lays of ancient rome(古罗马方位)-第6部分
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Verbenna down to Ostia Hath wasted all the plain； Astur hath
stormed Janiculum； And the stout guards are slain。
XVIII
I wis； in all the Senate； There was no heart so bold； But sore it
ached； and fast it beat； When that ill news was told。 Forthwith up
rose the Consul； Up rose the Fathers all； In haste they girded up
their gowns； And hied them to the wall。
XIX
They held a council standing； Before the River…Gate； Short time
was there； ye well may guess； For musing or debate。 Out spake the
Consul roundly： ‘‘The bridge must straight go down； For； since
Janiculum is lost； Nought else can save the town。''
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Lays of Ancient Rome
XX
Just then a scout came flying； All wild with haste and fear： ‘‘To
arms！ to arms！ Sir Consul： Lars Porsena is here。'' On the low hills to
westward The Consol fixed his eye； And saw the swarthy storm of
dust Rise fast along the sky。
XXI
And nearer fast and nearer Doth the red whirlwind come； And
louder still and still more loud； From underneath that rolling cloud； Is
heard the trumpet's war…note proud； The trampling； and the hum。
And plainly and more plainly Now through the gloom appears； Far
to left and far to right； In broken gleams of dark…blue light； The long array
of helmets bright； The long array of spears。
XXII
And plainly and more plainly； Above that glimmering line； Now
might ye see the banners Of twelve fair cities shine； But the banner
of proud Clusium Was highest of them all； The terror of the
Umbrian； The terror of the Gaul。
XXIII
And plainly and more plainly Now might the burghers know；
By port and vest； by horse and crest； Each warlike Lucumo。 There
Cilnius of Arretium On his fleet roan was seen； And Astur of the
four…fold shield； Girt with the brand none else may wield； Tolumnius with
the belt of gold； And dark Verbenna from the hold By reedy
Thrasymene。
XXIV
Fast by the royal standard； O'erlooking all the war； Lars Porsena
of Clusium Sat in his ivory car。 By the right wheel rode Mamilius；
Prince of the Latian name； And by the left false Sextus； That
wrought the deed of shame。
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Lays of Ancient Rome
XXV
But when the face of Sextus Was seen among the foes； A yell
that rent the firmament From all the town arose。 On the house…tops
was no woman But spat towards him and hissed； No child but
screamed out curses； And shook its little fist。
XXVI
But the Consul's brow was sad； And the Consul's speech was
low； And darkly looked he at the wall； And darkly at the foe。
‘‘Their van will be upon us Before the bridge goes down； And if
they once may win the bridge； What hope to save the town？''
XXVII
Then out spake brave Horatius； The Captain of the Gate： ‘‘To
every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late。 And how can
man die better Than facing fearful odds； For the ashes of his fathers；
And the temples of his gods；
XXVIII
‘‘And for the tender mother Who dandled him to rest； And for
the wife who nurses His baby at her breast； And for the holy
maidens Who feed the eternal flame； To save them from false
Sextus That wrought the deed of shame？
XXIX
‘‘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？''
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Lays of Ancient Rome
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。
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Lays of Ancient Rome
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
Aunus from green Tifernum； Lord of the Hill of Vines； And
Seius； whose eight hundred slaves Sicken in Ilva's mines； And
Picus； long to Clusium Vassal in peace and war； Who led to fight
his Umbrian powers From that gray crag where； girt with towers； The
fortress of Nequinum lowers O'er the pale waves of Nar。
XXXVIII
Stout Lartius hurled down Aunus Into the stream beneath；
Herminius struck at Seius； And clove him to the teeth； At Picus
brave Horatius Darted one fiery thrust； And the proud Umbrian's
gilded arms Clashed in the bloody dust。
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Lays of Ancient Rome
XXXIX
Then Ocnus of Falerii Rushed on the Roman Three； And
Lausulus of Urgo； The rover of the sea； And Aruns of Volsinium；
Who slew the great wild boar； The great wild boar that had his den Amidst
the reeds of Cosa's fen； And wasted fields； and slaughtered men；
Along Albinia's shore。
XL
Herminius smote down Aruns： Lartius laid Ocnus low： Right to
the heart of Lausulus Horatius sent a blow。 ‘‘Lie there；'' he cried；
‘‘fell pirate！ No more； aghast and pale； 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。''
XLI
But now no sound
