fully, did not present themselves to the unenlightened minds of men in that age of darkness.

In this dilemma, when so many were eager for fighting, and none could suggest a good cause of quarrel, a lucky thought struck one knight-errant, which in some measure removed the difficulty. He caused it to be proclaimed,

that the lady he had chosen for the object of his adoration was not only the most beautiful, but also the most chaste and accomplished woman in the universe; that he was ready to maintain this by the power of his arm, and to punish as a blasphemer whoever should assert the contrary,'

This was a challenge which could not fail being accepted. The combat that ensued was the harbinger of many others on the same principle; and every knight, whose bosom panted for an opportunity of distinguishing his love of glory or of his mistress, could indulge his fancy when he pleased.

The formalities with which those combats were attended rendered them amusing to the public, and peculiarly flattering to the ladies who were the subject of dispute, The rival beauties were on those occasions seated in a conspicuous manner. Whatever had been the opinion of the spectators with regard to the respective merits of the ladies previous to the solemnity, they now suspended their judgment until, by one of the champions being unhorsed or slain, it was decided that the mistress of the victor should in future be considered as the fairest, chastest, and in all respects the most accomplished of the two.

When women of family were shut up in castles, forbid all familiarity with men, and seldom admitted into any society but that of their nearest relations, it is evident that the manners of the age combined with the native mo desty of the sex to secure the virtue of the ladies.

This extreme difficulty of access contributed to elevate the passion of the lovers to that enthusiastic height which we are told was then so common, and which is believed now to be so rare, The reverse, however, ought to have

been the case; for if the castles or fortresses, in which women of high birth were shut up, made their virtue more secure, they rendered it also less meritorious. The women of rank and fashion of the present day, who are so much more exposed to attack, are entitled to higher admiration from resistance.

The ardent knights-errant above mentioned were soon relieved from the necessity of displaying their courage in combats with each other. The most striking and extensive instance of human infatuation that ever occurred, furnished them ample means of manifesting it in a cause infinitely more important in the eyes of their contemporaries, and equally absurd in those of posterity; namely, that of recovering the city of Jerusalem and the holy sepulchre from the infidels.

Towards the end of the eleventh century, Gregory VII had entertained the idea of uniting the Christian powers against the Mahometans, on this very pretext. He foresaw that such a project must necessarily augment his own power and influence; but this ambitious pontiff had made so many attacks on the civil power of princes, that they regarded with a suspicious eye whatever he proposed; and, notwithstanding the ignorance and superstition of the age, he was unable to carry his project into execution.

ness.

While the Arabians were in possession of Palestine, they gave no molestation to the Christians who came on pilgrimage to the holy sepulchre at Jerusalem. On the contrary, as the infidels reaped some advantage from the number of pilgrims, they were treated rather with kindThe ardour for this meritorious journey was augmented also by the respect shewn to those who had made it, on their return to their own countries. Besides, an opinion was pretty prevalent in Christendom, about the end of the tenth and beginning of the eleventh century, that the world was very near a close. This notion determined great numbers of Christian inhabitants, of even the most remote parts of Europe, to make a visit to the Old Jerusalem during their life, as a probable means of secur

to avenge

ing them a place in the New after their death. But when the Turks tore Syria from the Arabians, and gave the law in Jerusalem, the Christian pilgrims were insult ed by the new conquerors, who ridiculed the object of their adoration. The pilgrims, on their return, filled all Europe with accounts of their own sufferings, and of the dreadful impiety of the Turks. A native of France, known by the name of Peter the Hermit, who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, wandered over Europe, preaching the duty incumbent on the believers in Christ the insults which had been offered to his followers, and to regain his sepulchre from the infidels. What Pope Gregory durst not attempt, the hermit Peter accomplished. An enthusiasm for the crusades overspread Europe. It met the military spirit of the nobles, and was thought by the tradesmen and peasants a more easy and certain method of obtaining the favour of Heaven, than the hard labour, fasting, and penances to which they were subjected at home. The numbers that assumed the cross, which was the badge worn by the crusaders, is almost incredible. Every country of Europe was abandoned by thousands of the bravest and stoutest of its inhabitants. A certain number of knights, however, remained in each, to whose protection were consigned the wives and daughters of those who went to the holy war; so that the spirit of chivalry was kept up at home, while it glowed with augmented ardour abroad.

