Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/261

Rh ubi priscis temporibus collosus ile ingens Rhodi (unum de septem miraculis mundi) positus erat.” On the other hand, it may be objected that from Pliny’s account of the overthrow of the Colossus, we may infer that it fell on the earth, whereas, if thrown down from the extremity of the mole, it could hardly fail to have fallen into the sea. It may, however, have been split open by the earthquake, and afterwards hauled down so as to fall along the mole. The notion that its legs bestrid the entrance to either harbour, as is commonly believed, is not based on any ancient authority.”

Zacosta felt how important it was that the work should be promptly completed, and at the same time knew that the contribution of the duke of Burgundy, liberal though it was, would not nearly suffice for the purpose. He therefore took a step in order to provide funds, which the exigencies of the case seemed to warrant, but which at the time gave great dissatisfaction. It has been already stated that when he was elected to the Grand-Mastership he was holding the post of castellan of Emposta. Under ordinary circumstances he should, upon attaining the higher dignity, have at once resigned the lesser office. This he resolved not to do, but still retaining the castellany in his own hands, to devote its revenues entirely to the completion of the new fort.

Raymond at the same time divided the whole line of defences around the city in such a manner that a specific portion of it should be appropriated to each langue, to be maintained and guarded by them, and to receive their name. it is worthy of record that in the emulation and keen competition which such an arrangement naturally elicited, the portion of the line set apart for the langue of England, became celebrated for the perfect manner in which it was kept up, and for the beauty of the decorations with which it was embellished.

The siege and capture of Lesbos, which took place in the year 1465, in the defence of which a body of Hospitallers had taken part and lost their lives, became a new warning to the fraternity to maintain its vigilance against its relentless and ever-advancing foe. Zacosta, who was determined not only to do his own duty, but also to compel those under him to be