StoryTitle("caps", "Horatius at the Bridge") ?>
at the Bridge" is too long a poem for children to memorise.
But I never saw a boy who did not want some stanzas of it. "Hold the bridge
with me!" Boys like that motto instinctively. T.B. Macaulay (1800-59).
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Lars Porsena of Clusium,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "By the Nine Gods he swore", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That the great house of Tarquin", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Should suffer wrong no more.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "By the Nine Gods he swore it,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And named a trysting-day,", "") ?>
PagePoem(194, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And bade his messengers ride forth,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "East and west and south and north,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To summon his array.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "East and west and south and north", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The messengers ride fast,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And tower and town and cottage", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Have heard the trumpet's blast.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Shame on the false Etruscan", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Who lingers in his home", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When Porsena of Clusium", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Is on the march for Rome!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The horsemen and the footmen", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Are pouring in amain,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From many a stately market-place,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "From many a fruitful plain;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From many a lonely hamlet,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Which, hid by beech and pine,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Like an eagle's nest, hangs on the crest", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Of purple Apennine.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The harvests of Arretium,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "This year, old men shall reap;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "This year, young boys in Umbro", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Shall plunge the struggling sheep;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And in the vats of Luna,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "This year, the must shall foam", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Round the white feet of laughing girls", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Whose sires have marched to Rome.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There be thirty chosen prophets,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The wisest of the land,", "") ?>
PagePoem(195, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Who alway by Lars Porsena", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Both morn and evening stand:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Evening and morn the Thirty", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Have turned the verses o'er,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Traced from the right on linen white", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "By mighty seers of yore.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And with one voice the Thirty", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Have their glad answer given:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Go forth, go forth, Lars Porsena;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Go forth, beloved of Heaven;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Go, and return in glory", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To Clusium's royal dome;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And hang round Nurscia's altars", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The golden shields of Rome.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And now hath every city", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sent up her tale of men;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The foot are fourscore thousand,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The horse are thousands ten.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Before the gates of Sutrium", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Is met the great array.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A proud man was Lars Porsena", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Upon the trysting-day.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For all the Etruscan armies", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Were ranged beneath his eye,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And many a banished Roman,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And many a stout ally;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And with a mighty following", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To join the muster came", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The Tusculan Mamilius,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Prince of the Latian name.", "") ?>
PagePoem(196, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But by the yellow Tiber", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Was tumult and affright:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From all the spacious champaign", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To Rome men took their flight.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A mile around the city,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The throng stopped up the ways;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A fearful sight it was to see", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Through two long nights and days.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Now, from the rock Tarpeian,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Could the wan burghers spy", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The line of blazing villages", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Red in the midnight sky.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The Fathers of the City,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "They sat all night and day,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For every hour some horseman came", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "With tidings of dismay.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To eastward and to westward", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Have spread the Tuscan bands;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Nor house, nor fence, nor dovecot,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "In Crustumerium stands.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Verbenna down to Ostia", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Hath wasted all the plain;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Astur hath stormed Janiculum,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And the stout guards are slain.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I wis, in all the Senate,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "There was no heart so bold,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But sore it ached, and fast it beat,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "When that ill news was told.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Forthwith up rose the Consul,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Up rose the Fathers all;", "") ?>
PagePoem(197, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "In haste they girded up their gowns,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And hied them to the wall.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "They held a council standing", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Before the River Gate;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Short time was there, ye well may guess,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "For musing or debate.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Out spoke the Consul roundly:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "\"The bridge must straight go down;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For, since Janiculum is lost,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Naught else can save the town.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Just then a scout came flying,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "All wild with haste and fear:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"To arms! to arms! Sir Consul;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Lars Porsena is here.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "On the low hills to westward", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The Consul fixed his eye,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And saw the swarthy storm of dust", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Rise fast along the sky.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And nearer, fast, and nearer", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Doth the red whirlwind come;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And louder still, and still more loud,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From underneath that rolling cloud,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Is heard the trumpet's war-note proud,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The trampling and the hum.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And plainly and more plainly", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Now through the gloom appears,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Far to left and far to right,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "In broken gleams of dark-blue light,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The long array of helmets bright,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The long array of spears.", "") ?>
