should have made it.  Directly their arms clashed at the first encounter, and their glittering swords flashed, a mighty horror thrilled the spectators; and, as hope inclined to neither side, voice and breath alike were numbed.  Then having engaged hand to hand, when now not only the movements of their bodies, and the indecisive brandishings of their arms and weapons, but wounds also and blood were seen, two of the Romans fell lifeless, one upon the other, the three Albans being wounded.  And when the Alban army had raised a shout of joy at their fall, hope had entirely by this time, not however anxiety, deserted the Roman legions, breathless with apprehension at the dangerous position of this one man, whom the three Curiatii had surrounded.  He happened to be unhurt, so that, though alone he was by no means a match for them all together, yet he was full of confidence against each singly.  In order therefore to separate their attack, he took to flight, presuming that they would each pursue him with such swiftness as the wounded state of his body would permit.  He had now fled a considerable distance from the place where the fight had taken place, when, looking back, he perceived that they were pursuing him at a great distance from each other, and that one of them was not far from him.  On him he turned round with great fury, and while the Alban army shouted out to the Curiatii to succour their brother, Horatius by this time victorious, having slain his antagonist, was now proceeding to a second attack.  Then the Romans encouraged their champion with a shout such as is wont to be raised when men cheer in consequence of unexpected success; and he hastened to finish the combat.  Wherefore before the other, who was not far off, could come up to him, he slew the second Curiatius also.  And now, the combat being brought to equal terms, one on each side remained, but unequally matched in hope and strength.  The one was inspired with courage for a third contest by the fact that his body was uninjured by a weapon, and by his double victory:  the other dragging along his body exhausted from his wound, exhausted from running, and dispirited by the slaughter of his brothers before his eyes, thus met his victorious antagonist.  And indeed there was no fight.  The Roman, exulting, cried:  “Two I have offered to the shades of my brothers:  the third I will offer to the cause of this war, that the Roman may rule over the Alban.”  He thrust his sword down from above into his throat, while he with difficulty supported the weight of his arms, and stripped him as he lay prostrate.  The Romans welcomed Horatius with joy and congratulations; with so much the greater exultation, as the matter had closely bordered on alarm.  They then turned their attention to the burial of their friends, with feelings by no means the same:  for the one side was elated by the acquisition of empire, the other brought under the rule of others:  their sepulchres may still be seen in the spot where each fell; the two Roman in one place nearer Alba, the three Alban in the direction of Rome, but situated at some distance from each other, as in fact they had fought.