ome raised a great shout, for the bridge was now altogether broken down,
and fell with a great crash into the river. And as the enemy stayed a
while for fear, Horatius turned him to the river and said, "O Father
Tiber, I beseech thee this day with all reverence that thou kindly receive
this soldier and his arms." And as he spake he leapt with all his arms
into the river and swam across to his own people, and though many javelins
of the enemy fell about him, he was not one whit hurt. Nor did such valor
fail to receive due honor from the city. For the citizens set up a statue
of Horatius in the market-place; and they gave him of the public land so
much as he could plough about in one day. Also there was this honor paid
him, that each citizen took somewhat of his own store and gave it to him,
for food was scarce in the city by reason of the siege.

HOW CINCINNATUS SAVED ROME

Adapted by Alfred J. Church

It came to pass that the AEquians brake the treaty of peace which they had
made with Rome, and, taking one Gracchus Cloelius for their leader,
marched into the land of Tusculum; and when they had plundered the country
thereabouts, and had gathered together much booty, they pitched their camp
on Mount AEgidus. To them the Romans sent three ambassadors, who should
complain of the wrong done, and seek redress. But when they would have
fulfilled their errand, Gracchus the AEquian spake, saying, "If ye have any
message from the Senate of Rome, tell it to this oak, for I have other
business to do;" for it chanced that there was a great oak that stood hard
by, and made a shadow over the general's tent. Then one of the
ambassadors, as he turned to depart, made reply, "Yes, let this sacred oak
and all the gods that are in heaven hear how ye have wrongfully broken the
treaty of peace; and let them that hear help us also in the day of battle,
when we shall avenge on you the laws both of gods and of men that ye have
set at nought."

When the ambassadors had returned to Rome the Senate commanded that there
should be levied two armies; and that Minucius the Consul should march
with the one against the AEquians on Mount AEgidus, and that the other
should hinder the enemy from their plundering. This levying the tribunes
of the Commons sought to hinder; and perchance had done so, but there also
came well-nigh to the walls of the city a great host of the Sabines
plundering all the country. Thereupon the people willingly offered
t