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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

effecting the hoped-for purpose, the greater part of the fleet having been de-stroyed either by the Greek fire, of which mention has been already made, orby those storms, and natural operations of nature, which not unfrequentlyrender the best concerted plans ineffectual. At length, after a continued butunsuccessful series of assault for the space of several months, which some his-torians have prolonged even to the extent of two years, the besiegers werecompelled to relinquish their project with disgrace.

Disappointed in this attempt, the Saracen chief, rendered more dreadfullyfurious by his discomfiture, sought to repair his wounded reputation by falling,with effect, on some less invulnerable quarter ; but dying ere the armamentwas so fully completed as political prudence required, the command devolvedon his successor, named Ized, who, with an energy and furious zeal whichmarked every enterprize undertaken by the people whom he led, ravaged thecoasts not only of Italy and Sicily, but falling afterwards on Sardinia, reducedit to as great an extremity, as a desultory expedition, and the dreadful chas-tisement of what is called fire and sword, was capable of effecting. Afterthis exertion, the naval operations of what might be quaintly called, at thattime, the world, appeared to be totally suspended for the space of thirteenyears; when Leo caused a very extensive naval armament to be fitted out,for the purpose of reducing Italy to subjection, and compelling its inhabitantsto embrace the same religious principles which were adopted by himself.Misfortune, however, frustrated the tyrannical attempt, for his fleet was almosttotally annihilated by a dreadful tempest which it encountered when in theAdriatic. An interval of nine years continuance, during which no mention ismade of any naval expedition having taken place, followed the misfortune justmentioned. The Saracens then finding themselves much pressed, particularlyin consequence of Constantine, who had succeeded Leo as emperor of the east,having invaded their territory, equipped a very formidable naval force, whichthey sent to Cyprus, where, according to a previous arrangement, a consider-able number of gallies, or other vessels, properly and particularly equipped forwar, together with a fleet of transports filled with land forces, were to havejoined, and, if it were possible to indulge such an hope, set all opposition atdefiance.

The expedition and superior intelligence of the imperialists frustrated thewhole of the plan. The fleet from Constantinople attacking its enemiesunexpectedly, and at a time when they were totally unprepared to receive

them,