CHAPTER VIII.

How the Pope baptized the Emir Nurreddin, and many of his Moors.

So it came to pass, that one morning on the shores of Ostia, there arose a fearful tumult and confusion. Women, old men, and children, were already flying along the high-road towards Rome, or had embarked in boats to row up the Tiber, while others were anxiously collecting and packing up their property, all the while calling out in their terror, “Away, away, ere it be too late! Yonder are their flags already on the horizon.” The men, however, and youths who were able to bear arms, drew themselves up on the strand, prepared for defence, though among them were to be seen many pale faces, and murmurs were heard through the ranks,--“It is Nurreddin, the frightful Arab himself, who is thus coming against us.” From Rome there came ere long troops, to support the people at Ostia, but few in number, and in their looks no tokens of confidence nor pleasure, more than in the countenances of those whom they were sent to encourage, only here and there some one continued to tranquillize his own mind, by saying, “This cannot be the great emir, who is now coming hither. The fleet is nothing more than African pirate ships.” Such voices, however, were opposed always by twenty to one; for men had been sent out in boats to reconnoitre, and to keep watch in the high-light towers. On their return, they all declared, that it was the fleet of the dreaded emir that was near at hand, and that his own flag-ship, distinguished from all the rest, was in the middle. All this they knew by the glittering ornaments and streamers, by the fashion of the sails, and shape of the vessels. The chiefs of the Italian troops were so terrified at hearing this, that they could scarcely utter an angry command, that these unwelcome messengers should be silent. Then they whispered to one another, “It is all but too certain! Nurreddin is drawing near, and our only hope is to die nobly with sword in hand!”

Meanwhile the ships were advancing in beautiful array, with a favouring breeze, and their white sails gleaming in the red light of the morning. Judging by the number of vessels how powerful the enemy must prove, the Italian chiefs did not venture to oppose them at their first landing, but retired upwards from the shore, forming a kind of ambuscade, whence they could watch the movements of the invaders, and take advantage of a favourable opportunity for attack, hoping perchance to surprise them when engaged in plundering the town; or, finally, if the enemy came in battle-array against them here, at least, they would, if put to flight, stand a better chance than on the shore below, of securing their retreat to Rome. At the moment when the troops, who had just then assembled, heard the command for wheeling round, and marching back towards the capital, this order was obeyed with the greatest alacrity and precision. When the captains, however, found, that the proper station on a rising ground had been gained, and intended that they should again turn round towards the sea, they saw that obedience was no longer to be expected. To the people of Ostia, bearing arms indeed, but wholly unpractised in warfare, the road to Rome, that lay now before them, was a prospect far too attractive to be resisted. The more vehemently that the chiefs thundered out the orders to “halt,” the more rapidly did the troops now march forward; and when the commands were changed into threats, and measures were taken to interrupt their course, their march turned straightway into flight, and, as if the enemy had been in full chace, they pursued their way, while the captains found, that only a few old and practised soldiers were left near them.

The men of this little band looked at each other with melancholy pride. They could not but feel, that they might be well compared to corn, and the dispersed multitude to worthless chaff. Their honour, however, was to be purchased only by unavoidable death; for already Nurreddin’s ships lay at anchor; already his troops had disembarked, and in their glittering dresses had begun to arrange themselves on the shore, while even the number of their waving banners exceeded that of the warriors who were left here to oppose them. Not one of this band, however, thought of following the example that had been set them by the contemptible runaways; for, whoever remains steadfast in resolve till a certain trying point has been passed over, henceforward is troubled neither with doubts nor fears.

But while the warriors stood thus prepared for death, leaning sternly on their swords, lances, and halberts, lo! there came before them, an apparition so unexpected and brilliant, that they believed it could be no other than a messenger from Heaven sent to comfort them, in this the last and bitterest hour of their lives. The reality did in truth somewhat accord with what they had imagined,--for now the consecrated father of the church, the pope himself, in all the pomp and grandeur of his holy office, walked up and down among the ranks. The soldiers all fell on their knees before this venerable ruler of the Christian world, whereupon he spoke as follows:--“My beloved children, if the Saracens should obtain the victory in this place, those who saved their own lives by flight would certainly not find themselves able to defend Rome and the holy sanctuaries of the capital. Therefore I have come forth to share your fate, whether it be victory or death; for God forbid, that the pope should think of his own safety, if the holiest temples of Europe are to be profaned, and perchance levelled with the ground. According to the best reason and judgment of men, such must be the consequence of this invasion, and we have only to shed our last heart’s blood on these green meadows for his glory and our own salvation; but if it should be the will of Heaven, all may turn out far differently from what we now expect. Let us then wait with composure and tranquillity for whatever fortune he may send to us, whether it be joy or sorrow; and now receive, with hearts both courageous and humble, his blessing.”

