Class Book. - GofiyrigtoH?.. COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT: THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY ECLECTIC ENGLISH CLASSICS MACAULAY'S LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME AND OTHER POEMS EDITED BY W. PATTERSON ATKINSON, A. M. ENGLISH DEPARTMENT, JERSEY CITY HIGH SCHOOL NEW YORK •:• CINCINNATI •:• CHICAGO AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY hi 3 Copyright, IQT3, by American Book Company macaulay's lays W. P. I CI.A332235 7M? / CONTENTS Introduction PAGE Life of Macaulay 7 Characteristics . . 12 Writings . 14 Style . . 18 Place and service . IQ Chronological Table . . 20 List of Essays . . 21 References 22 Outline of Macaulay's Preface to Lays 22 Legends underlying the Lays 24 Map .... . . . 26 HORATIUS . 27 The Battle of the Lake Regillus 49 Virginia . . o . 76 The Prophecy of Capys • O • QO Ivry .... • IO3 The Battle of Naseby . • • • . ic6 The Armada . • • « . 109 Notes . • © • e c IJ 3 INTRODUCTION I. Life Thomas Babington Macaulay, who later became Lord Ma- caulay, was born in the house of his uncle, Thomas Babington, at Rothley Temple, Leicestershire, England, October 25th, 1800. ' He came of serious-minded people. His father, Zachary Macaulay, was an upright, stern, religious Scotchman, who de- voted his life to the abolition of negro slavery in the British possessions. His mother, Selina Mills, was the daughter of a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Bristol, while his ancestors on his father's side were for several generations Scotch Presbyterian ministers. Macaulay was a precocious child, displaying at a surprisingly early age a wonderful memory, an unusual facility in composi- tion, both oral and written, and a passion for reading. These traits, in some of which he is resembled by a later eminent Scotch literary man, Robert Louis Stevenson, were dominant throughout his life. His habit of reading began about the age of three; he wrote long compositions in prose and in verse before he was eight; and his memory was prodigious from the earliest. This precocity was doubtless fostered by intimate and early contact with the eminent men associated with his father. His education began very young as a day scholar at a school in Clapham, a suburb of London, where his family resided. Soon having outgrown its possibilities he was sent to the board- ing school of the Rev. Mr. Preston, at Little Shelford, near Cambridge. Here before he was thirteen he was translating Xenophon and the Odyssey from Greek, composing Latin verses and reading Vergil, writing compositions in English, engaging in debates, reading French for his own amusement, and study- 7 8 INTRODUCTION ing geometry. Though he was precocious as a young child, his studies at Mr. Preston's school are no proof of exceptional ability; they formed the ordinary work of boys of his age. In those days Greek and Latin were studied for many more years than they are now in this country and consequently the pupils really mastered both languages. In Mr. Preston's school Macaulay had been in a Cambridge atmosphere, so by a natural transition in October, 1818, in the beginning of his nineteenth year, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, of which College his old master was an ex-Fellow. Here he twice took the Chancellor's medal for composition in English verse, and, besides other prizes, won in 182 1 the Craven Scholarship for excellence in the classics. He crowned his Uni- versity career by winning a Fellowship of Trinity College by examination in 1824, whereby he became for seven years one of sixty masters of that institution, sharing in its privileges and revenues, though not residing there. He enjoyed his college course of six years to the full, taking part in its social life with zest and finding pleasure in all his studies except mathematics. Among his companions he was famous as a talker. In 1825, while yet in his twenty-fifth year, there was pub- lished in the August number of The Edinburgh Review his essay on Milton. It was received with extraordinary favor. His style was admired and heartily commended, by none so much as by Jeffrey, the editor. But this was not the first time that his writings had appeared in print. Two years before he had writ- ten a number of articles for Knight's Quarterly Magazine, con- tributions which had doubtless led to the invitation to send articles to The Edinburgh. From this time, with occasional interruptions due to holding office, he wrote till his death, con- tributing to the Review alone till 1844. The money gained from literature was very acceptable as his father had failed in business and the son had become the main support of the family which included many brothers and sisters. Owing to Zachary Macaulay's absorption in the antislavery INTRODUCTION 9 crusade the family fortunes had been declining for several years so that in 1823, while yet at Cambridge, Macaulay was glad to take private pupils. Now he took up the study of law, with no great relish it is true, as was the case with Stevenson, but al- though called to the bar in 1826 he achieved