Paintings of historical events.

RICHARD COEUR DE LION AND SALADIN AT THE BATTLE OF ARSUR
Book VIII.. Joseph-Francois Michaud .. Illustrated by Gustave Dore

Profound silence prevailed in the Christian army ; the black cuirasses of the Crusaders seeming to darken the horizon, while sixty thousand swords gleamed out from amidst clouds of dust. All at once the Christian infantry opened their ranks, and the cavalry rushed forward towards the enemy, drawn up on the banks of the torrent of Arsur. The king of England advanced with the main body, sweeping away the crowd of Saracens that opposed his passage, and pursuing them to the other side of torrent ; but whilst he yeilded to his ardour, and advanced before the Christian army, the chosen troops of the Mussulman descended from the mountains of Naplouse, and poured down upon the reae of the Christians. Richard was forced to retrace his steps to support the French and German, who were beginning to give way. The plain to which the battle was fought could scarcely contain all the combatants. The Christians and Mussulmans closed, and attacked each other man to man ; the foot fought pell-mell with the horse, exhorting each other to brave death. The cries of rage, despair, and agony were mingled with the clashing of swords, lances, and shields. The two armies, confounded and mixed together, became nothing but one horrible spectacle. - Book VIII