Horatius at the Bridge

by James Baldwin

　　

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Once there was a war between the Roman people and the E-trus´cans wholived in the towns on the other side of the Ti-ber River. Por´se-na,the King of the E-trus-cans, raised a great army, and marched towardRome. The city had never been in so great danger.The Romans did not have very many fighting men at that time, and theyknew that they were not strong enough to meet the Etruscans in openbattle. So they kept themselves inside of their walls, and set guardsto watch the roads.One morning the army of Por-se-na was seen coming over the hills fromthe north. There were thousands of horsemen and footmen, and they weremarching straight toward the wooden bridge which spanned the river atRome."What shall we do?" said the white-haired Fathers who made the lawsfor the Roman people. "If they once gain the bridge, we cannot hinderthem from crossing; and then what hope will there be for the town?"Now, among the guards at the bridge, there was a brave man namedHo-ra´ti-us. He was on the farther side of the river, and when he sawthat the Etruscans were so near, he called out to the Romans who werebehind him."Hew down the bridge with all the speed that you can!" he cried. "I,with the two men who stand by me, will keep the foe at bay."Then, with their shields before them, and their long spears in theirhands, the three brave men stood in the road, and kept back thehorsemen whom Porsena had sent to take the bridge.On the bridge the Romans hewed away at the beams and posts. Their axesrang, the chips flew fast; and soon it trembled, and was ready tofall."Come back! come back, and save your lives!" they cried to Ho-ra-ti-usand the two who were with him.But just then Porsena's horsemen dashed toward them again."Run for your lives!" said Horatius to his friends. "I will keep theroad."They turned, and ran back across the bridge. They had hardly reachedthe other side when there was a crashing of beams and timbers. Thebridge toppled over to one side, and then fell with a great splashinto the water.When Horatius heard the sound, he knew that the city was safe. Withhis face still toward Porsena's men, he moved slowly back-ward till hestood on the river's bank. A dart thrown by one of Porsena's soldiersput out his left eye; but he did not falter. He cast his spear at thefore-most horseman, and then he turned quickly around. He saw thewhite porch of his own home among the trees on the other side of thestream; "And he spake to the noble river That rolls by the walls of Rome: 'O Tiber! father Tiber! To whom the Romans pray, A Roman's life, a Roman's arms, Take thou in charge to-day.'" He leaped into the deep, swift stream. He still had his heavy armoron; and when he sank out of sight, no one thought that he would everbe seen again. But he was a strong man, and the best swimmer in Rome.The next minute he rose. He was half-way across the river, and safefrom the spears and darts which Porsena's soldiers hurled after him.Soon he reached the farther side, where his friends stood ready tohelp him. Shout after shout greeted him as he climbed upon the bank.Then Porsena's men shouted also, for they had never seen a man sobrave and strong as Horatius. He had kept them out of Rome, but he haddone a deed which they could not help but praise.As for the Romans, they were very grateful to Horatius for havingsaved their city. They called him Horatius Co´cles, which meant the"one-eyed Horatius," because he had lost an eye in defending thebridge; they caused a fine statue of brass to be made in his honor;and they gave him as much land as he could plow around in a day. Andfor hundreds of years afterwards-- "With weeping and with laugh-ter, Still was the story told, How well Horatius kept the bridge In the brave days of old."

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