46 THE BOY ctkUSADERS.

Louis reach the port of Limisso, than Henry, accom-
panied by nobles and clergy, appeared to bid him
welcome. Nothing, indeed, could have exceeded the
enthusiasm with which the French Crusaders were
received; and when Louis was conducted with much
ceremony to Nicosia, aud entered that city, the capital
of the island, the pcpulace cheered loudly, and the
clergy met him, singing * Blessed is he that comes
in the name of the Lord.’

The glory of Nicosia has long since departed.
Situated in the centre of Cyprus, on the river Pedia,
in a low fertile plain, near the base of a range of
mountains that intersects the island, and surrounded
by walls, in the form of a hexagon, flanked with
bastions, the capital has many fine houses; but
these are mostly in ruins, and the inhabitants occupy
tenements reared of mud and brick, and rather
repulsive in appearance. At that time, however, the
state of Nicosia was very different. As the capital
of the Lusignans, the city exhibited the pomp and
pride of feudal chivalry, with much of the splen-
dour of oriental courts, and boasted of its palaces,
castles, churches, and convents, and chapelries, and
vardens, and vineyards, and pleasant places, and all
the luxuries likely to render medizeval life enviable.
_ Now, when Louis landed at Limisso, and entered
Nicosia, he had no intention of wintering in Cyprus.
In fact, the saint-king was all eagerness to push
forward and combat the Saracens. But circum-
stances proved stronger than his will. The Crusaders
were highly captivated with all that they saw and
heard. ‘The aspect of the island was enchanting ;