The Island of Cyprus, whose name excites the ideas of elegance and pleasure, was usurped by his namesake, a Comnenian prince; and by a strange concatenation of events, the sword of our English Richard bestowed that kingdom on the house of Lusignan, a rich compensation for the loss of Jerusalem.
[Footnote 18: The history of the reign of Isaac Angelus is composed, in three books, by the senator Nicetas, (p.

228--290;) and his offices of logothete, or principal secretary, and judge of the veil or palace, could not bribe the impartiality of the historian.

He wrote, it is true, after the fall and death of his benefactor.] [Footnote 19: See Bohadin, Vit.Saladin.p.

129--131, 226, vers.
Schultens.

The ambassador of Isaac was equally versed in the Greek, French, and Arabic languages; a rare instance in those times.