A fearful sight it was to see 14. For aged folk on crutches, And women great with child, And mothers sobbing over babes That clung to them and smiled, And sick men borne in litters High on the necks of slaves, And troops of sun-burned husbandmen With reaping-hooks and staves, 15. And droves of mules and asses Laden with skins of wine, And endless flocks of goats and sheep, That creaked beneath their weight Of corn-sacks and of household goods, Choked every roaring gate. 16. Now, from the rock Tarpeian, The line of blazing villages They sat all night and day, For every hour some horseman came With tidings of dismay. 17. To eastward and to westward Have spread the Tuscan bands; Nor house, nor fence, nor dovecote, In Crustumerium stands. Verbenna down to Ostia Hath wasted all the plain; Astur hath stormed Janiculum, And the stout guards are slain. 18. I wis, in all the Senate, There was no heart so bold, In haste they girded up their gowns, 19. They held a council standing Before the River-gate; Short time was there, ye well may guess, For musing or debate. Out spoke the Consul roundly: "The bridge must straight go down; For, since Janiculum is lost, Naught else can gave the town." 20. Just then a scout came flying, All wild with haste and fear: "To arms! to arms! Sir Consul; Lars Porsena is here." On the low hills to westward The Consul fixed his eye, And saw the swarthy storm of dust Rise fast along the sky. 21. And nearer fast and nearer Doth the red whirlwind come; And louder still and still more loud, From underneath that rolling cloud, Is heard the trumpet's war-note proud, The trampling and the hum. And plainly and more plainly Now through the gloom appears, Far to left and far to right, In broken gleams of dark-blue light, The long array of helmets bright, The long array of spears. 22. And plainly and more plainly, Of twelve fair cities shine; 23. And plainly and more plainly Now might the burghers know, There Cilnius of Arretium 1 On his fleet roan was seen; And Astur of the fourfold shield, Girt with the brand none else may wield And dark Verbenna from the hold 21. Fast by the royal standard, And by the left false Sextus, That wrought the deed of shame. 25. But when the face of Sextus Was seen among the foes, On the house-tops was no woman 26. * 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?" 27. 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, 28. "And for the tender mother Who feed the eternal flame, 29. "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. Then out spake Spurius Lartius, He smiled on those bold Romans Then, whirling up his broadsword And smote with all his might. 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. 45. He reeled, and on Herminius He leaned one breathing-space; Then, like a wild cat mad with wounds, The good sword stood a hand-breadth out 46. And the great Lord of Luna The giant arms lie spread; 47. fn Astur's throat Horatius Right firmly ussed his heel. And thrice and four times togged amalt, Ere he wrenched out the steel. "And see," he cried "the welcome, Fair guests, that waits you here! What noble Lucumo comes next To taste our Roman cheer?" 48. But at his haughty challenge Mingled of wrath, and shame, and dread, There lacked not men of prowess, For all Etruria's noblest 49. But all Etruria's noblest Felt their hearts sink to see Where those bold Romans stood, Was none who would be foremost Wavers the deep array; 51. Yet one man for one moment Strode out before the crowd; Well known was he to all the Three, And they gave him greeting loud. "Now welcome, welcome, Sextus! Now welcome to thy home! Why dost thou stay, and turn away1 Here lies the road to Rome" 52. Thrice looked he on the city; Thrice looked he on the dead. And thrice came on in fury, And thrice turned back in dread And, white with fear and hatred, Scowled at the narrow way Where, wallowing in a pool of blood The bravest Tuscans lay. 53. But meanwhile axe and lever Loud cried the Fathers all. "Back, Lartius! back, Herminius! Back, ere the ruin fall!” 54. Back darted Spurius Lartius; And, as they passed, beneath their feet They would have crossed once more. 55. But with a crash like thunder Fell every loosened beam, And, like a dam, the mighty wreck Lay right athwart the stream: And a long shout of triumph Rose from the walls of Rome, As to the highest turret-tops Was splashed the yellow foam. 56. And like a horse unbroken When first he feels the rein, The furious river struggled hard, And tossed his tawny mane; And burst the curb, and bounded, Rejoicing to be free; And whirling down, in fierce career, Battlement, and plank, and pier, Rushed headlong to the sea. 57. Alone stood brave Horatius, And the broad flood behind. "Down with him!" cried false Sextus, With a smile on his pale face. "Now yield thee," cried Lars Porsena, "Now yield thee to our grace." 58. Round turned he, as not deigning Those craven ranks to see; Naught spake he to Lars Porsena, To Sextus naught spake he; But he saw on Palatinus The white porch of his home; And he spake to the noble river That rolls by the towers of Rome. 59. "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, Flunged headlong in the tide. 60. 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 appear, All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, And even the ranks of Tuscany Could scarce forbear to cheer. VOL. IV.-69 61. But fiercely ran the current, And spent with changing blows: And oft they thought him sinking, But still again he rose. 62. Never, I ween, did swimmer, Struggle through such a raging flood But his limbs were borne up bravely 63. "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 Porcena "And bring him safe to shore; For such a gallant feat of arms Was never seen before." 64. And now he feels the bottom; 65. They gave him of the corn-land, As much as two strong oxen Could plough from morn till night, And there it stands unto this day 66. It stands in the Comitium, "Our ladye bare upp her chinne." Ballad of Childe Faters. "Never heavier man and horse Stemmed a midnight torrent's force; Yet through good heart and our lady's grace, At length he gained the landing-place. Lay of the Last Minstrel, 1. 2 z 2 |