, and the children were likewise taken; their property was plundered (1), the champions were shackled, and the men were humiliated. Yet war goes in cycles, and praise belongs to Allah in every circumstance.

At that point (2) the Sultan—may Allah support him—(3) ordered the army (4) to fall back from that constricted post to the next one (5), while he himself remained where he was (6) to see what the enemy would do and on what they would rely. They—may Allah curse them—were absorbed in seizing the town and in amassing wealth, both wholesale and in detail (7).

Thereafter the Sultan rode back to the camp (8), burdened with a grief (9) and sorrow known only to Allah—exalted is He—(10). The Muslim kings, the emirs, and the grandees of the state came to condole with him over what had occurred (11) and to ask how the situation might be remedied.

He then wrote to the Frankish kings concerning the release of the Muslim captives in their hands (12). They demanded the same number of their own prisoners (13), one hundred thousand dinars, and the True Cross if it was still in his possession. He had the money and the cross brought, but could muster only six hundred Muslim prisoners.

The Franks asked that the cross be shown to them from afar; when it was raised up for them (14), they fell prostrate before it and laid themselves on the ground. They then sent to claim the money, the prisoners, and the cross, but he refused to hand over anything unless they first released the Muslims they held, or at least sent hostages as a guarantee. They replied, “No; rather send us what we have asked for and trust (15) in our good faith.” Realizing from this (16) that they intended treachery and deceit, he sent them nothing (17) and ordered that