PagePoem(198, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And plainly and more plainly,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Above the glimmering line,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Now might ye see the banners", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Of twelve fair cities shine;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But the banner of proud Clusium", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Was the highest of them all,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The terror of the Umbrian,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The terror of the Gaul.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Fast by the royal standard,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "O'erlooking all the war,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Lars Porsena of Clusium", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sat in his ivory car.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "By the right wheel rode Mamilius,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Prince of the Latian name,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And by the left false Sextus,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "That wrought the deed of shame.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But when the face of Sextus", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Was seen among the foes,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A yell that rent the firmament", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "From all the town arose.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "On the house-tops was no woman", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "But spat toward him and hissed,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "No child but screamed out curses,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And shook its little fist.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But the Consul's brow was sad,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And the Consul's speech was low,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And darkly looked he at the wall,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And darkly at the foe.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Their van will be upon us", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Before the bridge goes down;", "") ?>
PagePoem(199, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And if they once may win the bridge,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "What hope to save the town?\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then out spake brave Horatius,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The Captain of the Gate:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"To every man upon this earth", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Death cometh soon or late;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And how can man die better", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Than facing fearful odds,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For the ashes of his fathers,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And the temples of his gods.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"And for the tender mother", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Who dandled him to rest,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And for the wife who nurses", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "His baby at her breast,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And for the holy maidens", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Who feed the eternal flame,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To save them from false Sextus", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "That wrought the deed of shame?", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "With all the speed ye may;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I, with two more to help me,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Will hold the foe in play.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "In yon straight path a thousand", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "May well be stopped by three.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Now who will stand on either hand,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And keep the bridge with me?\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then out spake Spurius Lartius—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "A Ramnian proud was he—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I will stand at thy right hand,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And keep the bridge with thee.\"", "") ?>
PagePoem(200, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And out spake strong Herminius—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Of Titian blood was he—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"I will abide on thy left side,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And keep the bridge with thee.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Horatius,\" quoth the Consul,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "\"As thou say'st, so let it be,\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And straight against that great array", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Forth went the dauntless Three.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For Romans in Rome's quarrel", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Spared neither land nor gold,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "In the brave days of old.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Now while the Three were tightening", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Their harness on their backs,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The Consul was the foremost man", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To take in hand an ax;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And Fathers mixed with Commons", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Seized hatchet, bar, and crow,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And smote upon the planks above,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And loosed the props below.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Meanwhile the Tuscan army,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Right glorious to behold,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Came flashing back the noonday light,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Rank behind rank, like surges bright", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Of a broad sea of gold.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Four hundred trumpets sounded", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "A peal of warlike glee,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As that great host, with measured tread,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And spears advanced, and ensigns spread,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Rolled slowly toward the bridge's head,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Where stood the dauntless Three.", "") ?>
PagePoem(201, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The Three stood calm and silent,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And looked upon the foes,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And a great shout of laughter", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "From all the vanguard rose:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And forth three chiefs came spurring", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Before that deep array;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To earth they sprang, their swords they drew,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And lifted high their shields, and flew", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To win the narrow way;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Aunus from green Tifernum,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Lord of the Hill of Vines;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And Seius, whose eight hundred slaves", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sicken in Ilva's mines;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And Picus, long to Clusium", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Vassal in peace and war,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Who led to fight his Umbrian powers", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From that gray crag where, girt with towers,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The fortress of Nequinum lowers", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "O'er the pale waves of Nar.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Stout Lartius hurled down Aunus", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Into the stream beneath;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Herminius struck at Seius,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And clove him to the teeth;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "At Picus brave Horatius", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Darted one fiery thrust;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the proud Umbrian's gilded arms", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Clashed in the bloody dust.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then Ocnus of Falerii", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Rushed on the Roman Three;", "") ?>
