The Battle of Ascalon
[10.39.8] Comes autem dē Nortmannīā, cernēns ammiraliī stantarum habēre quoddam pōmum aureum in summitāte hastae, quae erat cooperta argentō, ruit vehementer super illum, eumque vulnerāvit usque ad mortem. Ex aliā parte, comes Flandrēnsis nimis ācriter illōs invāsit. Tancredus igitur impetum fēcit per medium tentōriōrum eōrum. Quod videntēs pāgānī continuō iniērunt fugam. Pāgānōrum multitūdō erat innumerābilis, numerumque eōrum nēmō scit nisi sōlus Deus. Bella vērō erant immēnsa; sed virtūs dīvīna comitābātur nōbīscum—tam magna, tam fortis, quod statim superāvimus illōs. Stābant autem inimīcī Deī excaecātī et stupefactī, ac, videntēs, Chrīstī mīlitēs apertīs oculīs nīl vidēbant, et contrā Chrīstiānōs ērigere sē nōn audēbant, virtūte Deī tremefactī. Prō nimiō timōre ascendēbant in arborēs, in quibus putābant sē abscondere; at nostrī, sagittandō et cum lanceīs et ēnsibus occīdendō, eōs ad terram praecipitābant. Aliī autem iactābant sē in terram, nōn audentēs ērigere sē contrā nōs. Nostrī igitur illōs dētruncābant, sīcut aliquis dētruncat animālia ad macellum. Comes Sānctī Egidīī iuxtā mare occīdit ex eīs sine numerō. Aliī vērō sē praecipitābant in mare, aliī fugiēbant hūc illūcque.
notes
(August 1099) Robert of Normandy kills the emir's standard-bearer. Robert of Flanders attacks on the other side, and Tancred charges straight into the enemy camp. The Egyptians flee, are paralyzed with fear, and try in different ways to escape death, but fail miserably.
ammiraliī stantarum: “the emir’s standard.” Robert's success was an important inspiration to the rest of the army.
super illum: ”straight at him" (the standard-bearer).
Tancredus igitur impetum fēcit per medium tentōriōrum eōrum: this seems to have been another decisive moment.
Bella ... immēnsa: CL would be proelia ... immēnsa.
videntēs, Chrīstī mīlitēs apertīs oculīs nīl vidēbant: "although they (the Egyptians) could see, they were not looking (i.e., they couldn't bring themselves to look) at the soldiers of Christ with open eyes."
vocabulary
stantarum –ī, n.: standard, banner (ML)
pōmum –ī, n.: a fruit.
hasta –ae, f.: a staff, rod, pole.
comitor (1): (dep.) to accompany, attend, follow
excaecō (1): to blind, make blind
ērigō ērigere ērēxī ērēctum: to raise up, lift
tremefaciō tremefacere tremefēcī tremefactum: to cause to shake, agitate, make tremble
praecipitō (1): to throw down
dētruncō (1): to lop, cut off
macellum –ī, n.: a meat-market
