Chapter IX
Horatius Cocles
Original
Literary translation
§ 9.1
.
The Romans remembered another Horatius and held him in the highest honor.
§ 9.2
.
After Romulus, six kings ruled the city in succession.
§ 9.3
, , .
But Tarquinius, the last of the kings, was arrogant and cruel.
§ 9.4
, .
He neither gave the people good laws nor governed the state well.
§ 9.5
, , , .
Therefore the Romans expelled Tarquinius and Sextus, Tarquinius's son, a cruel and fierce young man, from the city.
§ 9.6
“ ,” , “ .
“No longer,” they say, “will the Romans have kings.
§ 9.7
, , .”
Roman citizens, not kings, will rule the city and state.”
§ 9.8
, , , .
Meanwhile Tarquinius hurried to Porsenna, king of all Etruria, and told him everything.
§ 9.9
, “ ,” , “ , .
Porsenna said, “My friend, your wrongs must not be endured; the wrongs done to your son must not be endured.
§ 9.10
, .
I have many horsemen and many infantrymen.
§ 9.11
, .
I shall summon all my cavalry and infantry, and with many soldiers we shall lead you and your son to the wicked city.
§ 9.12
.”
You will rule in the city again.”
§ 9.13
, , .
So messengers hurried through all Etruria, across hills and fields, and summoned the Etruscans from every village to arms.
§ 9.14
; ; .
The Etruscans' weapons were splendid; red crests bristled on their helmets; shields gleamed with a flashing light.
§ 9.15
.
Porsenna marched toward Rome with his soldiers.
§ 9.16
.
Throughout all the villages the farmers were terribly afraid.
§ 9.17
, , , .
The Etruscans burned the grain and houses, cut down trees, killed women and children, and carried off much plunder.
§ 9.18
.
Meanwhile Porsenna's deeds did not escape the Romans' notice.
§ 9.19
; ; ; , ; .
The Vestal virgins prayed to the gods by the sacred fire; mothers brought gifts to the temples with their children; elders offered sacrifices on altars; young men in the Campus Martius armed themselves for battle and strengthened the walls with great labor; sentries stood on the ramparts watching fields and hills.
§ 9.20
.
Suddenly the sentries saw the Etruscans' glittering arms in the distance.
§ 9.21
, , .
Soon among the enemy they saw Porsenna, and Sextus on Porsenna's right.
§ 9.22
.
Then the citizens, full of hatred and fear, shouted loudly and steeled their spirits for battle.
§ 9.23
, , .
But the consuls were afraid, because the Romans were few and the enemy numerous and strong.
§ 9.24
.
The enemy pitched camp in front of the city walls.
§ 9.25
.
They fortified the camp with a rampart and a ditch.
§ 9.26
.
Then they marched out of camp and attacked the Roman walls.
§ 9.27
, .
The Romans fought bravely and fiercely, but the strong Etruscans almost defeated them.
§ 9.28
; .
Already they had driven the Romans from part of the city; already they had conquered everything across the river.
§ 9.29
, “!” , “ !
The consuls, full of fear, cried, “Look! They are near the bridge!
§ 9.30
, .”
If they hold the bridge, they will conquer the whole city.”
§ 9.31
, , “ ,” , “ ; , .
Then Horatius, a brave man, said, “Consuls, at the far end of the bridge there is a narrow passage; the enemy are many, but only a few can enter there.
§ 9.32
, .
You will quickly cut down the bridge; I shall fight the enemy with two friends in the narrow place.
§ 9.33
, , .
In that way we shall all fight for Roman altars and temples, for wives and children, and for the sacred maidens.
§ 9.34
.
Thus we shall save the city of Rome.
§ 9.35
?”
Who will stand with me at the end of the bridge and fight against the Etruscans?”
§ 9.36
, “,” , “ , ”; , “,” , “ .”
Then Lartius said, “I shall stand on the right and defend the bridge with you”; and Herminius cried, “I shall stand on the left and defend the bridge with you.”
§ 9.37
.
So three Romans stood in the narrow place.
§ 9.38
.
And the Etruscans did not refuse battle.
§ 9.39
.
Three leading warriors advance against the Romans.
§ 9.40
; .
The leaders are proud and splendidly equipped; with gleaming swords they advance upon Horatius and his companions.
§ 9.41
, .
Horatius hurled himself at an enemy like a thunderbolt, and the Etruscan leader fell to the ground with a great crash.
§ 9.42
.
Lartius and Herminius too wounded the enemy with strong spears and felled them to the ground.
§ 9.43
; .
Again the Etruscans sent brave, fierce soldiers against the Romans; again the Romans killed the Etruscans.
§ 9.44
.
They fought long and fiercely.
§ 9.45
.
Already many bodies of the enemy lay on the ground.
§ 9.46
, , , .
The Etruscans grew afraid and urged on Sextus, Tarquinius's son.
§ 9.47
, , , .
But Sextus too feared Horatius and refused battle, and did not advance against the Romans, such fierce enemies.
§ 9.48
.
Meanwhile the Roman citizens are cutting down the bridge with all their strength.
§ 9.49
.
Soon they will cast the bridge down into the river.
§ 9.50
, .
Then Lartius and Herminius throw spears at the enemy and dash with all their might across the bridge to safety.
§ 9.51
, .
Horatius, however, still stands alone at the far end of the bridge and fights fiercely against the Etruscans.
§ 9.52
, , “ , ,” , “— ; , .”
The Romans, now full of fear, shout, “Horatius, back! Back—there is still a safe way; soon no bridge will remain across the river, and the enemy will defeat and kill you.”
§ 9.53
, .
But the bridge fell into the river with a great crash, and amid foaming waves everything drifted toward the sea.
§ 9.54
.
Horatius was now left alone among the enemy.
§ 9.55
, : “ , ; ; , .”
But he still stood fearlessly on the riverbank and prayed to the Tiber: “O father Tiber, all Romans honor you and call you father; today you will preserve a Roman soldier's life and carry him safely on your waters.”
§ 9.56
, .
He spoke and leapt into the foaming waters of the Tiber.
§ 9.57
, , .
Exhausted by many wounds and the weight of his armor, he barely swam through the foaming waters, but Father Tiber bore the brave Roman to the other bank and carried him safely to the anxious citizens.
§ 9.58
, .
Great was the Etruscans' anger, and great the Romans' joy.
§ 9.59
, .
And so the name of Horatius was always known and celebrated among the Romans and throughout the world, because he had fought bravely for his country.
§ 9.60
, , , .
And all the Romans always honored the river Tiber and gladly brought gifts to its banks, because it is the father of all Romans and saved both the city of Rome and its courageous defender from the savage Etruscans.
§ 9.61
?
Do you love Greek and Roman stories?
§ 9.62
, , .
If stories delight you, write my words on your tablets and recite them to your teacher.
§ 9.63
.
Thus you will always keep famous stories in your memory.
§ 9.64
, , .
After a few years you, now grown young people, will read many other stories.
§ 9.65
, , , .
The Sabines of old cultivated this way of life, as did Remus and his brother; thus mighty Etruria flourished, and Rome became fairest of cities, encircling her seven hills with a single wall.