lays of ancient rome(古罗马方位)-第7章
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But with a crash like thunder Fell every loosened beam； And；
like a dam； the mighty wreck Lay right athwart the stream： And a
long shout of triumph Rose from the walls of Rome； As to the
highest turret…tops Was splashed the yellow foam。
LVI
And； like a horse unbroken When first he feels the rein； The
furious river struggled hard； And tossed his tawny mane； And burst
the curb and bounded； Rejoicing to be free； And whirling down； in
fierce career； Battlement； and plank； and pier； Rushed headlong to
the sea。
LVII
Alone stood brave Horatius； But constant still in mind； Thrice
thirty thousand foes before； And the broad flood behind。 ‘‘Down
with him！'' cried false Sextus； With a smile on his pale face。 ‘‘Now
yield thee；'' cried Lars Porsena； ‘‘Now yield thee to our grace。''
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LVIII
Round turned he； as not deigning Those craven ranks to see；
Nought spake he to Lars Porsena； To Sextus nought spake he； But
he saw on Palatinus The white porch of his home； And he spake to
the noble river That rolls by the towers of Rome。
LVIX
‘‘Oh； 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。
LX
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。
LXI
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 armor； And spent with changing blows： And oft they
thought him sinking； But still again he rose。
LXII
Never； I ween； did swimmer； In such an evil case； Struggle
through such a raging flood Safe to the landing place： But his limbs
were borne up bravely By the brave heart within； And our good
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father Tiber Bare bravely up his chin。
LXIII
‘‘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。''
LXIV
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。
LXV
They gave him of the corn…land； That was of public right； As
much as two strong oxen Could plough from morn till night； And
they made a molten image； And set it up on high； And there is
stands unto this day To witness if I lie。
LXVI
It stands in the Comitium Plain for all folk to see； Horatius in
his harness； Halting upon one knee： And underneath is written；
In letters all of gold； How valiantly he kept the bridge In the brave
days of old。
LXVII
And still his name sounds stirring Unto the men of Rome； As
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the trumpet…blast that cries to them To charge the Volscian home；
And wives still pray to Juno For boys with hearts as bold As his
who kept the bridge so well In the brave days of old。
LXVIII
And in the nights of winter； When the cold north winds blow；
And the long howling of the wolves Is heard amidst the snow；
When round the lonely cottage Roars loud the tempest's din； And
the good logs of Algidus Roar louder yet within；
LXIX
When the oldest cask is opened； And the largest lamp is lit；
When the chestnuts glow in the embers； And the kid turns on the
spit； When young and old in circle Around the firebrands close；
When the girls are weaving baskets； And the lads are shaping bows；
LXX
When the goodman mends his armor； And trims his helmet's
plume； When the goodwife'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。
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The Battle of the Lake Regillus
The following poem is supposed to have been produced about ninety
years after the lay of Horatius。 Some persons mentioned in the lay of
Horatius make their appearance again； and some appellations and epithets
used in the lay of Horatius have been purposely repeated： for； in an age of
ballad…poetry； it scarcely ever fails to happen； that certain phrases come to
be appropriated to certain men and things； and are regularly applied to
those men and things by every minstrel。 Thus we find； both in the
Homeric poems and in Hesiod； ＇several examples of common phrases； in
Greek＇。 Thus； too； in our own national songs； Douglas is almost always
the doughty Douglas； England is merry England； all the gold is red； and
all the ladies are gay。
The principal distinction between the lay of Horatius and the lay of the
Lake Regillus is that the former is meant to be purely Roman； while the
latter； though national in its general spirit； has a slight tincture of Greek
learning and of Greek superstition。 The story of the Tarquins； as it has
come down to us； appears to have been compiled from the works of
several popular poets； and one； at least； of those poets appears to have
visited the Greek colonies in Italy； if not Greece itself； and to have had
some acquaintance with the works of Homer and Herodotus。 Many of the
most striking adventures of the House of Tarquin； before Lucretia makes
her appearance； have a Greek character。 The Tarquins themselves are
represented as Corinthian nobles of the great House of the Bacchiad*；
driven from their country by the tyranny of that Cypselus； the tale of
whose strange escape Herodotus has related with incomparable simplicity
and liveliness。 Livy and Dionysius tell us that； when Tarquin the Proud
was asked what was the best mode of governing a conquered city； he
replied only by beating down with his staff all the tallest poppies in his
garden。 This is exactly what Herodotus； in the passage to which reference
has already been made； relates of the counsel given to Periander； the son
of Cypselus。 The stratagem by which the town of Gabii is brought under
the power of the Tarquins is； again； obviously copied from Herodotus。 The
embassy of the young Tarquins to the oracle at Delphi is just such a story
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as would be told by a poet whose head was full of the Greek mythology；
and the ambiguous answer returned by Apollo is in the exact style of the
prophecies which； according to Herodotus； lured Croesus to destruction。
Then the character of the narrative changes。 From the first mention of
Lucretia to the retreat of Porsena nothing seems to be borrowed from
foreign sources。 The villainy of Sextus； the suicide of his victim； the
revolution； the death of the sons of Brutus； the defence of the bridge；
Musius burning his hand； Cloelia swimming through Tiber； seem to be all
strictly Roman。 But when we have done with the Tuscan wars； and enter
upon the war with the Latines； we are again struck by the Greek air of the
story。 The Battle of the Lake Regillus is in all respects a Homeric battle；
except that the combatants ride astride on their horses； instead of driving
chariots。 The mass of fighting men is hardly mentioned。 The leaders single
each other out； and engage hand to hand。 The great object of the warriors
on both sides is； as in the Iliad； to obtain possession of the spoils and
bodies of the slain； and several circumstances are related which forcibly
remind us of the great slaughter round the corpses of Sarpedon and
Patroclus。
But there is one
