CHAPTER VI. THE LAST CRUSADES
The poet, As-Sahib Jemal ad-Din ben Matrub made the following verses on the failure of Saint Louis’ Crusade, his capture and ransom:
“Bear to the king of France, when you shall see him, these words, traced by a partisan of truth: The death of the servants of the Messiah has been the reward given to you by God.
“You have landed in Egypt, thinking to take possession of it. You have imagined that it was only peopled with cowards! you who are a drum filled with wind.
“You thought that the moment to destroy the Mussulmans was arrived; and this false idea has smoothed, in your eyes, every difficulty.
“By your excellent conduct, you have abandoned your soldiers on the plains of Egypt, and the tomb has gaped under their feet.
“What now remains of the seventy thousand who accompanied you? Dead, wounded, and prisoners!
“May God inspire you often with similar designs! They will cause the ruin of all Christians, and Egypt will have no longer to dread anything from their rage.
“Without doubt your priests announced victories to you; their predictions were false.
“Refer yourselves to a more enlightened oracle.