And how can man die better "Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, Then out spake Spurius Lartius, "I will abide on thy left side, And keep the bridge with thee." "Horatius," quoth the Consul, "As thou sayest, so let it be." And straight against that great array Went forth the dauntless Three. For Romans in Rome's quarrels Spared neither land nor gold, Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life, In the brave days of old. Then none was for a party; Then all were for the state; Then the great man helped the poor, Now while the Three were tightening And Fathers, mixed with Commons, Meanwhile the Tuscan army, Right glorious to behold, Came flashing back the noonday light; Four hundred trumpets sounded As that great host, with measured tread, The Three stood calm and silent, 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 narrow way. But all Etruria's noblest Felt their hearts sink to see On the earth the bloody corpses In the path of the dauntless Three. Where those bold Romans stood, Was none who would be foremost But meanwhile ax and lever And now the bridge hangs tottering "Come back, come back, Horatius !" Loud cried the Fathers all. "Back, Lartius! back, Herminius! Back, ere the ruin fall!" Back darted Spurius Lartius; And, as they passed, beneath their feet They felt the timbers crack. 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 Rose from the walls of Rome, As to the highest turret tops 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, Rushed headlong to the sea. |