While God lives, there is hope." "He lived on the day of Hattin, and suffered it," said Heraclius; and the council broke up, having decided nothing.
That afternoon Balian stood once more before Saladin and implored him to spare the city.
Saladin led him to the door of the tent and pointed to his yellow banners floating here and there upon the wall, and to one that at this moment rose upon the breach itself.
"Why should I spare what I have already conquered, and what I have sworn to destroy ?" he asked.

"When I offered you mercy you would have none of it.

Why do you ask it now ?" Then Balian answered him in those words that will ring through history forever.
"For this reason, Sultan.

Before God, if die we must, we will first slaughter our women and our little children, leaving you neither male nor female to enslave.

We will burn the city and its wealth; we will grind the holy Rock to powder and make of the mosque el-Aksa, and the other sacred places, a heap of ruins.