no success as a lawyer. His writing combined with his fellowship kept things going but it was fortunate that in 1828 he was appointed a Commissioner of Bankruptcy. These three sources brought his income to about $5,000 a year. This appointment is an evi- dence of his prominence and of his recognized ability, for it came unsought. Another unsought honor was the offer of a seat in Parliament for the borough of Calne, made by Lord Lansdowne who did not know him personally but who was struck by the forcible articles in The Review. This offer was possible because at that time many localities represented in Parliament were so small as to be owned absolutely by one person who could dictate the candidate to be elected. Sometimes these places had no population at all, for instance Old Sarum. Such places were called "pocket boroughs." l This selection was most agreeable to Macaulay who took a great interest in politics. It led also to another success, for his speeches in Parliament were triumphs of oratory. But members of Parliament at that time were not paid. Further, in 1831 a bill was passed to reform the bankruptcy practice, for which Macaulay voted though it abolished his office. Then for a time he was so poor that he had to sell his Cambridge medals despite the fact that he was a foremost man in Parliament and a welcome guest in the best houses in London. As a reward for his hard work in support of the Reform Bill of 1832, a measure which greatly improved the whole English electoral system, he was appointed a Commissioner of the Board of Control, a body which represented the crown in its relation to the East India Company, that group of men who 1 Consult McCarthy's The Epoch of Reform, pp. 25-26. io INTRODUCTION governed India. Shortly afterward he became the Board's secretary. The Reform Bill of 1832 gave to Leeds, an important manu- facturing city, two representatives in Parliament. The Whig Party, of which he was a member, asked Macaulay to be its candidate, and though he could have been reelected without trouble for Calne, he felt it his duty to his party to agree. In the campaign he asserted his independence by refusing to pledge his future actions in Parliament; and in spite of loud remon- strances against this policy, he carried the election. The year 1834 is an important date in Macaulay 's life for it was at that time that he went to India as the Legal Adviser to the Supreme Council of that land. He gave up his parliamentary career because from the salary of his new office, £10,000 a year, he would be able at the expiration of his term to have saved sufficient money to make him independent and able to provide for his family. It was a sacrifice but he gladly made it. On the outward voyage to his new post, which took nearly four months in a sailing vessel, he devoted himself to reading, covering an enormous number of books chiefly in Latin and in Greek. In India he did great service. Besides his regular duties he was a member of two very important committees, one of which drew up the Indian Penal Code, a compilation that has evoked the enthusiastic admiration of the legal profession, the other of which prepared and put into operation an entirely new system of education. It is pleasant to add that his sister Hannah ac- companied him, for his family was as much devoted to him as he was to them. In the strange country she met and married Mr. Trevelyan. Their son, years afterward, wrote the standard biography of his famous uncle. Macaulay returned to England in 1838 a free man, free from office and free from the worry over money. For a short time he gave himself to the enjoyment of literature and of travel, in the same year making a tour of Italy. But his leisure was not for long. In 1839 he became a member of Parliament for Edin- INTRODUCTION II burgh and in the same year joined the Cabinet as the Secretary at War. He plunged into the new work with characteristic vigor, at the same time writing some of his most famous essays. He held office till a change of ministry occurred in 1841 when he was reelected for Edinburgh. Again Macaulay had time for writing. During the period from 1 841 to 1846 he wrote seven articles for The Review, issued The Lays of Ancient Rome, and prepared a collected edition of his essays. Then once more, his party having sought his serv- ices, he became a Cabinet minister as Paymaster-general. But another change of ministry soon occurred and in the general election of 1847 Macaulay was defeated at Edinburgh. This defeat was due to the great unrest in Scotland in matters per- taining to politics and to religion, and to discontent with Ma- caulay's independence. His leisure once more regained, Macaulay turned his thought seriously to a long occupation, one which held him to the end of his life, his History of England. Honors began to come to him. In February, 1847, he became a Trustee of the British Museum, in 1849 Lord Rector of Glasgow University, and Fellow of the Royal Society. In 1852 he was also reelected a member of Parliament for Edinburgh, which being unsought and occurring without effort on his part, is to be