And nearer fast, and nearer, Doth the red whirlwind come; Now through the gloom appears, In broken gleams of dark-blue light, 170 And plainly and more plainly, Of twelve fair cities shine; The terror of the Gaul. And plainly and more plainly By port and vest, by horse and crest, There Cilnius of Arretium On his fleet roan was seen; "Their van will be upon us Before the bridge goes down; Then out spake brave Horatius, "And for the tender mother 220 180 Who feed the eternal flame, To save them from false Sextus That wrought the deed of shame? 230 Girt with the brand2 none else may wield, 190 200 210 "Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, May well be stopped by three. "I will abide on thy left side, "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 party; Then all were for the state; 240 250 Then the great man helped the poor, 260 And the poor man loved the great: Then lands were fairly portioned; Then spoils were fairly sold; The Romans were like brothers 3 strait. Narrow 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 520 But his limbs were borne up bravely "Curse on him!" quoth false Sextus; 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; And now, with shouts and clapping, They gave him of the corn-land, As much as two strong oxen And there it stands unto this day It stands in the Comitium,2 Plain for all folk to see; Horatius in his harness, Haltings upon one knee: And underneath is written, In letters all of gold, How valiantly he kept the bridge In the brave days of old. And still his name sounds stirring Unto the men of Rome, 531 540 550 As the trumpet-blast that cries to them To charge the Volscian home; I The god of the river. 561 2 Comilium. A space fronting the senate-house in the Forum. 3 Limping. |