HISTORY OF MALTA.

37

courage, but their charity. The town was assaulted a secondtime: when the commander Giou first mounted the breach, plantedthe colours of the order upon it, and was killed by a shot from theenemy. He was immediately replaced by the commander deCossier, who, during the whole action, though exposed to a constantfire, and enveloped in a cloud of arrows from the cross-bows, stillheld exalted the banner of St. John. At the very moment whenthey despaired of carrying the place, and the Imperial troops ap-peared to give way, the commander de Gimeran forced his passageinto the city, which was immediately taken and sacked. Dragufssoldiers, fearing the reproaches of their leader more than death,rushed upon the sw r ords of the Christians, and, refusing to ask forquarter, were all cut to pieces.

In this manner was taken the strongest city at that time exist-ing on the African coast. The emperor, desirous of preserving thememory of the warriors killed upon the ramparts, ordered, upon..quitting the place, their remains to be transported into Sicily, anddeposited in the cathedral at Montreal; where they arrived in twoseparate cases:—and the viceroy erected a mausoleum, upon whichhe engraved the following epitaph—“ Though the hand of Deathhas terminated the existence of those whose ashes are entombedunder this marble, the remembrance of their rare valour can neverbe effaced. By faith these heroes have obtained a seat in heaven;and their courage has ensured their everlasting glory on earth; sothat the blood which issued from their wounds, has, for one transi-tory life, procured them durable immortality ! ”