During this time Gautier d’Autrèche surrendered his soul to God. When he perceived cavalry not far away he was overcome by rage. He armed himself, mounted his charger and had the flap of his pavilion lifted. Then he spurred out to meet the enemy but lost control and fell off. This happened because some of the enemy horses were mares and Gautier’s stallion was attracted to them. People who observed this said that four Saracens rushed toward Gautier while he lay on the ground and struck him heavily with maces. Constable Imbert de Beaujeu with several of his majesty’s sergeants picked up Gautier and brought him back. He was unable to speak. Physicians examined him and bled both arms. That night Aubert de Narcy thought we should find out if he had improved. The chamberlain met us when we entered, saying Gautier was asleep. We approached quietly. He lay on a pallet draped with miniver. He was dead. King Louis, being informed, remarked that he cared little for such men in his army because the knight had gone out unattended.
We discovered later that many soldiers visited harlots while we were encamped and would engage them in the very shadow of the palace. Of bodily pleasure what can be said? Men seek happiness outside themselves when it may be met only within.
The feast of Saint Remigius having passed and no news of Comte Alfonse de Poitiers, who was his majesty’s brother, we began to worry. At length he appeared, delayed for a reason I do not know, which was fortunate or he would have sailed through the vortex of a storm outside Damietta. More than two hundred vessels, counting little boats, were flung about, smashed, nearly all on board drowned. In truth it is not for us to comprehend the multitudinous paths of His divine work, nor expound upon them. We should live content in the knowledge that He embodies all things and maintains the universe.
Anon, King Louis assembled us to discuss a means of conquering Egypt, whether we should besiege Alexandria or march against Cairo. Most thought we should lay siege to Alexandria because of its good harbor where ships could land provisions. A second brother of the king, Comte Robert d’Artois, dissented. Cairo is the principal city of Egypt, said he, and if you would kill a viper you must crush its head. His majesty agreed.
Now the river that flows through the heart of Egypt, past Cairo to Damietta, originates in Paradise. The rivers Pison, Hiddekel, and Euphrates also descend from Paradise, each differing from the rest. But this mighty river partitions itself in order to become several streams. Then once a year it seeks to unite itself by overflowing the land, hence the water grows murky. Whoever wishes to drink it must draw a bucket at sundown, adding a handful of beans or almonds so that by morning the water will have clarified. Peasants till their fields when this flood recedes. They harvest rich crops of wheat, cumin, barley, rice, and I know not what else. How these floods arise is a mystery to all save God. Fishermen who live far to the south cast their nets in the Nile at dusk and each morning harvest the produce of heavenly trees such as rhubarb, aloe, cinnamon, and ginger. This happens because strong winds topple dry wood in Paradise just as they do on earth.
The sultan of Cairo a long time past, desiring to learn the source of this river, despatched an expedition to find out. These men subsisted on a kind of bread that is twice baked, so is called biscuit. When they got back they reported divers marvels. Elephants, lions, serpents that walked or crawled to the river bank to gaze at them while they traveled. At last they came to the base of a cliff so huge and steep they were unable to climb up, from which the Nile fell streaming down. They were able to discern at the summit a foison of green trees, therefore they told the sultan they had glimpsed Paradise on earth.
As to practical matters, we learned that if water from the Nile is poured into white earthenware jugs made by Egyptians it becomes as cold as water drawn from a well. We suspended jugs of it from the cords of our pavilions. And we learned to our dismay that these accursed unbelievers had dug more canals than might be seen in all of France. Thus, travel was no easy march. I do not know how many streams the Nile makes of itself. Some say four, one proceeding to Damietta, another to Alexandria, another to Tanis, another to Rexi. We encamped by the stream of Rexi while opposite our tents a host of Saracens prepared to dispute the crossing.
His majesty ordered the construction of a mud embankment or causeway. Hence we built two chats-châteaux, which are small turrets, donjons for cats, to shelter the men on guard. We also built covered ways to protect those who were transporting earth. Meanwhile we flung stones at the enemy. They likewise flung stones at us. That was how matters stood when we came to the week before Christmas. And I, God forgive me, too often caught myself remembering Joinville castle.
Presently we observed how the Babylonians hindered us by digging trenches that filled up with water. That is, while we extended the embankment on our side they on their side proceeded to widen the stream. Thus they undid in a day what had cost us three weeks. Also, one
