ETRUSCAN INVASION UNDER PORSENA, 507 B.C. (2)
‘_How well Horatius kept the Bridge In the brave days of old._’
Duos tamen cum eo pudor tenuit, Sp. Larcium ac T. Herminium, ambos claros genere factisque. Cum his primam periculi procellam et quod tumultuosissimum pugnae erat, parumper sustinuit; deinde eos quoque ipsos, exigua parte pontis relicta, revocantibus, { 5} qui rescindebant, cedere in tutum coegit. Circumferens inde truces minaciter oculos ad proceres Etruscorum nunc singulos provocare, nunc increpare omnes: servitia regum superborum, suae libertatis immemores alienam oppugnatum venire. { 10} Cunctati aliquamdiu sunt, dum alius alium, ut proelium incipiant, circumspectant. Pudor deinde commovit aciem, et clamore sublato undique in unum hostem tela coniciunt. Quae cum in obiecto cuncta scuto haesissent, neque ille minus obstinatus ingenti { 15} pontem obtineret gradu, iam impetu conabantur detrudere virum, cum simul fragor rupti pontis, simul clamor Romanorum alacritate perfecti operis sublatus, pavore subito impetum sustinuit. Tum Cocles ‘Tiberine pater,’ inquit, ‘te sancte precor, haec arma { 20} et hunc militem propitio flumine accipias.’ Ita sic armatus in Tiberim desiluit, multisque superincidentibus telis incolumis ad suos tranavit, rem ausus plus famae habituram ad posteros quam fidei.
[Linenotes: 7. +ad proceres+ = _on the chiefs_. For _prŏcer_ cf. _procērus_ = tall. 8-9. +provocare ... increpare.+ Historic Infinitives = Indic. 9. +servitia+ = _the slaves_ = _servos_. Abstract for concrete, freq. in Livy. Cf. Hor. _Od._ ii. 8. 18. (_servitus = servi._) 14. +obiecto+ = _presented_, i.e. to the enemy. 15-16. +ingenti gradu+ = _with mighty (heroic) stand_. Cf. ‘firm as a rock.’ 18. +alacritate perfecti operis+ = _from joy at the completion of the work_. 24. +plus famae ... fidei+ = _destined to win more fame than credit with posterity_. ‘Oh Tiber! father Tiber! To whom the Romans pray, A Roman’s life, a Roman’s arms, Take thou in charge this day!’ So he spake, and speaking sheathed The good sword by his side, And with his harness on his back, Plunged headlong in the tide. --Macaulay.]
ETRUSCAN INVASION UNDER PORSENA, 507 B.C. (3)
_How C. Mucius lost his Hand, but won a Name._