The losses of the combatants cannot be fairly presented without taking into the account the quality as well as the number of the slain.  The number of persons of consideration, both Christians and Moslems, who embarked in the expedition, was very great.  The roll of slaughter showed that in the race of glory they gave little heed to their personal safety.  The officer second in command among the Venetians, the commander-in-chief of the Turkish armament, and the commander of its right wing, all fell in the battle.  Many a high-born cavalier closed at Lepanto a long career of honorable service.  More than one, on the other hand, dated the commencement of their career from this day.  Such was the case with Alexander Farnese, the young prince of Parma.  Though somewhat older than his uncle, John of Austria, difference of birth had placed a wide distance in their conditions; the one filling the post of commander-in-chief, the other only that of a private adventurer.  Yet even so he succeeded in winning great renown by his achievements.  The galley in which he sailed was lying, yard-arm to yard-arm, alongside of a Turkish galley, with which it was hotly engaged.  In the midst of the action, the young Farnese sprang on board of the enemy, and with his stout broadsword hewed down all who opposed him, opening a path into which his comrades poured one after another; and after a short, but murderous contest, he succeeded in carrying the vessel.  As Farnese’s galley lay just astern of Don John’s, the latter could witness the achievement of his nephew, which filled him with an admiration he did not affect to conceal.  The intrepidity he displayed on this occasion gave augury of his character in later life, when he succeeded his uncle in command, and surpassed him in military renown.

Another youth was in that sea-fight, who, then humble and unknown, was destined one day to win laurels of a purer and more enviable kind than those which grow on the battle-field.  This was Cervantes, who, at the age of twenty-four, was serving on board the fleet as a common soldier.  He was confined to his bed by a fever; but, notwithstanding the remonstrances of his captain, insisted, on the morning of the action, not only on bearing arms, but on being stationed at the post of danger.  And well did he perform his duty there, as was shown by two wounds on the breast, and another in the hand, by which he lost the use of it.  Fortunately, it was the left hand.  The right yet remained, to record those immortal productions which were to be familiar as household words, not only in his own land, but in every quarter of the civilized world.

A fierce storm of thunder and lightning raged for four-and-twenty hours after the battle, during which the fleet rode safely at anchor in the harbor of Petala.  It remained there three days longer.  Don John profited by the time to visit the different galleys and ascertain their condition.  He informed himself of the conduct of the troops, and was liberal of his praises to those who deserved them.  With the sick and the wounded he showed the greatest sympathy, endeavoring to alleviate their sufferings, and furnishing them with whatever his galley contained that could minister to their comfort.  With so generous and sympathetic a nature, it is not wonderful that he should have established himself in the hearts of his soldiers.