Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from Lays of Ancient Rome, by Baron Thomas Babington Macaulay Macaulay
Then the fierce trumpet-flourish<br />
From earth to heaven arose,<br />
The kites know well the long stern swell<br />
That bids the Romans close.<br />
Then the good sword of Aulus<br />
Was lifted up to slay;<br />
Then, like a crag down Apennine,<br />
Rushed Auster through the fray.<br />
But under those strange horsemen<br />
Still thicker lay the slain;<br />
And after those strange horses<br />
Black Auster toiled in vain.<br />
Behind them Rome's long battle<br />
Came rolling on the foe,<br />
Ensigns dancing wild above,<br />
Blades all in line below.<br />
So comes the Po in flood-time<br />
Upon the Celtic plain;<br />
So comes the squall, blacker than night,<br />
Upon the Adrian main.<br />
Now, by our Sire Quirinus,<br />
It was a goodly sight<br />
To see the thirty standards<br />
Swept down the tide of flight.<br />
So flies the spray of Adria<br />
When the black squall doth blow<br />
So corn-sheaves in the flood-time<br />
Spin down the whirling Po.<br />
False Sextus to the mountains<br />
Turned first his horse's head;<br />
And fast fled Ferentinum,<br />
And fast Lanuvium fled.<br />
The horsemen of Nomentus<br />
Spurred hard out of the fray;<br />
The footmen of Velitræ<br />
Threw shield and spear away.<br />
And underfoot was trampled,<br />
Amidst the mud and gore,<br />
The banner of proud Tusculum,<br />
That never stooped before:<br />
And down went Flavius Faustus,<br />
Who led his stately ranks<br />
From where the apple blossoms wave<br />
On Anio's echoing banks,<br />
And Tullus of Arpinum,<br />
Chief of the Volscian aids,<br />
And Metius with the long fair curls,<br />
The love of Anxur's maids,<br />
And the white head of Vulso,<br />
The great Arician seer,<br />
And Nepos of Laurentum<br />
The hunter of the deer;<br />
And in the back false Sextus<br />
Felt the good Roman steel,<br />
And wriggling in the dust he died,<br />
Like a worm beneath the wheel:<br />
And fliers and pursuers<br />
Were mingled in a mass;<br />
And far away the battle<br />
Went roaring through the pass.
XXXVII
Semponius Atratinus<br />
Sat in the Eastern Gate,<br />
Beside him were three Fathers,<br />
Each in his chair of state;<br />
Fabius, whose nine stout grandsons<br />
That day were in the field,<br />
And Manlius, eldest of the Twelve<br />
Who keep the Golden Shield;<br />
And Sergius, the High Pontiff,<br />
For wisdom far renowned;<br />
In all Etruria's colleges<br />
Was no such Pontiff found.<br />
And all around the portal,<br />
And high above the wall,<br />
Stood a great throng of people,<br />
But sad and silent all;<br />
Young lads and stooping elders<br />
That might not bear the mail,<br />
Matrons with lips that quivered,<br />
And maids with faces pale.<br />
Since the first gleam of daylight,<br />
Sempronius had not ceased<br />
To listen for the rushing<br />
Of horse-hoofs from the east.<br />
The mist of eve was rising,<br />
The sun was hastening down,<br />
When he was aware of a princely pair<br />
Fast pricking towards the town.<br />
So like they were, man never<br />
Saw twins so like before;<br />
Red with gore their armor was,<br />
Their steeds were red with gore.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Lays of Ancient Rome by Lord Macaulay
This passage is from "Horatius at the Bridge" (Lays of Ancient Rome, 1842), a narrative poem by Thomas Babington Macaulay, a British historian, politician, and poet. The poem dramatizes a legendary episode from early Roman history (traditionally dated to the late 6th century BCE), when Horatius Cocles and two companions held the Pons Sublicius (a wooden bridge over the Tiber) against the Etruscan army of Lars Porsena, allowing Rome to cut off the bridge and save the city from invasion.
The excerpt provided describes two key moments:
- The Roman counterattack and rout of the Etruscan forces (stanzas 1–36).
- The anxious wait of Roman elders at the Eastern Gate for news of the battle (stanza 37).
Macaulay’s poem blends heroic epic tradition with Romantic nationalism, celebrating Roman virtue, military discipline, and civic duty. The language is grand, rhythmic, and visually vivid, using similes, metaphors, and onomatopoeia to immerse the reader in the chaos and glory of battle.
Breakdown of the Excerpt
1. The Battle Scene (Stanzas 1–36)
Context: The Romans, after a desperate defense at the bridge, have now turned the tide and are pursuing the fleeing Etruscans. The poem shifts from the individual heroism of Horatius to the collective might of the Roman army, emphasizing their discipline, ferocity, and inevitability in victory.
Key Themes & Devices:
The Relentless Roman War Machine
- The opening lines describe the trumpet call ("fierce trumpet-flourish") as a signal for the Romans to close ranks and attack.
- The "kites" (birds of prey) recognize the "long stern swell"—a metaphor for the rhythmic, unstoppable advance of the Roman legions.
- The simile of the Po River in flood and the Adriatic squall reinforces the idea of an overwhelming, natural force—Rome’s military is as inevitable as a storm.