counted an honor and an act of reparation. His seat, however, he resigned in 1856. In 1852 Macaulay became for the first time in his life seri- ously ill. His heart was affected and until his death he was at no time a well man. But he enjoyed life, writing faithfully and with love for his work. More honors came. He was made a Foreign Member of the French Academy, a member of the Prussian Order of Merit, High Steward of Cambridge, and in 1854 Oxford conferred upon him the degree of D. C. L. But the greatest honor was his elevation in 1857 to the Peerage as Baron Macaulay of Rothley. His life now rapidly drew to a close. After having apartments in the Albany for many years, he settled down in 1856 at I2 INTRODUCTION « Holly Lodge, Kensington, a suburb of London. Holly Lodge was a villa standing by itself, screened from view by dense foliage, and presenting a rural appearance. Here surrounded by books, interested for the first time in a garden, watched over by loving friends and relatives, he passed the last three years of his life. And here December 28, 1859, he quietly passed away. On January 9, i860, he was reverently laid to rest in West- minster Abbey. II. Characteristics In reference to Macaulay's appearance it was once written: "There came up a short manly figure, marvelously upright, with a bad neckcloth, and one hand in his waistcoat pocket. Of regular beauty he had little to boast; but in faces where there is an expression of great power, or of great good humor, or both, you do not regret its absence." l His nephew, Sir George Otto Trevelyan, adds that his head was massive and his features of a powerful and rugged cast. Despite his carelessness in dress Macaulay was a lion in society on account both of his good nature and of his great power. A remark" has been attributed to Gladstone to the effect that few men had ever attained such wide and honorable renown and such immense distinction be- fore middle life. His good nature may have many other names all equally applicable. He was noble — with the help of his brother Henry he paid off all of his father's debts, he supported his brothers and sisters; he was benevolent — he assisted those in trouble, whether known to him or not and sometimes whether solicited or not; he was generous — his nephews and nieces were always receiving treats; he was magnanimous — he offered his resigna- tion to the government rather than oppose his father's wishes concerning a proposed parliamentary measure, he relinquished 1 From Praed's Introduction to Knight's Quarterly Magazine, quoted by Trevelyan, vol. I, p. 117. INTRODUCTION 13 his parliamentary career to go to India in order to secure a competence for his family; he was sincere — he voted for a bill which abolished his own office and left him in hard financial straits; he was loyal — giving to party and to friends both time and labor needed for other and greater things; he had sweet- ness — in trouble he showed sunniest radiance, in gladness he was the life of the home, playing, capping verses, making puns, composing verses, which he always attributed to the "Judicious Poet"; he loved all children — witness the excursions, the treats, the valentines; he had such sensibility that he was easily touched to tears by pathos in life or in books; he was altogether such a man as we love. Even his severest critics yield hearty admiration to him as a man. One says: " ... as a son, as a brother, and an uncle — it is only the barest justice to say that he appears to have touched the furthest verge of human virtue, sweetness, and generosity." l Macaulay's power had many phases. He was an enormous reader, he had a phenomenal memory and a remarkable capac- ity for work. He was an orator and a conversationalist, an essayist and an historian, a statesman and a man of practical affairs, a student and a poet. Able to take in a page at a glance, reading was play; not needing to commit anything to memory, for everything seemed to stick forever, he was able to repeat whole books; vigorous, he could write on an essay before break- fast, perform his official business during the day, attend a public function in the early evening, and spend the rest of it and half the night in the House of Commons. When he rose to speak in Parliament it came to be a summons for the members to fill the benches and in social life his powers of conversation can be compared with those of Dr. Johnson only. Brilliant, witty, and fertile in mind, he was a "combination of public spirit, politi- cal instinct, and legitimate self-assertion": 2 prudent, energetic, and self-reliant, he was a "combination of literary power, his- 1 Thomas B. Macaulay, by J. Cotter Morison, p. 18. 2 Trevelyan, vol. I, p. 180. I4 INTRODUCTION torical learning, and practical familiarity with the conduct of great affairs." 