Saladin, on tho other hand, had been carefully consolidating and strengthening his power, and was vigorously preparing for the reconqtiest of the Holy City, the long-cherished enterprise of the Mussulnien. The Arabian writers enthusiastically recount his pious exhortations to the true believers, and describe with vast enthusiasm his glorious preparations for the holy war. Bohadin F. Sjeddadi, his friend and secretary, and great biographer, before venturing upon the sublime task of describing his famous and sacred actions, makes a solemn confession of faith, and olfers up praises to the one true God. *' Praise be to GOD," says he, " who hath blessed us with Islam, and hath led us to the understanding of the true faith beautifully put together, and hath befriended us ; and, through the intercession of our prophet, hath loaded us with every blessing " I bear witness that there is no God but that one great God who hath no partner, (a testimony that will deliver our souls from the smoky fire of hell,) that Mohammed is his servant and apostle, who hath opened unto us the gates of tbe right road to salvation " " These solemn duties being performed, I will begin to write concerning the victorious defender of the faith, the tamer of the followers of the cross, the lifter up of the standard of justice and equity, the saviour of the world and of religion, Saladin Abool lnodaifer Joseph, the son of Job, the son of Schadi, Sultan of tbe Moslems, ay, and of Islam itself ; the deliverer of the holy house of God (the Temple) from the hands of the idolaters, the servant of two holy cities, whose tomb may the Lord moisten with the dew of Ids favour, affording to hint the sweetness of the fruits of the faith."* On the 10th of May, A. D. 1187, Malek-el-Afdal, "Most * Vita et rea gestae Saladuii by Behadiji F, Sje4daUi, apud SehuUem, ox. MS. Arab. Tret: