Oh! how I loved my darling! Though stern I sometimes be, Now, all those things are over yes, all thy pretty ways, ! Then clasp me round the neck once more, and give me one more kiss; And now, mine own dear little girl, there is no way but this." With that he lifted high the steel, and smote her in the side, And in her blood she sank to earth, and with one sob she died. Then, for a little moment, all people held their breath ; And through the crowded Forum was stillness as of death; And in another moment brake forth from one and all A cry as if the Volscians were coming o'er the wall. Some with averted faces shrieking fled home amain; Some ran to call a leech, and some ran to lift the slain : Some felt her lips and little wrist, if life might there be found; And some tore up their garments fast, and strove to stanch the wound. In vain they ran, and felt, and stanched; for never truer blow That good right arm had dealt in fight against a Volscian foe. When Appius Claudius saw that deed, he shuddered and sunk down, And hid his face some little space with the corner of his gown, Till, with white lips and bloodshot eyes, Virginius tottered nigh, And stood before the judgment-seat, and held the knife on high. "O dwellers in the nether gloom, avengers of the slain, By this dear blood I cry to you, do right between us twain ; Strode right across the market-place unto the Sacred Street. 1 Then up sprang Appius Claudius 'Stop him, alive or dead. Ten thousand pounds of copper to the man who brings his head !" He looked upon his clients; but none would work his will. He looked upon his lictors, but they trembled, and stood still. And, as Virginius through the press his way in silence cleft, Ever the mighty multitude fell back to right and left. And he hath passed in safety unto his woeful home; And there ta'en horse to tell the camp what deeds are done in Rome. MACAULAY And, like a dam, the mighty wreck And, like a horse unbroken And whirling down, in fierce career, 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." Round turned he, as not deigning The white porch of his home; "Oh, Tiber! father Tiber! To whom the Romans pray, No sound of joy or sorrow 23 But friends and foes in dumb surprise, All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, But fiercely ran the current, Swollen high by months of rain: And spent with changing blows: And oft they thought him sinking, Never, I ween, did swimmer, Struggle through such a raging flood And our good father Tiber Bare bravely up his chin. "Curses 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." And now he feels the bottom; Now on dry earth he stands: Now round him throng the Fathers He enters through the River Gate, MACAULAY. A ROMAN BATTLE. RIGHT glad were all the Romans When from the south, the cheering Mamilius spied Herminius, And dashed across the way- All round them paused the battle, The horses black and gray. Through breastplate and through breast, And fast flowed out the purple blood Over the purple vest. Mamilius smote Herminius Through head-piece and through head; And side by side those chiefs of pride Together fell down dead. Down fell they dead together In a great lake of gore; And still stood all who saw them fall Fast, fast, with heels wild spurning, His bridle far out-streaming His flanks all blood and foain, |