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.”