CONiJUKSTR OF THE SARACENS. 321 



morning when the fair commenced, and the tempting 

 merchandise was spread before their ej^es. The 

 reverend prior had begun his sermon, attended by a 

 vast throng, among whom were many of the no- 

 biUty and officers richly dressed. The avarice of 

 the Saracens was inflamed. " Paradise," exclaimed 

 Abdallah, " is under the shadow of swords : either 

 we shall succeed and have the plunder, or die and 

 gain the crown of martyrdom," The rapidity of 

 their onset gave them the first advantage ; but they 

 were encompassed and almost overwhelmed with 

 numbers so soon as the enemy had recovered from 

 their surprise. A hasty message informed Khaled 

 that the believers were in danger of being lost. 

 With a troop of cavalry he flew- to their relief; and 

 about the hour of sunset a cloud of dust announced 

 their approach to the; weary combatants, whose 

 diminutive band, amid the swarms of their assail- 

 ants, is fancifully likened to a white spot on a black 

 camel's skin. 



Their arrival changed the fortune of the day ; 

 shouts of Allah akbar rent the skies ; the Christians 

 were dispersed and pursued with great slaughter 

 as far as the river of Tripoli, whose waters saved 

 them from tlie vengeance of the conquerors. The 

 various merchandise of the fair, the fruits and pro- 

 visions, and the money brought to purchase them, 

 became the prey of the spoilers. The monastery, 

 in wliich the governor's daughter and forty of hei' 

 waiting-maids were taken, was profaned and robbed 

 of its plate, curtains, and gay decorations ; among 

 v/hich, we are informed, was a cloth of curious work- 

 manship, embroidered with an image of the blessed 

 Saviour, which was transported to Yemen, and sold 

 for ten times its weight in gold. Horses, asses, and 

 mules were diligently loaded with the wealthy 

 plunder, and the glutted barbaria:ns returned in tri- 

 umph to Damascus. 



The luxuries of SyTJa had begim to corrupt the 



