(A Legend of Ancient Rome.)
[In the days before Rome had become mistress of Italy, she was ruled by a cruel race of kings called the Tarquins. At last the Romans became so angry that they drove the Tarquins away and chose two wise men to govern them. These men were called consuls. The Tarquins obtained the help of the Tuscans, who lived in central Italy, and set out to attack Rome and regain their throne. They marched almost to Rome, but the River Tiber rolled its waters between them and the city. There was only one bridge by which to cross, and the Romans with their axes were trying to destroy it before the enemy arrived.
Other persons mentioned in the poem are :-
Lars Porsena (por"-seh-nah), the ruler of a city in Tuscany. He led the host that tried to put the Tarquins back on the Roman throne.
Sextus, the eldest son of the house of Tarquin.
Astur, ruler of Luna, a town in Tuscany. The town is now called Carrara.
Horatius (hor-ay"-shus), captain of the guard at one of the gates ofRome.
Spurius Lartius (lar"-shus), a Ramnian, or descendant of one of the three foremost tribes of Rome.
Herminius, a Titian (tee"-sh"n), or descendant of another of thegreat tribes.]
But the Consul"s brow was sad, and the Consul"s speech was low,And darkly looked he at the wall, and darkly at the foe. "Their van will be upon us before the bridge goes down;And if they once may win the bridge, what hope to save the town?"Then out spake brave Horatius, the Captain of the gate: "To every man upon this earth death cometh soon or late; And how can man die better than facing fearful odds,For the ashes of his fathers and the temples of his gods!
"Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, with all the speed ye may;I, with two more to help me, will hold the foe in play.
In yon strait path a thousand may well be stopped by three;Now, who will stand on either hand and keep the bridge with me?"Then out spake Spurius Lartius,-a Ramnian proud was he:
"Lo, I will stand at thy right hand and keep the bridge with thee."And out spake strong Herminius, of Titian blood was he: "I will abide on thy left side and keep the bridge withthee.""Horatius," quoth the Consul, "as thou sayest, so let it be,"And straight against that great array forth went the dauntless three.
For Romans in Rome"s quarrel spared neither land nor gold,Nor son, nor wife, nor limb, nor life, in the brave days of old.
Then none was for a party; then all were for the state;Then the great man helped the poor, and the poor man loved the great;Then lands were fairly portioned; then spoils were fairly sold;The Romans were like brothers in the brave days of old.
Meanwhile the Tuscan army, right glorious to behold,Came flashing back the noonday light,Rank behind rank, like surges bright Of a broad sea of gold.
Four hundred trumpets sounded a peal of warlike glee, As that great host, with measured tread,And spears advanced, and ensigns spread, Rolled slowly toward the bridge"s head,Where stood the dauntless three.
The three stood calm and silent, and looked upon the foes; And a great shout of laughter from all the vanguard rose;And forth three chiefs came spurring before that deep array;To earth they sprang, their swords they drew,And lifted high their shields, and flewTo win the narrow way.
But the laughter of the Tuscans was soon changed to wrath, for one chief after another from their army was laid low by the three Romans.
But hark! the cry is " Astur"; and lo! the ranks divide, And the great lord of Luna comes with his stately stride. Upon his ample shoulders clangs loud the fourfold shield,And in his hand he shakes the brand which none but he can wield.
Then, whirling up his broadsword with both hands to the height,He rushed against Horatius, and smote with all his might.
With shield and blade Horatius right deftly turned the blow.
The blow, though turned, came yet too nigh; It missed his helm, but gashed his thigh;The Tuscans raised a joyful cry to see the red blood flow.
He reeled, and on Herminius he leaned one breathing- space :
Then, like a wild-cat mad with wounds, sprang right at Astur"s face.
Through teeth and skull and helmet, so fierce a thrust hesped,The good sword stood a hand-breadth out behind the Tuscan"s head !
This was the last great tight, for the axes had been plied so vigorously that the bridge now tottered and fell. The two friends of Horatius had leapt across to safety at the last moment, but Horatius did not move. At last, the bridge being quite destroyed, he turned his back upon the foe for the first time and faced the River Tiber.
"Oh, Tiber, father Tiber, to whom the Romans pray!
A Roman"s life, a Roman"s arms, take thou in charge this day !"So he spake, and speaking sheathed the good sword by his side,And with his harness on his back, plunged headlong in the tide.
No sound of joy or sorrow was heard from either bank;But friends and foes in dumb surprise, with parted lips and straining eyes,Stood gazing where he sank;And when above the surges they saw his crest appearAll Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, and even the ranks of TuscanyCould scarce forbear to cheer.
"Curse on him!" quoth false Sextus; "Will not the villain drown?
But for this stay, ere close of day we should have sacked the town !""Heaven help him !" quoth Lars Porsena, "And bring him safe to shore;For such a gallant feat of arms was never seen before."And now he feels the bottom; now on dry earth he stands; Now round him throng the Fathers to press his gory hands:
And now, with shouts and clapping, and noise of weeping loud.
He enters through the River-Gate, borne by the joyous crowd.
They gave him of the corn-land, that was of public right,As much as two strong oxen could plough from morn till night;And they made a molten image, and set it up on high, And there it stands unto this day to witness if I lie.
And in the nights of winter, when the cold north winds blow,And the long howling of the wolves is heard amidst the snow;When young and old in circle around the firebrands close;When the girls are weaving baskets, and the lads are shaping bows;When the goodman mends his armour, and trims his helmet"s plume;When the goodwife"s shuttle merrily goes flashing throughthe loom;With weeping and with laughter still is the story told,Howwell Horatius kept the bridge in the brave days of old.
Lord Macaulay.
Author.-Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859), afterwards Lord Macaulay, was a famous English historian, essayist, and poet. His History of England (5 volumes) made history popular. " He saw history as a great pageant, a series of pictures in which the doings of the people,great and small, appear for the first time along with the chroniclings of court, camp, and Parliament. He made it interesting, first of all to the average man and woman, and he set a new fashion." His little volume of poems, which he called Lays of Ancient Rome, contain many narrative poems which delight young and old with their stirring melody and incident.
Genera Notes.-Which stanza do you think is the most stirring?
Which contains the beet picture? In which ones does the sound of the words suit the picture or the incident? Find lines in the poem that tell that the ancient Romans were not Christians, that they lived in a walled town, and that much of the land was owned by all the people. Some lines are often quoted :- "Then none was for the party, then all were for the state"; " Even the ranks of Tuscany could scarce forbear to cheer." Can you think of any happenings in school life to which these quotations could apply?