After overcoming a thousand unexpected difficulties, and having obtained many victories, the Christian army, diminished to a tenth of its original number, arrived at Antioch. The siege of that place had continued nine months, when the spirit of those enthusiasts began to droop.

A numerous army of infidels marched to the relief of Antioch. Many of the Christians deserted at this news. The faith of Peter the Hermit himself failed. Convinced that the fury of the enemy would be peculiarly directed against him, he fled.

This unexpected desertion spread augmented terror and dismay over the crusaders. When they seemed on the point of despair, another priest, Peter Barthelemi, stopped their despondency and revived their spirits. He assured them, that Jesus Christ himself had revealed to him, that if the army would pass three days in fasting and prayer, they would immediately after find the identical spear with which his side had been pierced while he was on the cross. I leave you to judge,' said Barthele mi, how very easy a matter it will be for you to defeat the infidel army, when you have once got possession of that spear.

The Christians having of late been accustomed to fasting as well as prayer, fulfilled the conditions; and Barthelemi, to their infinite satisfaction, found the spear.

The leaders having given time to the soldiers to refresh themselves, seized this period of renewed enthusiasm, and defeated the infidels. Antioch surrendered; and the road through Syria was open to the Christians.

By the retreat of the Turks, the city of Jerusalem had some time before this been recovered by the Soldan of Egypt, whose alliance the crusaders had hitherto courted. He sent an embassy to inform them, that provided they would come in a peaceable manner, and without their arms, they would be permitted to enter Jerusalem, and perform their religious vows. He farther promised, that all Christian pilgrims, who in future wished to visit the holy city, should be treated in the same hospitable manner that they had ever been by the Arabians, his prede

cessors.

How infinitely is it to be regretted that these offers were not accepted, which would have saved the memory of those zealots from the eternal reproach of a cruelty, surpassing, if possible, the original folly of their enterprize, and in direct contradiction to the precepts of the religion. they professed!

After a siege of several weeks, they entered Jerusalem by assault, put all the garrison to the sword, slaughtered

the inhabitants without distinction of age or sex; and then, not only free from remorse, but exulting in what they had done, they proceeded, smeared with blood, to the holy sepulchre, singing anthems to Him who preached peace and good-will to man, and to that Being whose mercy is above all his works.

With some lucid intervals, this crusading madness lasted more than two centuries, during which time it has been computed that between five and six millions of men, in the different countries of Europe, assumed the cross. Such a long and extensive intercourse between the eastern and western world could not exist without having a considerable influence on the manners and sentiments of the inhabitants of both; but particularly of the latter, who passed through so many countries more fertile, better cultivated, and in a higher state of civilization than their own. Those who went by Constantinople had the opportunity of contemplating society in a vast and magnificent capital, and of viewing the refinements of a luxurious court; many of which, with some of the customs and notions prevalent among the Asiatics, they afterwards carried to their own countries. Among other importations, it was generally believed that a large cargo of the fictions of the Arabian imagination was brought to Europe by the crusaders, consisting of genii, enchanters, giants, golden palaces, amaranthine gardens, and all the splendid wonders of those romances which were read with eagerness in all the countries of Europe at this pe

riod.

The learned and ingenious Mr. Thomas Warton was of opinion, that those fictions were introduced at an earlier period by the Saracens or Arabians, who, after having been for some time established in Egypt and on the north coast of Africa, entered Spain about the beginning of the eighth century, and having conquered that country, their opinions, their customs, and their fables were diffused among the Spaniards, and spread to the other people of Europe.