Forthwith uprose the consul, Uprose the Fathers all; In haste they girded up their gowns, They held a council standing 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 save the town." Just then a scout came flying, All wild with haste and fear; "To arms! to arms! Sir Consul; On the low hills to westward And saw the swarthy storm of dust And nearer fast and nearer Doth the red whirlwind come; Now through the gloom appears, In broken gleams of dark-blue light, Fast by the royal standard, By the right wheel rode Mamilius, And by the left false Sextus, That wrought the deed of shame. But the consul's brow was sad And the consul's speech was low, And darkly look'd 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. And the temples of his gods. "Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, Then out spake Spurius Lartius; "I will abide on thy left side, And keep the bridge with thee." "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 help'd the poor, Now while the three were tightening The consul was the foremost man Meanwhile the Tuscan army, Came flashing back the noonday light, Four hundred trumpets sounded As that great host, with measured tread, The Three stood calm and silent And a great shout of laughter And forth three chiefs came spurring To earth they sprang, their swords they drew, To win the narrow pass. And meanwhile axe and lever 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 !" Back darted Spurius Lartius; And, as they pass'd, beneath their feet But when they turn'd their faces, And on the farther shore Saw brave Horatius stand alone, They would have cross'd once more. But with a crash like thunder Fell every loosen'd beam, And, like a dam, the mighty wreck And like a horse unbroken And burst the curb and bounded, And whirling down in fierce career, 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." Round turn'd he, as not deigning The white porch of his home; "O Tiber! father Tiber! To whom the Romans pray, 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. But fiercely ran the current, Swollen high by months of rain; And fast his blood was flowing; And he was sore in pain, And heavy with his armour, And spent with changing blows; And oft they thought him sinking. But still again he rose. Never, I ween, did swimmer, Struggle through such a raging flood But his limbs were borne up bravely And our good father Tiber Bare bravely up his chin. "Curse on him !" quoth false Sextus; We should have sack'd the town !" For such a gallant feat of arms And now he feels the bottom; When the goodman mends his armour, Goes flashing through the loom; With weeping and with laughter How well Horatius kept the bridge A WOMAN NEVER VEXT.-WILLIAM ROWLEY. The Woman never Vext states her Case to a Divine. Do. You sent for me, gentlewoman? I have some scruples in my conscience; |