B. Pons sublicius iter paene hostibus dedit, ni unus vir fuisset,
Horatius Cocles. . . . Qui positus forte in statione pontis, cum captum
repentino impetu Ianiculum atque inde citatos decurrere hostes vidisset,
{10} trepidamque turbam suorum arma ordinesque relinquere, reprehensans
singulos, obsistens obtestansque deum et hominum fidem testabatur
nequiquam deserto praesidio eos fugere; si transitum pontem a tergo
reliquissent, iam plus hostium in Palatio {15} Capitolioque quam in
Ianiculo fore. Itaque monere, praedicere, ut pontem ferro, igni,
quacunque vi possint, interrumpant; se impetum hostium, quantum corpore
uno posset obsisti, excepturum. Vadit inde in primum aditum pontis,
insignisque inter {20} conspecta cedentium pugnae terga, obversis
cominus ad ineundum proelium armis, ipso miraculo audaciae obstupefecit
hostes.
LIVY, ii. 10.
[Linenotes:
7. +Pons sublicius+ = _the pile-bridge_, built by Ancus Marcius to
connect Rome proper with the Janiculum-hill, or ridge.
8. +Cocles+ = _the one-eyed_, from loss of an eye in battle.
10. +citatos+ = _at full speed_. Adj. use of participle; cf. _citato
equo_.
11. +trepidamque turbam+ = _panic-stricken and in disorder_.
12. +reprehensans+ = _seizing them by the arm one after another_.
14-15. +si transitum ... reliquissent+ = _if they left the bridge
free for the enemy to cross by_. +transitum+ = noun, in appos. to
+pontem+.
21-22. +obversis armis+ = _as he faced about_.]
D9
ETRUSCAN INVASION UNDER PORSENA, 507 B.C. (2)
‘_How well Horatius kept the Bridge
In the brave days of old._’
Duos tamen cum eo pudor tenuit, Sp. Larcium ac T. Herminium, ambos
claros genere factisque. Cum his primam periculi procellam et quod
tumultuosissimum pugnae erat, parumper sustinuit; deinde eos quoque
ipsos, exigua parte pontis relicta, revocantibus, {5} qui rescindebant,
cedere in tutum coegit. Circumferens inde truces minaciter oculos ad
proceres Etruscorum nunc singulos provocare, nunc increpare omnes:
servitia regum superborum, suae libertatis immemores alienam oppugnatum
venire. {10} Cunctati aliquamdiu sunt, dum alius alium, ut proelium
incipiant, circumspectant. Pudor deinde commovit aciem, et clamore
sublato undique in unum hostem tela coniciunt. Quae cum in obiecto
cuncta scuto haesissent, neque ille minus obstinatus ingenti {15} pontem
obtineret gradu, iam impetu conabantur detrudere virum, cum simul fragor
rupti pontis, simul clamor Romanorum alacritate perfecti operis
sublatus, pavore subito impetum sustinuit. Tum Cocles ‘Tiberine pater,’
inquit, ‘te sancte precor, haec arma {20} et hunc militem propitio
flumine accipias.’ Ita sic armatus in Tiberim desiluit, multisque
superincidentibus telis incolumis ad suos tranavit, rem ausus plus famae
habituram ad posteros quam fidei.
LIVY, ii. 10.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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