Heroic Individuals in the Fray
- "The good sword of Aulus" – Aulus is likely a Roman officer, his sword raised to strike, symbolizing individual valor within the disciplined whole.
- "Auster" (a warhorse, possibly named after the south wind) is compared to a "crag down Apennine"—a massive, unstoppable force crashing through the enemy.
- The "strange horsemen" (likely Etruscan cavalry) are mysterious and exotic, but their superiority is temporary—Rome’s infantry ("Rome's long battle") grinds them down.
The Rout of the Etruscans
- The similes of nature continue:
- The fleeing enemy is like "spray of Adria" (scattered by wind) or "corn-sheaves in the whirling Po" (swept away by flood).
- The standards (flags) being swept away symbolize total collapse.
- Named Etruscan leaders fall one by one, emphasizing the personal cost of defeat:
- Flavius Faustus (from Anio, a region near Rome)
- Tullus of Arpinum (a Volscian ally)
- Metius (a noble with "long fair curls," beloved by women—his death is tragic and poetic)
- Vulso the seer (wisdom cannot save him)
- Nepos the hunter (skill in peace is useless in war)
- False Sextus (a traitor, killed like a "worm beneath the wheel"—a brutal, dehumanizing image).
- The similes of nature continue:
Chaos and Carnage
- The battle becomes a whirlwind of death:
- "Fliers and pursuers were mingled in a mass"
- "Far away the battle went roaring through the pass"
- The sensory intensity (sound of hoofbeats, clashing blades, screams) makes the scene visceral and immersive.
- The battle becomes a whirlwind of death:
Significance: Macaulay glorifies Roman military discipline—the legions move as one, unbroken by individual losses. The Etruscans, though initially formidable, are swept away by Rome’s collective will. The poem reflects 19th-century British imperialist ideals, where order, sacrifice, and unity lead to victory.
2. The Wait at the Eastern Gate (Stanza 37)
Context: While the battle rages outside, Roman elders and citizens wait anxiously at the Eastern Gate for news. This stanza contrasts the chaos of war with the tense stillness of the city, building suspense before the triumphant return of the survivors.
Key Themes & Devices:
The Elders as Symbols of Rome’s Past & Future
- Sempronius Atratinus (a patrician name, suggesting nobility) sits with three Fathers (Senators):
- Fabius (with nine grandsons in battle—a dynasty at stake)
- Manlius (eldest of the Twelve Salian Priests, keepers of the Golden Shield, a sacred Roman relic)
- Sergius, the High Pontiff (religious authority, wisdom)
- Their presence ties the battle to Rome’s institutions—family, religion, and state are all invested in the outcome.
- Sempronius Atratinus (a patrician name, suggesting nobility) sits with three Fathers (Senators):
The Silent, Anxious Crowd
- The people are divided by age and gender, but all share fear and hope:
- "Young lads and stooping elders" (too old or young to fight)
- "Matrons with lips that quivered, and maids with faces pale"
- Their silence is heavy with dread—they know the fate of Rome hangs in the balance.
- The people are divided by age and gender, but all share fear and hope:
The Arrival of the Messengers
- Sempronius has been listening all day for news.
- At dusk, two bloodied riders approach—so identical they seem like twins.
- Their gore-covered armor and horses suggest they have ridden through carnage, but their very presence implies victory (if Rome had lost, they would not return).
Significance: This stanza builds dramatic tension—the fate of Rome is unknown until the riders arrive. The elders represent stability, while the bloodied messengers bring the reality of war into the city. The twins’ likeness may foreshadow Horatius’ survival (as he and his companions were three against an army).
Literary & Historical Significance
Epic & Heroic Tradition
- Macaulay draws from Homer, Virgil, and Old English epics (e.g., Beowulf), using formal diction, grand similes, and catalogs of the dead.
- The rhythmic, ballad-like structure makes it memorable and declamatory, suited for oral performance.
Romantic Nationalism
- Written in the height of the British Empire, the poem idealizes Roman virtues (discipline, sacrifice, civic duty) as a model for Victorian Britain.
- The glorification of war reflects 19th-century militarism, though modern readers may critique its jingoistic tone.
Historical Mythmaking
- The Battle of the Pons Sublicius is semi-legendary—Livy and other Roman historians record it, but details are exaggerated for moral instruction.
- Macaulay reinvents the tale for a modern audience, emphasizing collective heroism over individual glory.
Contrast Between War and Homefront
- The battle scenes are chaotic and bloody, while the city waits in silent dread—this duality highlights how war affects all of society.
Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters
This excerpt captures the climax of the poem—the moment when Rome’s survival is secured through bravery and unity. Macaulay’s vivid imagery, relentless rhythm, and epic grandeur make the battle feel immediate and mythic. The contrast between the elders’ anxious wait and the riders’ arrival creates suspense and emotional weight, reinforcing the sacred duty of defending the homeland.
For 19th-century readers, this was a celebration of imperial virtue; for modern readers, it remains a powerful, if problematic, portrayal of war’s glory and cost. The poem’s enduring appeal lies in its unapologetic heroism, its musical language, and its timeless themes of sacrifice and survival.
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