1 Many critics have tried to patronize Macaulay, particularly those of the generation following his. But this attempt is due to the absolute change in the attitude toward life of their day and of his. He belonged to that optimistic band of actors whose work culminated about 1830; they belonged to the reactionary band of analysts, for if one period produces, the next criticizes, if one period praises, the next blames. III. Writings Macaulay's writings fall into three divisions, essays, history, and poetry. The essays in turn, forty in number, are most easily subdivided into the following groups: English history, foreign history, controversy, criticism, and biography. Of the first group those on Lord Clive and on Warren Hastings are the most famous, of the second that on Von Ranke is the most cele- brated, of the third those on Mill had the most weight, of the fourth that on Addison is the widest known, and of the fifth that on Johnson is a classic. All of the essays were and are very popular. They gave their author an unprecedented fame and added vastly to the influence and to the circulation of The Edinburgh Review, in which all but the biographical group appeared. They introduced many to the study of the subjects of which they treated, they aroused thought, and they always inculcated honest, strong, manly be- lief. Further, Macaulay did much for the essay as a form of literary composition. His predecessors, such as Bacon, Steele, and Addison, were crude; his contemporaries, such as Lamb and Hazlitt, developed to a high degree the chatty species, others pushed forward the critical variety; Macaulay in his practice made the general form more definite, and polished the historical variety nearly to perfection. 1 Ibid., vol. II, p. 374. INTRODUCTION 15 There has been much discussion about Macaulay's History, the full title of which is The History of England from the Acces- sion of James II. It had such an immense success that most writers seem called upon to pull it down from its high place. The author said in 1841, "I shall not be satisfied unless I pro- duce something which shall for a few days supersede the last fashionable novel on the tables of young ladies." He succeeded. Edition after edition was called for. The sale was so large that his publishers in 1856 sent him as only one of many payments a check for nearly $100,000. The book was translated into many languages. It was praised by the greatest men of the world and a group of workingmen passed him a vote of thanks for writing a history that they could understand. The reason why critics from about 1856 to a recent date have been so ready to throw stones at this shining mark is, apart from the fact of his eminence, because the conception of history has changed. Macaulay wrote, from the political and social stand- point, history that is literature, being among the first to intro- duce the social element. Later, history was woven from society, politics, and business. Now to these three another and a dominant strand is being added — the working of the human mind. But the sneers are fading away. Just as the value of Herodotus and of Thucydides is recognized though they did not write in accordance with the twentieth century plan, so Ma- caulay is coming back to his own. The secret and the effect of the History have been thus most admirably expressed by William Roscoe Thayer: "He entertains you with a panoramic wealth of details, but never allows you to grope for the plot. When you close his book and ponder over it, it is as if you had been watching a Roman legion on the march. The sun flashes from the helmets and shields and spears of the cohorts as they wind like a huge and gem- scaled serpent over the plain. Now they are hidden by a wood; now they emerge into the open, and the sunbeams gild their sinuous line, which throbs as if every stride were a pulse. Here 1 6 INTRODUCTION they glide into a walled town and are lost except for a casual sparkle or the beat of a distant drum; but anon they flash again into view and begin to curve along the mountain side or to coil around a fortressed crag. And so on and on, the embodiment of disciplined, tireless force, of agile, elastic force, with rhythmic sweep and gleaming form and with an indefectible purpose." l Macaulay wrote poetry all of his life, his first recorded efforts belonging probably to his eighth year. His facility in composi- tion was phenomenal. For hours at a time he could produce in play, for the amusement of the home circle, a continuous flow of verses, all ascribed to "The Judicious Poet." In college his poetic power twice won him the Chancellor's medal. During his voyages to and from India and while there he read and re- read enormous quantities of Latin and of Greek. With his mind filled with ancient life, his ever-ready poetic ability used this abundant material and about 1838 we have mention of his putting some of the legends of Rome into ballad form. Ballads always intensely interested him and he felt that he should like to restore to poetry that of which it had been robbed by history. For he believed that the stories to be found in the early books of the Latin historian, Livy, were taken from the lost ballads of the early Romans. This belief was shared by Niebuhr, the German scholar, and by Dr. Arnold, the great Headmaster of Rugby, who saw two of the ballads and, as Macaulay says in a letter to Napier, the editor of The Edinburgh Review, "wrote to me in such terms of eulogy that I have been induced to correct and complete them. There are four of them, and I think that, though they are but trifles, they may pass for scholarlike and not inelegant trifles. 