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.