XLVI

  But at his haughty challenge
    A sullen murmur ran,
  Mingled of wrath, and shame, and dread, 400
    Along that glittering van. 
  There lacked not men of prowess,
    Nor men of lordly race,
  For all Etruria’s noblest
    Were round the fatal place. 405

  XLIX

  But all Etruria’s noblest
    Felt their hearts sink to see
  On the earth the bloody corpses,
    In the path the dauntless Three: 
  And from the ghastly entrance 410
    Where those bold Romans stood,
  All shrank, like boys who unaware,
  Ranging the woods to start a hare,
  Come to the mouth of the dark lair,
  Where, growling low, a fierce old bear 415
    Lies amidst bones and blood.

  L

  Was none who would be foremost
    To lead such dire attack;
  But those behind cried, “Forward!”
    And those before cried, “Back!” 420
  And backward now and forward
    Wavers the deep array;
  And on the tossing sea of steel,
    To and fro the standards reel;
  And the victorious trumpet-peal 425
    Dies fitfully away.

  LI

  Yet one man for one moment
    Stood out before the crowd;
  Well known was he to all the Three,
    And they gave him greeting loud. 430
  “Now welcome, welcome, Sextus! 
    Now welcome to thy home! 
  Why dost thou stay, and turn away? 
    Here lies the road to Rome.”

  LII

  Thrice looked he at the city; 435
    Thrice looked he at the dead
  And thrice came on in fury,
    And thrice turned back in dread: 
  And, white with fear and hatred,
    Scowled at the narrow way 440
  Where, wallowing in a pool of blood,
    The bravest Tuscans lay.

  LIII

  But meanwhile axe and lever
    Have manfully been plied;
  And now the bridge hangs tottering 445
    Above the boiling tide. 
  “Come back, come back, Horatius!”
    Loud cried the Fathers all. 
  “Back, Lartius! back, Herminius! 
    Back, ere the ruin fall!” 450

  LIV

  Back darted Spurius Lartius,
    Herminius darted back: 
  And, as they passed, beneath their feet
    They felt the timbers crack. 
  But when they turned their faces, 455
    And on the farther shore
  Saw brave Horatius stand alone,
    They would have crossed once more.

  LV

  But with a crash like thunder
    Fell every loosened beam, 460
  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 465
    Was splashed the yellow foam.