THE KNIGHT OF TOURS. CHAP. I. Come on, poor babe! Some powerful fpirits inftru&t the kites and raven To be thy nurses! Wolves and bears, they say (Cafting their favagenefs afide) have done. Like offices of pity. SHAKSPEARE. ASIA was on fire: the Christian world, animated with religious zeal, was eager to deliver Paleftine from the infidel nations that profaned it. Europe in arms covered the fea with her fhips and the land with her armies; but of the Powers VOL. I. who who nobly yielded to the holy ardour, the most formidable efforts were made by France. To the vexation of feeing the Holy Land oppreffed, was added the refentment excited by the remembrance of the infults formerly offered by the Saracens to the empire of the Lillies. Philip, who filled the French throne, burnt to humble the pride of the Crefcent, and the powerful vaffals of that auguft monarch united with equal ardour in the execution of his glorious defigns. Sigifmond, the Count of Tours, fummoned the nobility of Touraine to arms. Never did the French nobility need excitement to glory; fcarcely was the will of the prince proclaimed by his heralds, when feveral thousand foldiers, and many knights of illuftrious birth and valour, ranged themselves under the banner of Tours. |