpake, began to look upon liis recovery as a mi- 

 racle. They all, therefore, with one accord, took to their 

 arms, and defired to be led forward to the enemy, without 

 waiting till they fliould come to them. They only befeech-- 

 ed the king that he would not expofe his perfon as ufual, 

 but truft to the bravery of his troops, eager for action, with- 

 out being lavifli of that life, the lofs of which would be to 



the 



