Fast by the royal standard,
      O’erlooking all the war,
    Lars Porsena of Clusium
      Sat in his ivory car. 
    By the right wheel rode Mamilius,
      Prince of the Latian name;
    And by the left false Sextus,
      That wrought the deed of shame.

    XXV.

    But when the face of Sextus
      Was seen among the foes,
    A yell that rent the firmament
      From all the town arose. 
    On the house-tops was no woman
      But spat toward him and hissed,
    No child but screamed out curses
      And shook its little fist.

    XXVI.

    But the Consul’s brow was sad,
      And the Consul’s speech was low,
    And darkly looked he at the wall,
      And darkly at the foe. 
    “Their van will be upon us
      Before the bridge goes down;
    And if they once may win the bridge
      What hope to save the town?”

    XXVII.

    Then out spake brave Horatius,
      The Captain of the Gate: 
    “To every man upon this earth
      Death cometh soon or late. 
    And how can man die better
      Than facing fearful odds,
    For the ashes of his fathers
      And the temples of his gods.

    XXVIII.

    “And for the tender mother
      Who dandled him to rest,
    And for the wife who nurses
      His baby at her breast,
    And for the holy maidens
      Who feed the eternal flame,
    To save them from false Sextus
      That wrought the deed of shame?

    XXIX.

    “Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul,
      With all the speed ye may;
    I, with two more to help me,
      Will hold the foe in play. 
    In yon strait path a thousand
      May well be stopped by three. 
    Now who will stand on either hand,
      And keep the bridge with me?”

    XXX.

    Then out spake Spurius Lartius,
      A Ramnian proud was he: 
    “Lo, I will stand at thy right hand
      And keep the bridge with thee.” 
    And out spake strong Herminius,
      Of Titian blood was he: 
    “I will abide on thy left side,
      And keep the bridge with thee.”

    XXXI.

    “Horatius,” quoth the Consul,
      “As thou sayest, so let it be.” 
    And straight against that great array
      Forth went the dauntless Three. 
    For Romans in Rome’s quarrel
      Spared neither land nor gold,
    Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life,
      In the brave days of old.

    XXXII.

    Then none was for a party;
      Then all were for the State;
    Then the great man helped the poor,
      And the poor man loved the great;
    Then lands were fairly portioned;
      Then spoils were fairly sold;
    The Romans were like brothers
      In the brave days of old.