And, as they passed, beneath their feet But when they turned their faces, They would have crossed once more. But with a crash like thunder Fell every loosened beam, And, like a dam, the mighty wreck Rose from the walls of Rome, As to the highest turret tops Was splashed the yellow foam. Alone stood brave Horatius, But constant still in mind; And the broad flood behind. Round turned he, as not deigning Naught spake he to Lars Porsena, The white porch of his home; That rolls by the towers of Rome: "O 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. No sound of joy or sorrow Was heard from either bank; But friends and foes, in dumb surprise, And when above the surges They saw his crest appear, All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, Could scarce forbear to cheer. 5 10 15 "Curse on him!" quoth false Sextus; But for this stay, ere close of day We should have sacked the town!" For such a gallant feat of arms And now he feels the bottom; Consul: the chief magistrate of Rome. Janic'ulum: a high hill west of the Tiber, commanding the city of Rome. the gate: Rome was a walled city with numerous gates. This was the so-called River Gate. — strait: narrow. Horatius proposed to stand at the farther end of the bridge while it was being hewn down. Ram'nian: one of the three original tribes of Rome; hence a patrician or aristocrat. Ti'tian: another of the three tribes. Horatius was a representative of the third. This battle is supposed to have taken place about 500 B.C., or more than two hundred and fifty years after the founding of the city.the Fathers: senators or "city fathers." Sex'tus: Tarquin's son.— -Lars Por ́sena: the chief of the king's helpers; a king in his own right. Palati'nus: one of the seven hills of Rome. ranks of Tus'cany: these were under the leadership of Porsena. THE RHODORA RALPH WALDO EMERSON On being asked, Whence is the flower? RALPH WALDO EMERSON, born in Boston in 1803, was a famous lecturer and writer. For the greater part of his life his home was in Concord, Mass., where he died in 1882. Emerson taught the world many lessons; one of them, which had been put into words by Wordsworth, was that plain living and high thinking go well together. NOTE. The rhodora is a low shrub with rose-pink flowers, found in early spring in New England woods. It is similar to the azalea. In May, when sea winds pierced our solitudes, 5 10 15 This charm is wasted on the earth and sky, Tell them, dear, that if eyes were made for seeing, Why thou wert there, O rival of the rose ! But, in my simple ignorance, suppose The selfsame Power that brought me there brought you. ANEMONE EDITH M. THOMAS EDITH M. THOMAS is an American poet whose work has strength, delicacy, and charm. "Thou faintly blushing, dawn-like bloom Whom all with still delight receive? "The wind my sunshine is; the wind, Alone my drooping eye upraise. And when my thread of life shall break, My own Anemone !"" anem'one: wind-flower. — rath: early. -- affrays: frightens. |