Lays of Ancient Rome Part 3

XLI

But now no sound of laughter Was heard among the foes.

A wild and wrathful clamor From all the vanguard rose.

Six spears' lengths from the entrance Halted that deep array, And for a s.p.a.ce no man came forth To win the narrow way.

XLII

But hark! the cry is Astur: And lo! the ranks divide; And the great Lord of Luna Comes with his stately stride.

Upon his ample shoulders Clangs loud the four-fold s.h.i.+eld, And in his hand he shakes the brand Which none but he can wield.

XLIII

He smiled on those bold Romans A smile serene and high; He eyed the flinching Tuscans, And scorn was in his eye.

Quoth he, "The she-wolf's litter Stand savagely at bay: But will ye dare to follow, If Astur clears the way?"

XLIV

Then, whirling up his broadsword With both hands to the height, He rushed against Horatius, And smote with all his might.

With s.h.i.+eld and blade Horatius Right deftly turned the blow.

The blow, though turned, came yet too nigh; It missed his helm, but gashed his thigh: The Tuscans raised a joyful cry To see the red blood flow.

XLV

He reeled, and on Herminius He leaned one breathing-s.p.a.ce; Then, like a wild cat mad with wounds, Sprang right at Astur's face.

Through teeth, and skull, and helmet So fierce a thrust he sped, The good sword stood a hand-breadth out Behind the Tuscan's head.

XLVI

And the great Lord of Luna Fell at that deadly stroke, As falls on Mount Alvernus A thunder smitten oak: Far o'er the cras.h.i.+ng forest The giant arms lie spread; And the pale augurs, muttering low, Gaze on the blasted head.

XLVII

On Astur's throat Horatius Right firmly pressed his heel, And thrice and four times tugged amain, Ere he wrenched out the steel.

"And see," he cried, "the welcome, Fair guests, that waits you here!

What n.o.ble Lucomo comes next To taste our Roman cheer?"

XLVIII

But at his haughty challenge A sullen murmur ran, Mingled of wrath, and shame, and dread, Along that glittering van.

There lacked not men of prowess, Nor men of lordly race; For all Etruria's n.o.blest Were round the fatal place.

XLIX

But all Etruria's n.o.blest Felt their hearts sink to see On the earth the b.l.o.o.d.y 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, s.e.xtus!

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 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 pa.s.sed, beneath their feet They felt the timbers crack.

But when they turned their faces, And on the farther sh.o.r.e 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 s.e.xtus, With a smile on his pale face.

"Now yield thee," cried Lars Porsena, "Now yield thee to our grace."

LVIII

Round turned he, as not deigning Those craven ranks to see; Nought spake he to Lars Porsena, To s.e.xtus nought spake he; But he saw on Palatinus The white porch of his home; And he spake to the n.o.ble 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.