been kept back so long, there had been time to loosen the bridge; and, just as it was about to fall, the Romans called on their three noble defenders to come out of the narrow path and cross the bridge before it should go down. Spurius Lartius and Herminius followed the advice thus given, and when they had crossed to the Roman side, they looked back over the creaking timbers and saw Horatius standing alone before the foe. They would have gone back to him, but the bridge fell with a crash like that of thunder, and sank into the river. Then the Romans gave a long shout of triumph. Sextus, the traitor, called on his men to cut down Horatius, but the proud Roman scorned them, and plunged, with his harness on his back, headlong into the stream; and, in spite of the blood flowing from his wound, and the weight of his armour, he swam to the Roman side of the stream. He was loudly welcomed by his friends, and was presented with a large quantity of land as a reward for his bravery. Afterwards, the Romans raised a monument to his memory. So runs the legend.]

13. WAS none1 who would be foremost
To lead such dire attack:

But those behind cried "Forward!""
And those before cried "Back!"
And backward now and forward

Wavers the deep array;
And on the tossing sea of steel,

To and fro the standards reel;
And the victorious trumpet peal
Dies fitfully away.

14. Yet one man for one moment
Stood 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 away?
Here lies the road to Rome."

15. Thrice looked he at the city;
Thrice looked he at 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.

16. But meanwhile axe and lever"
Have manfully been plied;

And now the bridge hangs tottering
Above the boiling tide.

"Come back, come back, Horatius!"
Loud cried the Fathers all.
"Back, Lartius! back, Herminius!
Back, ere the ruin fall!"

17. Back darted Spurius Lartius;
Herminius darted back;

And, as they passed, beneath their feet
They felt the timbers crack.

But when they turned their faces,
And on the farther shore

Saw brave Horatius stand alone,

They would have crossed once more.

18. 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.

fore'-most mean'-while

at-tack'
tot'-ter-ing

greet'-ing

a-thwart'

XXXV.

THE DEFENCE OF THE ROMAN BRIDGE (4).
19. 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.

20. Alone stood brave Horatius,

But constant still in mind;
Thrice thirty thousand foes before,
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."

21. Round turned he, as not deigning
Those craven* ranks to see;
Nought spake he to Lars Porsena,
To Sextus nought spake he;
But he saw on Palatinus1

The white porch of his home;
And he spake to the noble river
That rolls by the towers of Rome.

22. "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.

23. 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.

24. But fiercely ran the current,
Swollen high by months of rain:
And fast his blood was flowing;
And he was sore in pain,

G

THE DEFENCE OF THE ROMAN BRIDGE (5).

25. NEVER, I ween, did swimmer,

In such an evil case,

Struggle through such a raging flood
Safe to the landing place;

But his limbs were borne up bravely
By the brave heart within,
And our good father Tiber

Bore bravely up his chin.

26. "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."

27. And now he feels the bottom,
Now on dry earth he stands;
Now round him throng the Fathers
To press his gory hands;