The Sultan had his pavilion, where they ate, richly draped and the ground covered with carpets which were closely worked with crosses.
The stupid Christians entered, stepping with their feet on these crosses and spitting upon them as on the ground.
Then the Sultan spoke and took them to task harshly: do you preach the Cross and scorn it thus? It would seem then that you love your God only with show of words and not with deeds. Your behaviour and your manners do not meet with my liking.
The truce was broken off, and the war began again.[2] [[88]]
[1] Selah-eddyn (1137–93), Sultan of Egypt, after 1174 famous throughout medieval Christendom for his knightliness. He is one of the chief characters of Scott’s Talisman. [↑]
[2] The second part of this tale is to be found in the Cronaca of Turpino, and in F. Sacchetti’s 125th tale. [↑]