'O Tiber! father Tiber! To whom the Romans pray, A Roman's life, a Roman's arms, Take thou in charge this day!' So he spake, and speaking, sheathed The good sword by his side, And with his harness on his back Plunged headlong in the tide.
No sound of joy or sorrow Was heard from either bank, But friends and foes, in dumb surprise, With parted lips and straining eyes, Stood gazing where he sank; And when above the surges They saw his crest appear, All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, And even the ranks of Tuscany Could scarce forbear to cheer.
But fiercely ran the current, Swollen high by months of rain; And fast his blood was flowing, And he was sore in pain, And heavy with his armour, And spent with changing blows; And oft they thought him sinking, But still again he rose.
'Curse on him!' quoth false Sextus, 'Will not the villain drown? But for this stay, ere close of day, We should have sacked the town!' 'Heaven help him!' quoth Lars Porsena 'And bring him safe to shore; For such a gallant feat of arms Was never seen before.'
And now he feels the bottom; Now on dry earth he stands; Now round him throng the fathers To press his gory hands; And now with shouts and clapping, And noise of weeping loud, He enters through the River-gate Borne by the joyous crowd.
When the goodman mends his armour, And trims his helmet's plume; When the good wife's shuttle merrily Goes flashing through the loom; With weeping and with laughter Still is the story told, How well Horatius kept the bridge In the brave days of old." ]
[Footnote 14: Probably where the Cliva Capitolina begins to ascend the slope of the Capitol.--D.O.]
[Footnote 15: The most ancient of the Greek colonies in Italy. Its ruins are on the coast north of the Promontory of Miseno.--D.O.]
[Footnote 16: Leading from the forum to the Velabrum.]
[Footnote 17: It was situated in the Alban Hills about ten miles from Rome, on the site of the modern Frascati.--D.O.]
[Footnote 18: Suessa-Pometia, mentioned in former note. Cora is now Cori.--D.O.]
[Footnote 19: Their home was in Campania.--D.O.]
[Footnote 20: Wooden roofs covered with earth or wet hides, and rolled forward on wheels for the protection of those engaged in battering or mining the walls.--D.O.]