PagePoem(202, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And Lausulus of Urgo,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The rover of the sea;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And Aruns of Volsinium,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Who slew the great wild boar,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The great wild boar that had his den", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Amid the reeds of Cosa's fen.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And wasted fields and slaughtered men", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Along Albinia's shore.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Herminius smote down Aruns;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Lartius laid Ocnus low;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Right to the heart of Lausulus", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Horatius sent a blow.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Lie there,\" he cried, \"fell pirate!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "No more, aghast and pale,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From Ostia's walls the crowd shall mark", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The tracks of thy destroying bark,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "No more Campania's hinds shall fly", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To woods and caverns when they spy", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Thy thrice accurséd sail.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But now no sound of laughter", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Was heard among the foes.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A wild and wrathful clamour", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "From all the vanguard rose.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Six spears' length from the entrance", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Halted that deep array,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And for a space no man came forth", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To win the narrow way.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But hark! the cry is Astur:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And lo! the ranks divide;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the great Lord of Luna", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Comes with his stately stride.", "") ?>
PagePoem(203, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Upon his ample shoulders", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Clangs loud the fourfold shield,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And in his hand he shakes the brand", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Which none but he can wield.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "He smiled on those bold Romans,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "A smile serene and high;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "He eyed the flinching Tuscans,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And scorn was in his eye.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Quoth he: \"The she-wolf's litter", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Stand savagely at bay;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But will ye dare to follow,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "If Astur clears the way?\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then, whirling up his broadsword", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "With both hands to the height,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "He rushed against Horatius,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And smote with all his might.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With shield and blade Horatius", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Right deftly turned the blow.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The blow, though turned, came yet too nigh;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "It missed his helm, but gashed his thigh:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The Tuscans raised a joyful cry", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To see the red blood flow.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "He reeled, and on Herminius", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "He leaned one breathing space;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then, like a wildcat mad with wounds,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Sprang right at Astur's face.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Through teeth, and skull, and helmet,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "So fierce a thrust he sped,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The good sword stood a handbreadth out", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Behind the Tuscan's head.", "") ?>
PagePoem(204, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the great Lord of Luna", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Fell at the deadly stroke,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As falls on Mount Alvernus", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "A thunder-smitten oak.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Far o'er the crashing forest", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The giant arms lie spread;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the pale augurs, muttering low,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Gaze on the blasted head.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "On Astur's throat Horatius", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Right firmly pressed his heel,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And thrice and four times tugged amain", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Ere he wrenched out the steel.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"And see,\" he cried, \"the welcome,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Fair guests, that waits you here!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "What noble Lucumo comes next", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To taste our Roman cheer?\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But at his haughty challenge", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "A sullen murmur ran,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Mingled of wrath, and shame, and dread,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Along that glittering van.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There lacked not men of prowess,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Nor men of lordly race;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For all Etruria's noblest", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Were round the fatal place.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But all Etruria's noblest", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Felt their hearts sink to see", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "On the earth the bloody corpses,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "In the path the dauntless Three:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And, from the ghastly entrance", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Where those bold Romans stood,", "") ?>
PagePoem(205, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "All shrank, like boys who unaware,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Ranging the woods to start a hare,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Come to the mouth of the dark lair", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Where, growling low, a fierce old bear", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Lies amid bones and blood.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Was none who would be foremost", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To lead such dire attack?", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But those behind cried \"Forward!\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And those before cried \"Back!\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And backward now and forward", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Wavers the deep array;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And on the tossing sea of steel", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To and fro the standards reel;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the victorious trumpet peal", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Dies fitfully away.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Yet one man for one moment", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Strode out before the crowd;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Well known was he to all the Three,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And they gave him greeting loud:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Now welcome, welcome, Sextus!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Now welcome to thy home!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Why dost thou stay, and turn away?", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Here lies the road to Rome.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thrice looked he at the city;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Thrice looked he at the dead;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And thrice came on in fury,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And thrice turned back in dread:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And, white with fear and hatred,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Scowled at the narrow way", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Where, wallowing in a pool of blood,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The bravest Tuscans lay.", "") ?>
PagePoem(206, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But meanwhile ax and lever", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Have manfully been plied,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And now the bridge hangs tottering", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Above the boiling tide.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Come back, come back, Horatius!\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Loud cried the Fathers all.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Back, Lartius! Back, Herminius!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Back, ere the ruin fall!\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Back darted Spurius Lartius;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Herminius darted back:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And, as they passed, beneath their feet", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "They felt the timbers crack.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But when they turned their faces,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And on the farther shore", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Saw brave Horatius stand alone,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "They would have crossed once more.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But with a crash like thunder", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Fell every loosened beam,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And, like a dam, the mighty wreck", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Lay right athwart the stream;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And a long shout of triumph", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Rose from the walls of Rome,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As to the highest turret tops", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Was splashed the yellow foam.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And, like a horse unbroken", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "When first he feels the rein,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The furious river struggled hard,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And tossed his tawny mane;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And burst the curb, and bounded,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Rejoicing to be free,", "") ?>
