The Capture of Jerusalem
[10.38.2] Nocte vērō ac diē in quārtā et quīntā fēriā mīrābiliter aggredimur cīvitātem, ex omnī parte; sed antequam invāderēmus eam, ōrdināvērunt epīscopī et sacerdōtēs, praedicandō et commonendō omnēs, ut prōcessiōnem Deō in circuitū Hierusalem celebrārent, et ōrātiōnēs ac eleemosynās et iēiūnia fidēliter facerent. Sextā vērō fēriā, summō, māne undique aggredimur urbem, et nihil eī nocēre potuimus, erāmusque omnēs stupefactī ac in nimiō pavōre. Appropinquante autem hōrā scīlicet in quā Dominus noster Iēsus Chrīstus dignātus est prō nōbīs sufferre patibulum crucis, nostrī mīlitēs fortiter pugnābant in castellō, vidēlicet dux Godefridus, et comes Eustachius frāter ēius. Tunc ascendit quīdam mīles ex nostrīs, Laetholdus nōmine, super mūrum urbis. Mox vērō, ut ascendit, omnēs dēfēnsōrēs cīvitātis fūgērunt per mūrōs et per cīvitātem, nostrīque subsecūtī persequēbantur eōs occīdendō et dētruncandō usque ad Templum Salamōnis. Ibique tālis occīsiō fuit, ut nostrī in sanguine illōrum pedēs usque ad cavillās mitterent.
notes
(July 1099) The main attack on the city begins on Wednesday and Thursday (July 13-14), but before that (July 8) there was a religious procession around the city. On Friday, the crusaders attack at dawn, but make no progess till around 9:00 A.M., the hour at which Christ was crucified. When a soldier (not otherwise known) gains the top of the wall, the defenders flee to the "Temple of Solomon" (The Dome of the Rock).
in quārtā et quīntā fēriā: Wednesday and Thursday, July 13–14.
ōrdināvērunt epīscopī et sacerdōtēs: This took place on July 8. CL would presumably have been ōrdināvērant, clarifying the sequence of events.
Sextā vērō fēriā: Friday, July 15.
nihil eī nocēre potuimus: “we could do it (the city) no harm”; the dative with noceō is rare in CL.
Appropinquante autem hōrā ... patibulum crucis: Jesus is said to have been crucified “at the third hour” on Good Friday (Mark 15.25), i.e., around 9:00 AM.
in castellō: on his siege tower.
et comes Eustachius frāter ēius: Eustace of Boulogne, brother of Godfrey of Bouillon.
Laetholdus nōmine: Lethold.
ad Templum Salamōnis: i.e, the Mosque of Omar (the Dome of the Rock), built on the site of Solomon’s Temple.
vocabulary
circuitus –ūs, m.: a going round, circling
eleemosyna –ae, f.: charity, alms (LL)
iēiūnium –ī, n.: a fast-day, fast
patibulum –ī, n.: crossbar (in a crucifixion), cross
dētruncō (1): to lop off, remove (body parts); behead
cavilla –ae, f.: ankle (ML)