The pope then stretched out his arms, and implored the blessing of Heaven on that band of warriors, who at his signal immediately rose up, and looked forward confidently and with calm courage to the events which were now before them, while he walked in the van of this little squadron, invested with the symbols of his holy rank.

Meanwhile Nurreddin’s troops advanced in all that splendour which he had long been preparing, with cheering music, trumpets, and tambourines. Suddenly, however, the whole army stood still, the music ceased, and, lo! there appeared two graceful figures,--an armed champion and a beautiful damsel,--who came forward towards the pope and his little band confidently and as friends, without sending any herald or peace-messenger to demand a conference. It was a pleasure to behold the warlike grandeur of the knight, and the humble yet dignified demeanour of that beautiful lady, so that no one could have dared to meet them as foes with javelin or sword;--moreover, the pope made a signal to the Italian chiefs, that they should remain quiet, and moved forwards alone to meet his extraordinary guests. The strangers both kneeled before him, and the lady began to speak:--“Holy father,” said she, “we recognised you from afar, not merely by your magnificent attire, but by your looks and gestures; therefore we thought it needless to send a herald to prepare the way for a request that we have now to make. Lo! we kneel humbly before you. I have been educated in the Christian faith; my home is in Swabia; and I am named Bertha von Lichtenried. I have brought hither the noble and far-famed champion Nurreddin, who begs earnestly to receive from your hands the blessed sacrament of baptism.”

To this unexpected address there followed a long solemn silence; and the pope clasped his hands, and looked up to Heaven in gratitude and astonishment. After that pause Bertha continued,--“The soldiers who are drawn up yonder on the plain are willing to follow the example of their commander; and the few who wish to desert him, and abide by the doctrines of Mahomet, will immediately re-embark in their vessels, and will not venture even to injure one blade of grass on these shores, which hereafter shall be under the warlike protection of the renowned emir Nurreddin.”--“So may the God of the Christians and his Holy Spirit assist or renounce me,” said the emir;--“both have I been taught to know and to reverence by the seraph who has now spoken for me here.”

Then the pope kneeled down, and the Christian soldiers with him;--all prayed silently, and with hearts deeply moved, to the Giver of all good. At length the patriarch commanded them all to rise up, and to follow him on his way back to Rome, where would immediately be held the solemn festival of baptism. Nurreddin, however, still kneeling, thus addressed him:--“Holy father, my soul thirsts after the waters of eternal life; and, if it so pleased you, I would not longer be debarred that blessing which the forerunner of the Christian Saviour used to confer in the wild fields and woods, without circumstance or pomp.”--“Let it be then as thou desirest, dear son,” answered the pope; and, looking round, he perceived near him a rivulet of clear water, to which he advanced, and, choosing Bertha and the Christian soldiers who had remained faithful at their post for witnesses, he straightway fulfilled the baptism of Nurreddin, giving to him the honoured name of Christophorus, which had been borne many centuries before by a powerful and gigantic warrior, whose sword was always wielded in defence of the Christian church. Then he embraced the new-won votary of the true faith, even as a father would embrace a beloved son, and turning to Bertha, almost bent down his head respectfully before her:--“Noble and virtuous lady,” said he, “thou art chosen by Heaven as a blessed agent of his holy will, and before that influence which dwells in thy spirit, even his consecrated servants feel themselves awed and humbled. I beg, therefore, in the name of our far-famed city, that thou wilt honour it with thy presence, and that thou wilt remain within its walls through the winter which is now approaching, in order that we may have time to thank her who, under Heaven, has been our deliverer and protectress. This brave champion will also remain for your protection, like the lion which would not leave the saint by whom he had been tamed.”--Humbly, and blushing deeply, Bertha inclined her head in token of assent; and the noble Arabian professed his determination of obedience to whatever commands she was pleased to lay upon him.

Many people, both men and women, came, attracted by the wonderful news that had arrived at Rome, bringing from the great city food and wine, in order that a banquet might not be wanting at this grand festival. Thereupon the holy patriarch assembled round him all the monks and other priests, who had now made their appearance, and, walking through the Moorish ranks, dealt out among them the blessed sacrament of baptism; for they now followed the example of their chief in his progress towards the gates of everlasting life, as they had before done on the battle-field to victory or death.

Thereafter the banquet was arranged along the beautiful banks of the Tiber, and when Bertha presented to the emir a cup of old Falernian wine, the converted Mahometan, for the first time, drank the noble juice of the grape, and felt through every vein the fire of earthly as well as of divine inspiration.