PagePoem(207, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And whirling down, in fierce career,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Battlement, and plank, and pier,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Rushed headlong to the sea.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Alone stood brave Horatius,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "But constant still in mind;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thrice thirty thousand foes before,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And the broad flood behind.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Down with him!\" cried false Sextus,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "With a smile on his pale face.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Now yield thee,\" cried Lars Porsena,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "\"Now yield thee to our grace.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Round turned he, as not deigning", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Those craven ranks to see;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Naught spake he to Lars Porsena,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To Sextus naught spake he;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But he saw on Palatinus", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The white porch of his home;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And he spake to the noble river", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "That rolls by the towers of Rome:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"O Tiber! Father Tiber!", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To whom the Romans pray,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A Roman's life, a Roman's arms,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Take thou in charge this day!\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "So he spake, and speaking sheathed", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "The good sword by his side,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And, with his harness on his back,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Plunged headlong in the tide.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "No sound of joy or sorrow", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Was heard from either bank;", "") ?>
PagePoem(208, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But friends and foes in dumb surprise,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With parted lips and straining eyes,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Stood gazing where he sank;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And when above the surges", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "They saw his crest appear,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And even the ranks of Tuscany", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Could scarce forbear to cheer.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And fiercely ran the current,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Swollen high by months of rain;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And fast his blood was flowing,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And he was sore in pain,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And heavy with his armour,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And spent with changing blows:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And oft they thought him sinking,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "But still again he rose.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Never, I ween, did swimmer,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "In such an evil case,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Struggle through such a raging flood", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Safe to the landing place;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But his limbs were borne up bravely", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "By the brave heart within,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And our good Father Tiber", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Bore bravely up his chin.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Curse on him!\" quoth false Sextus;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "\"Will not the villain drown?", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But for this stay, ere close of day", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "We should have sacked the town!\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"Heaven help him!\" quoth Lars Porsena,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "\"And bring him safe to shore;", "") ?>
PagePoem(209, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For such a gallant feat of arms", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Was never seen before.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And now he feels the bottom;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Now on dry earth he stands;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Now round him throng the Fathers", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To press his gory hands;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And now with shouts and clapping,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And noise of weeping loud,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "He enters through the River Gate,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Borne by the joyous crowd.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "They gave him of the corn land,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "That was of public right.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As much as two strong oxen", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Could plow from morn till night:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And they made a molten image,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And set it up on high,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And there it stands unto this day", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To witness if I lie.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "It stands in the Comitium,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Plain for all folk to see,—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Horatius in his harness,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Halting upon one knee:", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And underneath is written,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "In letters all of gold,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "How valiantly he kept the bridge", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "In the brave days of old.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And still his name sounds stirring", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Unto the men of Rome,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As the trumpet blast that cries to them", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "To charge the Volscian home;", "") ?>
PagePoem(210, "L0", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And wives still pray to Juno", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "For boys with hearts as bold", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "As his who kept the bridge so well", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "In the brave days of old.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And in the nights of winter,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "When the cold north winds blow,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the long howling of the wolves", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Is heard amid the snow;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When round the lonely cottage", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Roars loud the tempest's din,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the good logs of Algidus", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Roar louder yet within;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When the oldest cask is opened,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And the largest lamp is lit;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When the chestnuts glow in the embers,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And the kid turns on the spit;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When young and old in circle", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Around the firebrands close;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When the girls are weaving baskets,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And the lads are shaping bows;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When the goodman mends his armour,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "And trims his helmet's plume;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "When the goodwife's shuttle merrily", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Goes flashing through the loom,—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With weeping and with laughter", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "Still is the story told,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "How well Horatius kept the bridge", "") ?>
PoemLine("L2", "", "In the brave days of old.", "") ?>
PoemAttribution("100", SmallCapsText("Thomas B. Macaulay.")) ?>
PoemEnd() ?>