when this time comes, if you see that you may have aid, then hold on.  But if not, you shall give up the city, and I will have you conveyed in safety to Christian territory, yourselves and your substance.”  “We may not yield up to you a city where died our God,” answered the envoys:  “and still less may we sell you.”  The siege lasted fourteen days.  After having repulsed several assaults, the inhabitants saw that effectual resistance was impossible; and the commandant of the place, a knight named Dalian d’Ibelin, an old warrior, who had been at the battle of Tiberias, returned to Saladin, and asked for the conditions back again which had at first been rejected.  Saladin, pointing to his own banner already planted upon several parts of the battlements, answered, “It is too late; you surely see that the city is mine.”  “Very well, my lord,” replied the knight:  “we will ourselves destroy our city, and the mosque of Omar, and the stone of Jacob:  and when it is nothing but a heap of ruins, we will sally forth with sword and fire in hand, and not one of us will go to Paradise without having sent ten Mussulmans to hell.”  Saladin understood enthusiasm, and respected it; and to have had the destruction of Jerusalem connected with his name would’ have caused him deep displeasure.  He therefore consented to the terms of capitulation demanded of him.  The fighting men were permitted to retreat to Tyre or Tripolis, the last cities of any importance, besides Antioch, in the power of the Christians; and the simple inhabitants of Jerusalem had their lives preserved, and permission given them to purchase their freedom on certain conditions; but, as many amongst them could not find the means, Malek-Adhel, the sultan’s brother, and Saladin himself paid the ransom of several thousands of captives.  All Christians, however, with the exception of Greeks and Syrians, had orders to leave Jerusalem within four days.  When the day came, all the gates were closed, except that of David by which the people were to go forth; and Saladin, seated upon a throne, saw the Christians defile before him.  First came the patriarch, followed by the clergy, carrying the sacred vessels, and the ornaments of the church of the Holy Sepulchre.  After him came Sibylla, Queen of Jerusalem, who had remained in the city, whilst her husband, Guy de Lusignan, had been a prisoner at Nablous since the battle of Tiberias.  Saladin saluted her respectfully, and spoke to her kindly.  He had too great a soul to take pleasure in the humiliation of greatness.

[Illustration:  The Christians of the Holy City defiling before Saladin.—­ —­28]