Masterpieces of British Literature: Ruskin: Macaulay: Brown: Tennyson ...

335 From Ostia's walls the crowd shall mark
The track of thy destroying bark.
No more Campania's hinds shall fly
To woods and caverns when they spy
Thy thrice accursed sail.”

340 But now no sound of laughter
Was heard among the foes.
A wild and wrathful clamor
From all the vanguard rose.
Six spears' lengths from the entrance
Halted that deep array,

345

And for a space no man came forth
To win the narrow way.

But hark! the cry is Astur:
And lo! the ranks divide;

350 And the great Lord of Luna

355

Comes with his stately stride.
Upon his ample shoulders

Clangs loud the fourfold shield,
And in his hand he shakes the brand

Which none but he can wield.

He smiled on those bold Romans
A smile serene and high;
He eyed the flinching Tuscans,
And scorn was in his eye.

360 Quoth he, "The she-wolf's litter

Stand savagely at bay:

360. The she-wolf's litter. The reference is to the story of the suckling of Romulus and Remus by a she-wolf.

365

But will ye dare to follow,
If Astur clears the way?"

Then, whirling up his broadsword
With both hands to the height,
He rushed against Horatius,

And smote with all his might.
With shield and blade Horatius
Right deftly turned the blow.

370 The blow, though turned, came yet too nigh; It missed his helm, but gashed his thigh: The Tuscans raised a joyful cry

375

To see the red blood flow.

He reeled, and on Herminius

He leaned one breathing-space;

Then, like a wild-cat mad with wounds,
Sprang right at Astur's face.

Through teeth, and skull, and helmet,
So fierce a thrust he sped,

380 The good sword stood a handbreadth out
Behind the Tuscan's head.

And the great Lord of Luna
Fell at that deadly stroke,
As falls on Mount Alvernus
385 A thunder-smitten oak.
Far o'er the crashing forest
The giant arms lie spread;
And the pale augurs, muttering low,
Gaze on the blasted head.

390 On Astur's throat Horatius

395

Right firmly pressed his heel,

And thrice and four times tugged amain, Ere he wrenched out the steel. "And see," he cried, "the welcome,

Fair guests, that wait you here! What noble Lucumo comes next

To taste our Roman cheer?"

But at his haughty challenge

A sullen murmur ran,

400 Mingled of wrath and shame and dread, Along that glittering van. There lacked not men of prowess,

405

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
On the earth the bloody corpses,
In the path the dauntless Three:
410 And, from the ghastly entrance

Where those bold Romans stood,
All shrank, like boys who unaware,
Ranging the woods to start a hare,
Come to the mouth of the dark lair
415 Where, growling low, a fierce old bear
Lies amidst bones and blood.

420

Was none who would be foremost
To lead such dire attack:
But those behind cried "Forward!'

And those before cried "Back!"
And backward now and forward

Wavers the deep array;
And on the tossing sea of steel,
To and fro the standards reel;
425 And the victorious trumpet-peal
Dies fitfully away.

430

Yet one man for one moment

Stood out before the crowd;

Well known was he to all the Three,
And they gave him greeting loud,
"Now welcome, welcome, Sextus!
Now welcome to thy home!
Why dost thou stay, and turn away?
Here lies the road to Rome."

435 Thrice looked he at the city;

440

Thrice looked he at the dead ;
And thrice came on in fury,

And thrice turned back in dread;
And, white with fear and hatred,
Scowled at the narrow way

Where, wallowing in a pool of blood,
The bravest Tuscans lay.

335 From Ostia's walls the crowd shall mark
The track of thy destroying bark.
No more Campania's hinds shall fly
To woods and caverns when they spy
Thy thrice accursed sail."