Gesta Francorum: Liber III

[ix] Interea reddita ciuitate et Turcis deductis Constantinopolim, unde imperator magis magisque gauisus quod ciuitas reddita sit eius potestati, iussit maximas elemosinas erogari nostris pauperibus. Denique prima die qua recessimus a ciuitate, uenimus ad quemdam pontem, ibique mansimus per duos dies. Tertia autem die, priusquam lux coepisset oriri, surrexerunt nostri; et quia nox erat non uiderunt tenere unam uiam, sed sunt diuisi per duo agmina, et uenerunt diuisi per duos dies.

[9] Meanwhile, the city having been restored and the Turks escorted to Constantinople, whence the emperor rejoiced more and more that the city had been returned to his power, he ordered very great alms to be dispensed to our poor. Finally, on the first day on which we departed from the city, we came to a certain bridge, and there we remained for two days. But on the third day, before light had begun to arise, our men rose; and because it was night they did not see to keep one road, but were divided into two columns, and they arrived, divided, over two days.

In uno agmine fuit uir Boamundus, et Rotbertus Normannus, et prudens Tancredus, et alii plures. In alio fuit comes Sancti Egidii, et dux Godefridus, et Podiensis episcopus, et Hugo Magnus, comesque Flandrensis, et alii plures.

In one column was the man Boamundus, and Robert the Norman, and prudent Tancred, and many others. In the other was the count of Saint-Gilles, and Duke Godfrey, and the bishop of Le Puy, and Hugh the Great, and the Flemish count, and many others.

Tertia uero die irruerunt Turci uehementer super Boamundum, et eos qui cum ipso erant. Continuo Turci coeperunt stridere et garrire ac clamare, excelsa uoce dicentes diabolicum sonum nescio quomodo in sua lingua. Sapiens uir Boamundus uidens innumerabiles Turcos procul, stridentes et clamantes demoniaca uoce, protinus iussit omnes milites descendere, et tentoria celeriter extendere.

On the third day indeed the Turks rushed vehemently upon Boamundus and those who were with him. Immediately the Turks began to shriek and chatter and shout, with a loud voice uttering a diabolical sound, I know not how, in their own language. The wise man Boamundus, seeing innumerable Turks from afar, shrieking and shouting with a demoniac voice, straightway ordered all the soldiers to dismount and to pitch the tents quickly.

Priusquam tentoria fuissent extensa, rursus dixit omnibus militibus: "Seniores et fortissimi milites Christi, ecce modo bellum angustum est undique circa nos. Igitur omnes milites eant uiriliter obuiam illis, et pedites prudenter et citius extendant tentoria."

Before the tents had been extended, again he said to all the soldiers: "Elders and most mighty soldiers of Christ, behold now the war is narrow on every side around us. Therefore let all the soldiers go manfully to meet them, and let the foot-soldiers prudently and more quickly extend the tents."

Postquam uero hoc totum factum est, Turci undique iam erant circumcingentes nos, dimicando et iaculando, ac spiculando, et mirabiliter longe lateque sagittando. Nos itaque quamquam nequiuimus resistere illis, neque sufferre pondus tantorum hostium, tamen pertulimus illuc unanimiter gradum. Feminae quoque nostrae in illa die fuerunt nobis in maximo refugio, quae afferebant ad bibendum aquam nostris preliatoribus, et fortiter semper confortabant illos, pugnantes et defendentes.

After, however, all this had been done, the Turks were now on every side encircling us, fighting and hurling and darting, and marvelously shooting arrows far and wide. We, therefore, although we were not able to resist them, nor to bear the weight of so great enemies, nevertheless bore our step thither with one mind. Our women also on that day were for us a very great refuge, who brought water to drink for our combatants, and bravely always encouraged them, as they fought and defended.

Vir itaque sapiens Boamundus protinus mandauit aliis, scilicet comiti de Sancto Egidio, et duci Godefrido, et Hugoni Magno, atque Podiensi episcopo, aliisque omnibus Christi militibus, quo festinent, et ad bellum citius approximent, dicens: "Et si hodie luctari uolunt, uiriliter ueniant." Dux itaque Godefridus audax et fortis, ac Hugo Magnus simul uenerunt prius cum suis exercitibus; episcopus quoque Podiensis prosequutus est illos, una cum suo exercitu, et comes de Sancto Egidio iuxta illos cum magna gente.

Therefore the wise man Bohemond forthwith commanded the others—namely, the count of Saint-Gilles, and Duke Godfrey, and Hugh the Great, and the bishop of Puy, and all the other soldiers of Christ—that they hasten, and more quickly approach to the battle, saying: "And if they wish to wrestle today, let them come manfully." Therefore Duke Godfrey, bold and brave, and Hugh the Great came together first with their armies; the bishop of Puy also followed them, together with his army; and the count of Saint-Gilles beside them with a great host.

Mirabantur ergo nostri ualde unde esset exorta tanta multitudo Turcorum, et Arabum et Saracenorum, et aliorum quos enumerare ignoro; quia pene onmes montes et colles et ualles et omnia plana loca intus et extra undique erant cooperta de illa excommunicata generatione. Factus est itaque sermo secretus inter nos laudantes et consulentes atque dicentes: "Estote omnimodo unanimes in fide Christi et Sanctae Crucis uictoria, quia hodie onmes diuites si Deo placet effecti eritis."

Our men therefore marveled greatly whence such a great multitude of Turks, and Arabs and Saracens, and others whom I do not know to enumerate, had arisen; for almost all the mountains and hills and valleys and all the level places, within and without, on every side were covered with that excommunicated generation. A secret discourse was therefore made among us, lauding and taking counsel and saying: "Be in every way unanimous in the faith of Christ and in the victory of the Holy Cross, because today all of you, if it pleases God, will be made rich."

