LIvely Latin 1 users: What did you think of the poem Horatius at the Bridge?

[Shasta Mom]

We read it today and LOVED it......!

[Alana in Canada]

Good for you!

Unfortunately, we skipped it.

[nmoira]

We read it today and LOVED it......!

We ended up printing off the unabridged poem. I don't know if it was the word "breast" that was the reason the second of the famous stanzas wasn't included, but here is the complete passage:

 

 

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

 

 

 

"Haul 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?"

 

[PollyOR]

:iagree:

I admit that I was dreading it and was pleasantly surprised when I really liked it.

[Shasta Mom]

Moira - that's funny! Thanks so much for the complete version. I think we can handle it!

[katilac]

Moira, Poem Hunter looks like a very cool site! thanks for posting.