pale as ashes, had sprung forward and dropped on his knees.

"Listen to the voice of an angel, my good Benedetto," said the Duke.

The master burst into tears. "I can refuse him nothing," he said with a sob.

"And call the fair Pacifica," cried the sovereign, "and I will give her myself, as a dower, as many gold pieces as we can cram into this famous vase. Young man, rise up, and be happy!

But Luca heard not; he was still kneeling at the feet of Raphael.

LOUISE DE LA RAMÉE.

HORATIUS AT THE BRIDGE

together a great army When men heard of his

KING PORSENA gathered and came up against Rome. coming there was such a fear as had never been before. Nevertheless they were steadfastly purposed to hold out.

All that were in the country fled to the city. Round about the city they set guards to keep it, part being defended by walls, and part, for so it seemed, being made safe by the river.

But here a great peril had well-nigh overtaken the city. There was a wooden bridge on the river

by which the enemy could have crossed but for the courage of a certain Horatius. There was a hill which men called Janiculum on the opposite side of the river, and this hill King Porsena took by a sudden attack.

Horatius chanced to have been set to guard the bridge. He saw how the enemy were running at full speed to the place, and how the Romans were fleeing in confusion. He cried with a loud voice, "Men of Rome, if ye leave this bridge behind you for men to pass over, ye shall soon find that you have more enemies in your city than in Janiculum. ye therefore break it down with ax and fire as best ye can. In the meanwhile I, so far as one man may do, will stay the enemy.”

Do

As he spoke he ran forward to the farther end of the bridge and made ready to keep the way against the enemy. There stood two with him, Lartius and Herminius by name, men of noble birth and of great renown in arms. These three stayed the first onset of the enemy; and the men of Rome broke down the bridge.

When there was but a small part remaining, and they that broke it down called to the three that they should come back, Horatius bade the others return. He himself remained on the farther side, crying, "Dare ye now to fight with me? Why are ye thus

come up at the bidding of your master, King Porsena, to rob others of the freedom that ye care not to have for yourselves?"

For a while they delayed, looking each man to his neighbor, who should first deal with this champion of the Romans.

Then for very shame they all ran forward, and raising a great shout threw their javelins at him. These all he took upon his shield, nor stood less firmly in his place on the bridge. Suddenly the men of Rome raised a great shout, for the bridge was now broken down, and fell with a great crash into the river.

And as the enemy stayed awhile for fear, Horatius turned to the river and said, "O Father Tiber, I beseech thee this day that thou kindly receive this soldier and his arms." As he spake he leapt with all his arms into the river and swam across to his own people. Though many javelins of the enemy fell about him, he was not one whit hurt.

Nor did such valor fail to receive honor from the city. The citizens set up a statue of Horatius in the market place; and they gave him of the public lands so much as he could plow about in one day. Also there was this honor paid him, that each citizen took somewhat of his own store and gave it to him, for food was scarce in the city by reason of the siege.

- ALFRED J. CHURCH.

KEEPING THE BRIDGE

OUT spake the Consul roundly:

The bridge must straight go down; For since Janiculum is lost,

Naught else can save the town."
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?

"Hew 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?"

Then out spake Spurius Lartius, -
A Ramnian proud was he:
“Lo, I will stand on 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."

"Horatius," quoth the Consul,
"As thou say'st, 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.

The three stood calm and silent,
And looked upon the foes,
And a great shout of laughter
From all the vanguard rose.
But soon Etruria's noblest

Felt their hearts sink to see
On the earth the bloody corpses,

In the path the dauntless three!

Meanwhile the ax and lever

Have manfully been plied,

And now the bridge hangs tottering

Above the boiling tide.