44 CALIPHS OF AFRICA. 



sixteen miles from the city. The vigilance of the 

 pontiff had provided for the emergency, by his 

 alliance with the maritime states of Naples and 

 Amalfi; and in the hour of danger their galleys 

 appeared in the port of Ostia, under the command 

 of Caesarius, a noble and valiant youth, who had al- 

 ready humbled the naval pride of the Saracens. 

 Leo hastened to meet the descent of the enemy, not 

 in the garb of a warrior, but with the solemnity of 

 a Christian bishop. The alhes and city bands in 

 arms attended him to Ostia, where they were re- 

 viewed, and animated by his paternal benediction. 

 The pious soldiers kissed his feet, received the com- 

 munion with martial devotion, and listened to the 

 papal supplication, that the same God who had sup- 

 ported St. Peter and St. Paul on the waters of the 

 sea, would strengthen the hands of his champions 

 against the adversaries of the Holy Faith. The 

 Moslems preferred a similar prayer against the in- 

 fidels, and with equal resolution advanced to the 

 attack. The Christian galleys bravely maintained 

 their advantageous position along the coast, and 

 victory was inclined to their side, when it was less 

 gloriously terminated in their favour by a sudden 

 tempest, which confounded and appalled the stout- 

 est mariners. While they enjoyed the shelter of a 

 friendly harbour, the Saracens were scattered and 

 dashed' in pieces among the neighbouring rocks and 

 islands. Those who escaped the disasters of ship- 

 wreck and hunger neither found nor deserved mercy 

 at the hands of their implacable pursuers. The 

 sword and the gibbet reduced the dangerous multi- 

 tude of captives ; and the remainder M-ere usefully 

 employed in restoring the fortifications and sacred 

 edifices which they had attempted to destroy. 



Among the spoils of this naval victory, thirteen 

 Arabian Idows of pure and massy silver were sus- 

 pended round the shrines of the apostles, where the 

 pontiff", at the head of the warriors and citizens, paid 



