Lays of Ancient Rome

Name: Lays of Ancient Rome
Author: Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron

Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron

Rome -- History -- Poetry

"Haul 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?"

               XXX

     Then out spake Spurius Lartius;
          A Ramnian proud was he:
     "Lo, I will stand at 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."

               XXXI

     "Horatius," quoth the Consul,
          "As thou sayest, 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.

               XXXII

     Then none was for a party;
          Then all were for the state;
     Then the great man helped the poor,
          And the poor man loved the great:
     Then lands were fairly portioned;
          Then spoils were fairly sold:
     The Romans were like brothers
          In the brave days of old.

               XXXIII

     Now Roman is to Roman
          More hateful than a foe,
     And the Tribunes beard the high,
          And the Fathers grind the low.
     As we wax hot in faction,
          In battle we wax cold:
     Wherefore men fight not as they fought
          In the brave days of old.

               XXXIV

     Now while the Three were tightening
          Their harness on their backs,
     The Consul was the foremost man
          To take in hand an axe:
     And Fathers mixed with Commons
          Seized hatchet, bar, and crow,
     And smote upon the planks above,
          And loosed the props below.

               XXXV

     Meanwhile the Tuscan army,
          Right glorious to behold,
     Come flashing back the noonday light,
     Rank behind rank, like surges bright
          Of a broad sea of gold.
     Four hundred trumpets sounded
          A peal of warlike glee,
     As that great host, with measured tread,
     And spears advanced, and ensigns spread,
     Rolled slowly towards the bridge's head,
          Where stood the dauntless Three.

               XXXVI

     The Three stood calm and silent,
          And looked upon the foes,
     And a great shout of laughter
          From all the vanguard rose:
     And forth three chiefs came spurring
          Before that deep array;
     To earth they sprang, their swords they drew,
     And lifted high their shields, and flew
          To win the narrrow way;

               XXXVII

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Lays of Ancient Rome

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