1 ' 2 The poems, often composed during his walks, took form slowly, being polished and changed many times, occasionally for the sake of topographical accuracy. Some of these changes were suggested during his tour of Italy in 1838 when he got 1 North American Review, December, 1909. 2 Trevelyan, vol. II, p. 103. INTRODUCTION 17 many touches of local color for future use, his diary at this time being full of observations of Italian scenery and locality. Often there are direct entries concerning the ballads; thus on November 9, 1838, he says, "I meditated some verses for my ballad of 'Romulus,' but only made one stanza to my satisfac- tion." This poem was later published as "The Prophecy of Capys." As they were perfected we hear of their being sub- mitted to Ellis, a tried friend of long standing and likewise an ex-Fellow of Trinity, who was heartily interested and sug- gested a few changes here and there. The volume, The Lays of Ancient Rome, appeared in 1842. Previous to its publication, Macaulay stipulated to Longman, his publisher, that there should be no puffing, and asked it of Napier as a personal favor that his name and his writings should never be mentioned in The Review. As soon as the book was given to the public it "sold like Scott's most popular poetry" as Leslie Stephen says. 1 And even such an old ad- versary as Professor Wilson "greeted it in Blackwood } s Magazine with a paean of hearty, unqualified panegyric." 2 The popu- larity has continued. The vigorous swing of the strong manly thoughts appeal to the public as much as ever. Readers have approved the Lays and now they are included among the classics of English Literature. Previous to the publication of the Lays, Macaulay had pro- duced three other poems well qualified to stand side by side with his later songs. These are "Ivry, A Song of the Hugue- nots" (1824), "The Battle of Naseby" (1824), and "The Armada" (1832). These are trumpet-notes of triumph, Hebraic songs of victory whose theme is the overthrow of the mighty oppressor: mediaeval religious intolerance of the French is avenged, English political pride is dethroned, and Spanish ar- rogance humiliated. 1 Hours in a Library, vol. Ill, p. 231. 2 Trevelyan, vol. II, p. no. 18 INTRODUCTION IV. Style When Jeffrey acknowledged the receipt of Macaulay's manu- script of the Essay on Milton he wrote, "The more I think, the less I can conceive where you picked up that style." 1 And Frederic Harrison speaks of a passage in that essay as " vigorous invective in the style of Cicero." 2 Is not this a hint as to the secret of that wonderful style? "Soak your mind in Cicero" was Macaulay's advice and practice when in college. Further he read and reread Cicero all his life. So it is natural that his style should be Ciceronian. Furthermore Cicero was an orator, so it is only to be expected that Macaulay's style should be oratorical. And that is what it is. We unconsciously imagine the author as delivering his composition to an audience. The Latin style, again, constantly uses antithesis, one part of an idea being set over against another. There is also much orna- mentation. Both of these characteristics are abundant in Ma- caulay. But he has the knack of breaking from long sentences into short ones for the sake of emphasis and in a climax. His style is above all things clear. That no one can fail to grasp his meaning is a fact upon which he prided himself. Narrative power he has, too, being one of the best story-tellers. And he can interest and hold the attention of his readers, a characteristic due largely to his ability to use brilliant illustra- tion, his mind being so well stored that scores of precedents and examples were always ready with which to make clear or to sustain. His portraits of persons are unique: his knowledge immense. Into one sentence he crams the result of vast read- ing. Like all the Scotch he can reduce men to classes and events to principles. Through it all he is intensely patriotic. Macaulay's writings are in many respects models. He greatly influenced all later writers. For the paragraph he did much. In his essays we have definite topic sentences definitely 1 Trevelyan, vol. I, p. 117. 