Download His 2-3cP—Story-Horatius at the Bridge - Latter

History 2-­‐3b—Story: Horatius at the Bridge Horatius at the Bridge (circa 500 B.C.)
Romulus was followed by six other kings. The early kings of Rome were like the
father of a large family. They directed the people’s work and gave orders.
Some kings were like wise fathers. However, as time went by, some of kings were
Etruscans. The Etruscans were a tribe to the north of Rome. These kings were
selfish and cruel. The last of these rulers, Tarquin the Proud, was so cruel that the
citizens of Rome revolted and sent him from the city.i
For a time [after Tarquin’s expulsion] Rome was ruled by Publius Valerius. He was
a good man. He caused laws to be passed for the benefit of the people and
was therefore called Publicola, which means the people's friend. He had to fight
Tarquin frequently. The banished king was constantly trying to capture Rome
and get back his throne. He got help from various nations and fought very hard,
but was never successful in his efforts. At one time he was aided by Lars Porsena,
king of Clusium, a city of Etruria [the Etruscans], who gathered a large army and
set out to attack Rome.
But Porsena could not enter the city without crossing the Tiber, and there was
only one bridge…When the Romans saw the great army of Etruscans in the
distance, they were much alarmed. They were not prepared to fight so powerful
a force. The consul thought for a while, and then he resolved to cut down the
bridge as the only means of saving Rome. So a number of men were at once set
to work with axes and hammers.
It was hard work, for the bridge was very strongly built. Before the beams
supporting it were all cut away the army of Porsena was seen approaching the
river. What was to be done? It would take a few minutes more to finish the work,
and if the farther end of the bridge [across from the city of Rome] could be held
against the Etruscans for those few minutes all would be well for Rome. But how
was it to be held, and who would hold it? Suddenly from the ranks of the Roman
soldiers the brave Horatius Cocles stepped out and cried to the consul:
‘Give me two good men to help me, and I will hold the bridge and stop the
enemy from coming over.’
Immediately two brave men, Spurius Lartius and Titus Herminius, ran to his side.
Then the three hurried over to the other end of the bridge, and stood ready to
keep off the enemy.
When the army of Etruscans saw the three men standing [on their side of the
bridge] to keep them back a shout of laughter went up among them. Three
men to keep back thousands! How ridiculous! There the three brave Romans
stood, however, at the entrance of the bridge, with determined faces and
fearless eyes.
© 2012 American Heritage Schools, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for copying of the notebook pages and other online resources for
use by the original purchaser’s own immediate family. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
History 2-­‐3b—Story: Horatius at the Bridge Very quickly three Etruscans—stout, able fighters—came forth from the army to
give battle to the three Romans. After a sharp combat the Etruscans were killed.
Three more came out and continued the fight, but they too were beaten by
Horatius and his companions.
But now the bridge began to shake and crack. Horatius [knew] that it was about
to fall, and he cried to Spurius and Titus to run back to the other side [and the
city of Rome]. While they did so he stood alone and defied the whole Etruscan
army, which was now rushing upon him. A whole army against one man!
Javelins were hurled at him, but he skillfully warded them off with his shield.
Just as the Etruscans reached him the last beam was cut away, and the bridge
fell [behind him] with a tremendous crash.”ii
When Horatius heard the sound, he knew that the city was safe. With his face still
toward Porsena's men, he moved slowly backward till he stood on the river's
bank. A dart thrown by one of Porsena's soldiers put out his left eye; but he did
not falter. He cast his spear at the foremost horseman, and then he turned
quickly around. He saw the white porch of his own home among the trees on
the other side of the stream;
’And he spake to the noble river
That rolls by the walls of Rome:
'O Tiber! father Tiber!
To whom the Romans pray,
A Roman's life, a Roman's arms,
Take thou in charge to-day.'iii
He leaped into the deep, swift stream. He still had his heavy armor on; and when
he sank out of sight, no one thought that he would ever be seen again. But he
was a strong man, and the best swimmer in Rome. The next minute he rose. He
was halfway across the river, and safe from the spears and darts which Porsena's
soldiers hurled after him.
Soon he reached the [Roman] side [of the river], where his friends stood ready
to help him. Shout after shout greeted him as he climbed upon the bank. Then
Porsena's men shouted also, for they had never seen a man so brave and strong
as Horatius. He had kept them out of Rome, but he had done a deed which
they could not help but praise.
As for the Romans, they were very grateful to Horatius for having saved their city.
They called him Horatius Cocles, which meant the "one-eyed Horatius," because
he had lost an eye in defending the bridge; they caused a fine statue of brass to
be made in his honor; and they gave him as much land as he could plow
around in a day. And for hundreds of years afterwards—
© 2012 American Heritage Schools, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for copying of the notebook pages and other online resources for
use by the original purchaser’s own immediate family. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
History 2-­‐3b—Story: Horatius at the Bridge ’With weeping and with laughter,
Still was the story told,
How well Horatius kept the bridge
In the brave days of old.’"iv
Information from Wilbur F. Gordy, American Beginnings in Europe, New York, Chicago,
Boston: Charles Scriber’s Sons, p. 59.
i
John H. Haaren and A.B. Poland, Famous Men of Rome, [New York: American Book
Company, 1904], 58-60.
ii
Selections of poetry taken from “Horatius: A Lay Made About the Year Of The City
CCCLX,” by Thomas Babington Macaulay, a long narrative poem about this story.)
iii
James Baldwin, Fifty Famous Stories Retold, [New York: American Book Company,
1904], 93-94.]
iv
© 2012 American Heritage Schools, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for copying of the notebook pages and other online resources for
use by the original purchaser’s own immediate family. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.