The Road to Jerusalem
[10.33.4] In aliā vērō parte certābant nostrī mīlitēs cotīdiē cum illīs, ērigentēs scālās ad mūrum urbis, sed virtus pāgānōrum erat tanta ut nihil prōficere nostrī possent. Tamen Gulfērius dē Daturre prīmus ascendit per scālam in mūrum, sed statim fuit frācta scāla prō multitūdine aliōrum; tamen ascendit ipse cum aliquantīs suprā mūrum. Illī autem quī ascenderant expediēbant circā illōs mūrum. Aliī quoque invēnērunt aliam scālam, ērēxēruntque eam festīnanter ad mūrum, et ascendērunt per eam multī mīlitēs et peditēs, statimque ascendērunt super mūrum. Saracēnī igitur tam rōbustē invāsērunt illōs per mūrum et per terram, sagittandō et spīculandō comminus cum suīs lanceīs, ut multī ex nostrīs, timōre perterritī, dēmitterent sē per mūrum. Tamdiū vērō illī prūdentissimī virī, quī remānserant in mūrō, sufferēbant illōrum persecūtiōnem, quamdiū aliī, quī subter castrum erant, fōdērunt mūrum urbis. Videntēs vērō Saracēnī quod nostrī fōdissent mūrum, statim, timōre perterritī, iniērunt fugam in cīvitātem. Hoc tōtum factum est in diē Sabbatī, ad hōram vesperī occīdente sōle, ūndecimā diē intrante Decembrī.
notes
(December 1098) Eventually the crusaders surmount the walls of Marra, but they are met with fierce resistance. Then, the crusaders manage to undermine the wall (perhaps with the siege tower as cover), and the Turks flee into the city.
Gulfērius dē Daturre: Gouffier of Lastours; he was apparently accompanied by a lion whose life he had saved.
expediēbant circā illōs mūrum: “they cleared the wall (in the spaces) around them(selves).”
iniērunt fugam: “they entered into flight” or simply “they fled.”
in cīvitātem: They ran away from the walls and went into city itself.
ūndecimā diē intrante Decembrī: “on December 11th" (Hill). I don't understand what intrante adds (I wonder if it could mean "as the day was beginning," i.e., "the evening before").
vocabulary
expediō (4): to disengage, free, liberate
ērigō ērigere ērēxī ērēctum: to raise up, lift up, exalt
rōbustē: firmly, boldly
spiculō (1): to fight with a spear
comminus: hand to hand, at close quarters
fodiō fodere fōdī fossum: to dig
