He eyed the flinching Tuscans, Then, whirling up his broadsword And smote with all his might. 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. He reeled, and on Herminius He leaned one breathing-space: Then, like a wild-cat mad with wounds, Through teeth, and skull, and helmet, The good sword stood a hand-breadth out And the great Lord of Luna The giant arms lie spread; On Astur's throat Horatius Right firmly pressed his heel, And thrice and four times tugged amain, "And see," he cried, "the welcome, But at his haughty challenge 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 noblest Were round the fatal place. But all Etruria's noblest Felt their hearts sink to see Where those bold Romans stood, Was none who would be foremost But those behind cried "Forward!" And on the tossing sea of steel, Yet one man for one moment Stood out before the crowd; Well known was he to all the Three, Thrice looked he at the city, And thrice came on in fury, And thrice turned back in dread; But meanwhile ax and lever Have manfully been plied; And now the bridge hangs tottering "Come back, come back, Horatius!" Back darted Spurius Lartius; And as they passed, beneath their feet. And on the farther shore Saw brave Horatius stand alone, They would have crossed once more. But with a crash like thunder Fell every loosened beam, And like a dam, the mighty wreck And like a horse unbroken When first he feels the rein, 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 turned he, as not deigning Naught spake he to Lars Porsena, To Sextus nanght spake he: 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, 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, Never, I ween, did swimmer, Struggle through such a raging flood But his limbs were borne up bravely By the brave heart within, And our good father Tiber Bore bravely up his chin. "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." And now he feels the bottom; Now on dry earth he stands; They gave him of the corn-land, As much as two strong oxen Could plow from morn till night; And they made a molten image, And there it stands unto this day It stands in the Comitium, How valiantly he kept the bridge. In the brave days of old. And still his name sounds stirring As the trumpet-blast that cries to them And wives still pray to Juno For boys with hearts as bold As his who kept the bridge so well And in the nights of winter, When the cold north winds blow, |