Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/485



festival of St. John the Baptist, on the 24th June, was celebrated by the inhabitants of the Bourg with very gloomy feelings. The sad tragedy enacted at the capture of St. Elmo had struck a panic into the hearts of all, and the horrifying spectacle of the headless and mutilated corpses which greeted their sight on the first dawn of their patron saint’s day increased the general despondency. To overcome this feeling La Valette exerted all his eloquence, and in a public address which he delivered, he urged them rather to emulate the deeds of those massacred heroes, than to mourn their fate. “What,” said he, “could a true knight desire more ardently than to die in arms? And what could be a more fitting fate for a member of the Order of St. John than to lay down his life in defence of his faith? Both of these precious boons have been vouchsafed to our brethren; why, then, should we mourn them? Rather should we rejoice at the prospect of the glorious future which they have earned. They have gained a martyr’s crown, and will reap a martyr’s reward. Why, too, should we be dismayed because the Moslem has at length succeeded in planting his accursed standard on the ruined battlements of St. Elmo? Have we not taught him a lesson which must strike dismay throughout his whole army? If that poor, weak, insignificant fort has been able to withstand his most powerful efforts for more than a month, how can he expect to succeed against the stronger works and more numerous garrison of the Bourg? With us must be the victory. Let us then, on this holy day, once more renew before the altar of God those vows of constancy which our slaughtered brethren have so