Continuo fuerunt ordinatae nostrorum acies. In sinistra parte fuit uir sapiens Boamundus, et Rotbertus Nortmannus, et prudens Tancredus, ac Robertus de Ansa et Richardus de Principatu. Episcopus uero Podiensis uenit per alteram montanam, undique circumcingens incredulos Turcos.

Immediately the battle-lines of our men were ordered. On the left side was the wise man Boamundus, and Robert the Norman, and prudent Tancred, and Robert of Ansa, and Richard of the Principality. But the Bishop of Puy came by the other mountainside, encircling on every side the unbelieving Turks.

In sinistra quoque parte equitauit fortissimus miles Raimundus comes de Sancto Egidio. In dextera uero parte fuit dux Godefridus, et accrrimus miles Flandrensis comes, et Hugo Magnus, et alii plures, quorum nomina ignoro.

On the left side also rode the most valiant knight Raymond, count of Saint-Gilles. On the right side, however, was Duke Godfrey, and the very keen knight, the Flemish count, and Hugh the Great, and many others, whose names I do not know.

Statim autem uenientibus militibus nostris, Turci et Arabes, et Saraceni et Agulani omnesque barbarae nationes dederunt uelociter fugam, per compendia montium et per plana loca. Erat autem numerus Turcorum, Persarum, Publicanorum, Saracenorum, Agulanorum, aliorumque paganorum trecenta sexaginta milia extra Arabes, quorum numerum nemo scit nisi solus Deus. Fugerunt uero nimis uelociter ad sua tentoria, ibique eos diu morari non licuit.

But immediately upon the coming of our soldiers, the Turks and Arabs, and the Saracens and Agulans, and all the barbarian nations took swift flight, by the shortcuts of the mountains and across the level places. Now the number of the Turks, Persians, Publicans, Saracens, Agulans, and other pagans was 360,000 apart from the Arabs, whose number no one knows save God alone. They fled indeed very swiftly to their tents, and there they were not allowed to linger long.

Iterum uero arripuerunt fugam, nosque illos persecuti sumus occidentes tota una die. Et accepimus spolia multa, aurum, argentum, equos et asinos, camelos, oues, et boues et plurima alia quae ignoramus. Et nisi Dominus fuisset nobiscum in bello, et aliam cito nobis misisset aciem, nullus nostrorum euasisset, quia ab hora tertia usque in horam nonam perdurauit haec pugna.

Again, indeed, they seized flight, and we pursued them, slaying, for one whole day. And we took many spoils, gold, silver, horses and asses, camels, sheep, and oxen, and very many other things which we do not know. And unless the Lord had been with us in the battle, and had quickly sent to us another battle-line, none of ours would have escaped, because from the third hour up to the ninth hour this fight perdured.

Sed omnipotens Deus pius et misericors qui non permisit suos milites perire, nec in manibus inimicorum incidere, festine nobis adiutorium misit. Sed fuerunt illic mortui duo ex nostris milites honorabiles, scilicet Gosfredus de Monte Scabioso, et Willelmus Marchisi filius frater Tancredi, aliique milites et pedites quorum nomina ignoro.

But the omnipotent God, pious and merciful, who did not permit his soldiers to perish, nor to fall into the hands of the enemies, swiftly sent us aid. But there there died two of ours, honorable knights, namely Gosfredus of Monte Scabioso, and William, the Marquis’s son, brother of Tancred, and other knights and foot-soldiers whose names I do not know.

Quis unquam tam sapiens aut doctus audebit describere prudentiam militiamque et fortitudinem Turcorum? Qui putabant terrere gentem Francorum minis suarum sagittarum, sicut terruerunt Arabes, Saracenos, et Hermenios, Suranios et Grecos. Sed si Deo placet nunquam tantum ualebunt, quantum nostri.

Who ever so wise or learned will dare to describe the prudence, soldiery, and fortitude of the Turks? They supposed they would terrify the race of the Franks by the menaces of their arrows, just as they terrified the Arabs, Saracens, and Armenians, Syrians, and Greeks. But, if it pleases God, never will they prevail as much as our men.

Verumtamen dicunt se esse de Francorum generatione, et quia nullus homo naturaliter debet esse miles nisi Franci et illi. Veritatem dicam quam nemo audebit prohibere. Certe si in fide Christi et Christianitate sancta semper firmi fuissent, et unum Deum in trinitate confiteri uoluissent Deique Filium natum de Virgine matre, passum, et resurrexisse a mortuis et in caelum ascendisse suis cernentibus discipulis, consolationemque Sancti Spiritus perfecte misisse; et eum in caelo et in terra regnantem recta mente et fide credidissent, ipsis potentiores uel fortiores uel bellorum ingeniosissimos nullus inuenire potuisset.

Nevertheless they say that they are of the generation of the Franks, and that no man by nature ought to be a miles except the Franks and themselves. I will speak the truth which no one will dare to forbid. Surely, if they had always been firm in the faith of Christ and in holy Christianity, and had been willing to confess one God in the Trinity and the Son of God born of a Virgin mother, who suffered, and rose from the dead and ascended into heaven with his disciples beholding, and to have perfectly sent the consolation of the Holy Spirit; and if they had believed with right mind and faith that he reigns in heaven and on earth, no one could have found any more powerful than they, or stronger, or more ingenious in wars.

Et tamen gratia Dei uicti sunt a nostris. Hoc bellum est factum, primo die Iulii.

And yet, by the grace of God, they were conquered by our men. This battle was fought on the first day of July.

Explicit liber III. Incipit IIII.

Here ends Book 3. Here begins Book 4.