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For all the Etruscan armies Were ranged beneath his eye； And
many a banished Roman； And many a stout ally； And with a mighty
following To join the muster came The Tusculan Mamilius；
Prince of the Latian name。
XIII
But by the yellow Tiber Was tumult and affright： From all the
spacious champaign To Rome men took their flight。 A mile around
the city； The throng stopped up the ways； A fearful sight it was to
see Through two long nights and days。
XIV
For aged folks 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
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Lays of Ancient Rome
sun…burned husbandmen With reaping…hooks and staves；
XV
And droves of mules and asses Laden with skins of wine； And
endless flocks of goats and sheep； And endless herds of kine； And
endless trains of wagons That creaked beneath the weight Of corn…
sacks and of household goods； Choked every roaring gate。
XVI
Now； from the rock Tarpeian； Could the wan burghers spy The
line of blazing villages Red in the midnight sky。 The Fathers of the
City； They sat all night and day； For every hour some horseman
come With tidings of dismay。
XVII
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。
XVIII
I wis； in all the Senate； There was no heart so bold； But sore it
ached； and fast it beat； When that ill news was told。 Forthwith up
rose the Consul； Up rose the Fathers all； In haste they girded up
their gowns； And hied them to the wall。
XIX
They held a council standing； Before the River…Gate； Short time
was there； ye well may guess； For musing or debate。 Out spake the
Consul roundly： ‘‘The bridge must straight go down； For； since
Janiculum is lost； Nought else can save the town。''
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XX
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 Consol fixed his eye； And saw the swarthy storm of
dust Rise fast along the sky。
XXI
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。
XXII
And plainly and more plainly； Above that glimmering line； Now
might ye see the banners Of twelve fair cities shine； But the banner
of proud Clusium Was highest of them all； The terror of the
Umbrian； The terror of the Gaul。
XXIII
And plainly and more plainly Now might the burghers know；
By port and vest； by horse and crest； Each warlike Lucumo。 There
Cilnius of Arretium On his fleet roan was seen； And Astur of the
four…fold shield； Girt with the brand none else may wield； Tolumnius with
the belt of gold； And dark Verbenna from the hold By reedy
Thrasymene。
XXIV
Fast by the royal standard； O'erlooking all the war； Lars Porsena
of Clusium Sat in his ivory car。 By the right wheel rode Mamilius；
Prince of the Latian name； And by the left false Sextus； That
wrought the deed of shame。
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XXV
But when the face of Sextus Was seen among the foes； A yell
that rent the firmament From all the town arose。 On the house…tops
was no woman But spat towards him and hissed； No child but
screamed out curses； And shook its little fist。
XXVI
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？''
XXVII
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；
XXVIII
‘‘And for the tender mother Who dandled him to rest； And for
the wife who nurses His baby at her breast； And for the holy
maidens Who feed the eternal flame； To save them from false
Sextus That wrought the deed of shame？
XXIX
‘‘Haul 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？''
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XXX
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 with thee。''
XXXI
‘‘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。
XXXII
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 w