2 Studies in Early Victorian Literature, p. 79. INTRODUCTION io developed by regular methods since formulated in the text- books of rhetoric. He knew the art of transition. And the whole gives a well-ordered panoramic view or expository con- ception. In other words, he thought clearly, knew just what he wanted to say, and how to say it. To-day the makers of text- books quote from him copiously, in grammar for his precision, in rhetoric for his felicitous choice of words and for his power to express his exact shade of meaning as well as for the arrange- ment and presentation of his thought. His success is doubtless due to his infinite capacity for revision, in which Stevenson resembles him. Unfortunately for themselves some of his critics have de- rided what they call his "rhetoric." But what is the purpose of rhetoric, that is technique in writing, if not to produce de- sired effects? That sneer, however, is nearly forgotten and credit is now being given his verbal artistry because it is the work of an artist. V. Place and Service During his life Macaulay had success in abundance, political, literary, and social. It began in early youth and continued in growing measure till his death. It is so great as to excite won- der. At twenty-five he had achieved fame in literature, at thirty he had become a Member of Parliament, at thirty-four he had been made one of the rulers of India, at thirty-nine he had reached the position of a Cabinet Minister, at forty-three he was read over the educated world, at forty-eight he had reached eminence as an historian, at fifty-seven he had been raised to the Peerage, at fifty-nine he died, rich, powerful, honored, all through his own abilities alone. But immediately there set in a reaction. The critics, and he had many because he had a multitude of readers and no one can please everyone, said he was shallow, glittering, a mere artist in words without philosophy and without insight. They picked such minute errors in his History that "These allegations savor a little of 20 INTRODUCTION the technical knowledge of an advocate at the criminal bar retained for the defense." l It became fashionable to deride Macaulay, the trick being caught by those who had not read him. So it continued for fifty years. But now there is a change. The third generation is considering him without bias and with- out personal interest. And what is the result? The critics are writing articles with such titles as "The Revival of Macaulay," "The Vitality of Macaulay," "The Enduring Characteristics of Macaulay." Therefore because he knew how to write brilliantly, how to interest, how to arouse thought, how to stir the heart, how to hold up to admiration "whatsoever things are true, whatso- ever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report" and how to condemn unsparingly and indignantly the reverse, let us accept him thankfully as the most enduring and the most typical English writer of the early portion of the Nineteenth Century, " a very great man of letters and an almost unsurpassed leader to reading." 2 1800 1812 1818 1819 1821 1822 1824 1825 1826 1828 1830 1832 1833 VI. Chronological Table October 25, born at Rothley Temple, Leicestershire. Mr. Preston's School at Little Shelford. Trinity College, Cambridge. First Chancellor's Medal. Craven Scholarship. Second Chancellor's Medal. B. A. Fellow of Trinity. Article on Milton in August Edinburgh Review. Called to the Bar. Commissioner of Bankruptcy. M. P. for borough of Calne. Commissioner of Board of Control. Later Secretary. M. P. for Leeds. 1 Henry D. Sedgwick, Jr., in The Atlantic Monthly, August, 1899. 2 George Saintsbury, Corrected Impressions (1S95), p. 97. INTRODUCTION 21 1834, Legal Adviser to the Supreme Council of India. 1838, Return to England. 1839, M P. for Edinburgh. Secretary at War. 184 1, Reelected from Edinburgh. 1842, Lays of Ancient Rome. 1843, Collected Edition of Essays. 1846, Paymaster-general. 1847, Defeated at Edinburgh. 1848, History of England from the Accession of James II, vols. I, II. 1852, Reelected from Edinburgh. Serious illness. 1857, Elevated to the Peerage. 1859, December 28, died at Holly Lodge, Kensington. VII. List of Macaulay's Essays 1. English History Group: Milton, August, 1825. Hallam's Constitutional History, September, 1828. Lord Nugent's Memorials of Hampden, December, 183 1. Burleigh and His Times, April, 1832. Horace Walpole, October, 1833. William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, January, 1834. Sir James Mackintosh, July, 1835. Sir William Temple, October, 1838. Lord Clive, January, 1840. Warren Hastings, October, 1841. The Earl of Chatham, October, 1844. 2. Foreign History Group: Machiavelli, March, 1827. Mirabeau, July, 1832. Lord Mahon's War of the Succession in Spain, January, 1833- Von Ranke's History of the Popes, October, 1840. Frederick the Great, April, 1842. Barere's Memoirs, April, 1S44. 3. Controversial Group: Mill's Essay on Government, March, June, and October, 1829. Southey's Colloquies on Society, January, 1830. 22 INTRODUCTION Sadler's Law of Population, July, 1830, January, 183 1. Gladstone on Church and State, April, 1839. 4. Critical Group: John Dryden, January, 1828. History, May, 1828. Mr. Robert Montgomery's Poems, April, 1830. Southey's Edition of The Pilgrim's Progress, December, 1830. Moore's Life of Lord Byron, June, 183 1. Croker's Edition of Boswell's Life of Johnson, September, 1831. Lord Bacon, July, 1837. Leigh Hunt's Comic Dramatists of the Restoration, 1841. Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay, January, 1843. The Life and Writings of Addison, July, 1843. 