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wrath； and shame； and dread； Along that glittering van。 There
lacked not men of prowess； Nor men of lordly race； For all Etruria's
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noblest Were round the fatal place。
XLIX
But all Etruria's noblest Felt their hearts sink to see On the earth
the bloody corpses； In the path the dauntless Three： And； from the
ghastly entrance Where those bold Romans stood； All shrank； like
boys who unaware； Ranging the woods to start a hare； Come to the mouth
of the dark lair Where； growling low； a fierce old bear Lies amidst
bones and blood。
L
Was none 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 frow the standards reel； And the victorious
trumpet…peal Dies fitfully away。
LI
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 away？ Here lies the road to Rome。''
LII
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。
LIII
But meanwhile axe and lever Have manfully been plied； And
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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！''
LIV
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。
LV
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。
LVI
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。
LVII
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。''
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LVIII
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 Palatinus The white porch of his home； And he spake to
the noble river That rolls by the towers of Rome。
LVIX
‘‘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。
LX
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。
LXI
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 armor； And spent with changing blows： And oft they
thought him sinking； But still again he rose。
LXII
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
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father Tiber Bare bravely up his chin。
LXIII
‘‘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。''
LXIV
And now he feels the bottom； Now on dry earth he stands； Now
round him throng the Fathers； To press his gory hands； And now；
with shouts and clapping； And noise of weeping loud； He enters
through the River…Gate Borne by the joyous crowd。
LXV
They gave him of the corn…land； That was of public right； As
much as two strong oxen Could plough from morn till night； And
they made a molten image； And set it up on high； And there is
stands unto this day To witness if I lie。
LXVI
It stands in the Comitium Plain for all folk to see； Horatius in
his harness； Halting upon one knee： And underneath is written；
In letters all of gold； How valiantly he kept the bridge In the brave
days of old。
LXVII
And still his name sounds stirring Unto the men of Rome； As
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the trumpet…blast that cries to them To charge the Volscian home；
And wives still pray to Juno For boys with hearts as bold As his
who kept the bridge so well In the brave days of old。
LXVIII
And in the nights of winter； When the cold north winds blow；
And the long howling of the wolves Is heard amidst the snow；
When round the lonely cottage Roars loud the tempest's din； And
the good logs of Algidus Roar louder yet within；
LXIX
When the oldest cask is opened； And the largest lamp is lit；
When the chestnuts glow in the embers； And the kid turns on the
spit； When young and old in circle Around the firebrands