. Lays of ancient Rome, with Ivry, and The Armada;. ing Tuscans, And scorn was in his he, The she-wolfs litter Stand savagely at bay :But will ye dare to follow, If Astur clears the way? 32 LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME. XLIV. Then, whirling up his broadsword With both hands to the height,He rushed against Horatius, And smote with all his shield and blade Horatius Right deftly turned the blow, though turned, came yet too nigh;It missed his helm, but gashed his thigh :The Tuscans raised a joyful cry To see the red blood flow. * XLV. He reeled, and on Herminius He leaned one
. Lays of ancient Rome, with Ivry, and The Armada;. ing Tuscans, And scorn was in his he, The she-wolfs litter Stand savagely at bay :But will ye dare to follow, If Astur clears the way? 32 LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME. XLIV. Then, whirling up his broadsword With both hands to the height,He rushed against Horatius, And smote with all his shield and blade Horatius Right deftly turned the blow, though turned, came yet too nigh;It missed his helm, but gashed his thigh :The Tuscans raised a joyful cry To see the red blood flow. * XLV. He reeled, and on Herminius He leaned one breathing-space ;Then, like a wild cat mad with wounds, Sprang right at Asturs teeth, and skull, and helmet So fierce a thrust he sped,The good sword stood a hand-breadth out Behind the Tuscans head. XLVI. And the great Lord of Luna Fell at that deadly strokeAs falls on Mount Alvernus A thunder-smitten oak. HORATIUS. 33 Far oer the crashing forestThe giant arms lie spread ; And the pale augurs, muttering low,Gaze on the blasted XLVII. On Asturs throat Horatius Right firmly pressed his heel,And thrice and four times tugged amain Ere he wrenched out the steel. D 34 LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME. And see, he cried, the welcome,Fair guests, that waits you here ! What noble Lucumo comes nextTo taste our Roman cheer ? XLvm. But at his haughty challenge A sullen murmur ran,Mingled of wrath, and shame, and dread, Along that glittering lacked not men of prowess, Nor men of lordly race ;For all Etrurias noblest Were round the fatal place. XLIX. But all Etrurias noblest Felt their hearts sink to see On the earth the bloody corpses,In the path the dauntless Three: And, from the ghastly entranceWhere those bold Romans stood, All shrank, like boys who unaware, Ranging the woods to start a hare. HORATIUS. 35 Come to the mouth of the dark lairWhere, growling low, a fierce old bearLies amidst bones and blood. L. Was none who would be foremost To lead such dire attack :But
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