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The first Crusade, a wild mob of honest Christians, defaulting bankrupts, penniless noblemen and fugitives from justice, following the lead of halfcrazy Peter the Hermit and Walter-without-a-Cent, began their campaign against the Infidels by murdering all the Jews whom they met by the way. They got as far as Hungary and then they were all killed.
第一支十字軍是由誠實的基督徒、無力履行義務的破產者、窮困潦倒的沒落貴族以及逃避法庭制裁的罪犯所組成的烏臺之眾。他們亂哄哄地、紀律渙散，在半瘋癲的隱士彼得和"赤貧者"瓦特的領導下開始了遠征。作為懲罰異教徒的第一步，他們把一路上碰見的所有猶太人統統殺掉。他們只勉強前進到匈牙利，然后便全軍覆沒了。
This experience taught the Church a lesson. Enthusiasm alone would not set the Holy Land free. Organisation was as necessary as good-will and courage. A year was spent in training and equipping an army of 200,000 men. They were placed under command of Godfrey of Bouillon, Robert, duke of Normandy, Robert, count of Flanders, and a number of other noblemen, all experienced in the art of war.
這次經歷給了教會一個深刻的教訓：單憑熱情是無法解放圣地的。細致的組織工作與良好意愿、勇氣一樣，都是十字軍事業成功必不可少的因素。于是歐洲花費了1年時間，訓練和裝備了1支20萬人的軍隊，由布隆的戈德弗雷、諾曼底公爵羅伯特、弗蘭德斯伯爵羅伯特以及其他幾位貴族指揮。這些人都是深諳作戰技巧、經驗豐富的將領。
In the year 1096 this second crusade started upon its long voyage. At Constantinople the knights did homage to the Emperor. (For as I have told you, traditions die hard, and a Roman Emperor, however poor and powerless, was still held in great respect). Then they crossed into Asia, killed all the Moslems who fell into their hands, stormed Jerusalem, massacred the Mohammedan population, and marched to the Holy Sepulchre to give praise and thanks amidst tears of piety and gratitude. But soon the Turks were strengthened by the arrival of fresh troops. Then they retook Jerusalem and in turn killed the faithful followers of the Cross.
公元1096年，第二支十字軍開始其漫長而徒勞的征程。到達君士坦丁堡后，騎士們神情莊嚴地向東羅馬皇帝舉行了宣誓效忠儀式。（正如我已經說過的，傳統不會輕易消失，不管如今的東羅馬皇帝是如何潦倒、如何無權無勢，但依然享有崇高的尊嚴。）隨后他們渡海到亞洲，沿途殺掉所有被俘的穆斯林。他們所向披靡，對耶路撒冷發動了暴風雨般的攻擊，并屠殺 了該城的所有穆罕默德信徒。最后，他們流著虔誠與感恩的淚水，進軍圣墓去贊美偉大的上帝。可不久后，土耳其人的精銳援軍趕到，重新奪取了耶路撒冷。作為報復，他們又殺光了所有忠于十字架的信徒。
