Passages for the Second Textual Analysis Exercise

Passage no. 1

The Germans were unbearable even to us. One time, for instance, some of our men who wished to escape the press of the crowd around the king, and therefore went ahead, lodged near them. Both groups went to market; but the Germans did not allow the Franks to buy anything until after they themselves had had all they wanted. From this situation arose a dispute, or rather a brawl; for, when one person accuses another in a very loud voice without understanding him, there is a brawl. Thereupon the Franks, after this exchange of blows, returned from market with their suppliesl; that is, the Germans, scorning the pride of the few Franks, because they themselves were many, took arms against them and fell upon them furiously, and the Franks, likewise armed, resisted spiritedly. But God put an end to the wicked encounter, for night fell rapidly. Their anger could neither be quenched nor lulled by that night, for in the morning they arose, raging more bitterly; but wise men among them, falling at the knees of the fools, calmed this rage by humility and reason. Thus the Germans disturbed everything as they proceeded, and the Greeks therefore fled our peaceful king, who followed after.

Passage no. 2

The land of Jerusalem is become pure....God is become one God, and he was three. The houses of the infidel are destroyed, the dwellings of polytheism are cast down. The Muslims have taken possession of the fortified castles. Our enemies will not return to them again, for they are branded with the seal of weakness and degradation. God had placed beauty where deformity was.

Passage no. 3

King Richard ... turned his attention to packing up the petraries and mangonels for transportation. For when the time had expired which had been fixed by the Turks for the restoration of the cross and the ransom of the hostages, after waiting three weeks, according to the conditions, to see if Saladin would keep his word and covenant, the king regarded him as a transgressor, as Saladin appeared not to care about it at all; and perhaps this happened by the dispensation of God, so that something more advantageous might be obtained. Buyt the Saracens asked further time to fulfill their promise and make search for the cross.

Passage no. 4

Nay more, a certain harlot, a sharer in their guilt, a minister of the furies, a servant of the demons, a worker of incantations and poisonings, insulting Christa, sat in the patriarch's seat, singing an obscene song and dancing frequently. Nor, indeed, were these crimes committed and others left undone, on the ground that these were of lesser guilt, the others of greater. But with one consent all the most heinous sins and crimes were committed by all with equal zeal. Could those, who showed so great madness against God himself, have spared the honorable matrons and maidens or the virgins consecrated to God?