Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/204

 182 THE DECLINE AND FALL field to hide his shame behind the walls of Bari, and to await the tardy succour of his allies. Expedition of But the power of Constantiiie was distracted by a Turkish aga^stThe ' War ; tile mind of Henry was feeble and irresolute ; and the A°™i^ pope, instead of passing the Alps with a German army, Avas ac- companied only by a guard of seven hundred Swabians and some volunteers of Lorraine. In his long progress from Mantua to Beneventum, a vile and promiscuous multitude of Italians was enlisted under the holy standard ; ^- the priest and the robber slept in the same tent ; the pikes and crosses were inter- mingled in the front ; and the natural saint repeated the lessons of his youth in the order of march, of encampment, and of com- bat. The Normans of Apulia could muster in the field no more than three thousand horse, with an handful of infantry ; the defection of the natives intercepted their provisions and retreat ; and their spirit, incapable of fear, was chilled for a moment by superstitious awe. On the hostile approach of Leo, they knelt without disgrace or reluctance before their spiritual father. But the pope was inexorable ; his lofty Germans affected to deride the diminutive stature of their adversaries ; and the Normans were informed that death or exile was their only al- ternative. Flight they disdained, and, as many of them had been three days without tasting food, they embraced the as- surance of a more easy and honourable death. Thej^ climbed the hill of Civitella, descended into the plain, and charged in three divisions the army of the pope. On the left and in the His defeat and Centre, Richard count of A versa, and Robert the famous Guis- card, attacked, broke, routed, and pursued the Italian multi- tudes, who fought without discipline and fled without shame. A harder trial was reserved for the valour of count Humphrey, who led the cavalry of the right wing. The CJermans ^-^ have been described as unskilfid in the managenient of the horse and lance ; but on foot they formed a strong and impenetrable [Battle of Civitate] captivity. June IS ■^ See the expedition of Leo IX. against the Normans. See William Appulus (1. ii. p. 259-261) and Jeffrey Malaterra (1. i. c. 13, 14, 15. p. 253) [and Aim6, iii. c. 40]. They are impartial, as the national is counterbalanced by the clerical prejudice. [For details, cp. Heinemann, o/>. cit.. Appendix, p. 366 sqq.^ ■'^ Teutonic!, quia cassaries et forma decoros Fecerat egregie proceri corporis illos, Corpora derident Normannica, qua; breviora Esse videbantur. The verses of the Apulian are commonl)- in this strain, though he heats himself a little in the battle. Two of his similes from hawking and sorcery are descriptive of manners.