CALIPHS OF AFRICA. 53 



against the adversaries of his 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 vic- 

 tory was inclining 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 were usefully 

 employed in restoring the fortifications and sacred 

 edifices which they had attempted to destroy. 



Among the spoils of this naval victory thirteen 

 Arabian bows of pure and massy silver were suspend- 

 ed round the shrines of the apostles, where the pon- 

 tiff, at the head of the warriors and citizens, paid 

 their grateful devotions for so happy a deliverance. 

 By the care of Leo, Rome was soon restored to its 

 wonted splendour. The churches were renewed 

 and embellished ; nearly 4000 pounds of silver were 

 consecrated to repair the losses of St Peter; and his 

 sanctuary was decorated with a plate of gold, weigh- 

 ing 216 pounds, embossed with portraits of the pope 

 and the emperor, and encircled with a string of 

 pearls. Had the Arabs been inspired with the im- 

 petuous energies of the first soldiers of the Koran, 

 a different fate might have awaited the capital of 

 Christendom. 