5. Biographical Group: Francis Atterbury, December, 1853. John Bunyan, May, 1854. Oliver Goldsmith, February, 1856. Samuel Johnson, December, 1856. William Pitt, January, 1859. VIII. References Biography Macaulay's Life and Letters, by Sir G. O. Trevelyan (1876). Criticism Macaulay, by Sir Richard C. Jebb, M. P. (1900). Articles by Henry D. Sedgwick, Jr., in The Atlantic Monthly, August, 1899. Prof. A. V. Dicey of Oxford in The Nation, May 15, 1902. W. R. Thayer in The North American Review, December, 1909. IX. Outline of Macaulay's Preface to the Lays A . What is called the history of the kings and early consuls of Rome is fabulous, for i. The public records were destroyed by the Gauls, ii. The oldest annals were compiled more than a century and a half later. INTRODUCTION 23 iii. The writers of trie Augustan Age admit the inaccuracy of their material. B. The early history of Rome is far more poetical than anything else in Latin Literature, for i. The poetical character of the events is discernible in all the histories, ii. In the days of Plutarch there were skeptics concerning its truth. C. Perizonius put forward a theory, revived by Niebuhr, and adopted by such scholars as Dr. Arnold, that there was an early Latin Literature, now lost, consisting of ballads. i. This is probable, for a. All human beings long for information of the past, b. Only enlightened communities have access to books, c. All races have such a ballad literature, as is shown by 1. The Germans, 2. The Gauls, 3. The English, and others. ii. There is direct evidence for it, for it is referred to by a. Ennius, b. Fabius, c. Cato, the Censor, d. Valerius Maximus, e. Varro. D. That this early poetry perished is not strange, for i. The Greek genius completely triumphed over the public mind of Italy. E. The process by which the old songs were transmuted into the form which they now wear is: ballads became funeral pane- gyrics, which became chronicles, which in turn became part of the present histories. This is proved by i. The stories of Edgar in Hume's History, in English. ii. The story of the heirs of Carrion in Mariana's History, in Spanish. F. To reverse that process, to transform some portions of early Roman history back into the poetry out of which they were made, is the object of this work [the Lays]. G. In the following poems the author speaks, not in his own person, 24 INTRODUCTION but in the persons of ancient minstrels who know only what a Roman citizen, born three or four hundred years before the Christian era, may be supposed to have known and who feel as such would feel. X. Legends Underlying the Lays and Macaulay's Intro- duction to "Horatius" To understand the poems it is necessary to know the condi- tions. In ancient times Italy was split up into many sections, such as Etruria and Latium, in which dwelt rather distinct tribes, whose cities were joined into loosely formed confederacies. The cities were ruled in paternal fashion by a chief man. In the course of time Rome became much larger than the other cities and the ruler was given the title of king. Several of the kings belonged to one family, the Tarquins. They were bad men and bad kings. Finally they were banished and the king- ship abolished because Sextus, one of the sons of Tarquinius Superbus (the haughty) outraged Lucretia, the virtuous wife of his cousin, Tarquinius Collatinus. But Tarquinius Superbus, not content to be banished, made four attempts to regain the throne. The first attempt was made through his- friends in the city but was frustrated. The second was made by the aid of the people of Tarquinii and of Veii, who were repulsed in battle. The third attempt was made with the support of Lars Porsena of Clusium who ruled all of Etruria. How the attacking party failed to capture the city is told in "Horatius." The fourth was made with the help of his son-in-law, Octavius Mamilius of Tusculum. Its failure is told in "The Battle of the Lake Regillus." Macaulay's introduction to "Horatius" makes the following points: i. The story of Horatius Codes had a poetical origin. 2. There are several versions, differing in minor points, whose discrepancies are easily explained, as is seen in English Literature, on the supposition that there were two ballads INTRODUCTION 25 on the defense of the bridge, one preferred by the multi- tude, the other by the Horatian house. "The ballad is supposed to have been made about a hundred and twenty years after the war which it celebrates, and just before the taking of Rome by the Gauls. The author seems to have been an honest citizen, proud of the military glory of his country, sick of the disputes of factions and much given to pining after good old times which had never really existed. The allusion, however, to the partial man- ner in which the public lands were allotted could proceed only from a plebeian; and the allusion to the fraudulent sale of spoils marks the date of the poem, and shows that the poet shared in the general discontent with which the proceedings of Camillus, after the taking of Veii, were regarded." The penultimate syllable of Porsena is short on the authority ' of Martial, Horace, and Silius Italicus, Niebuhr notwith- standing. "Niebuhr's supposition that each of the three defenders of the bridge was the representative of one of the three pa- trician tribes is both ingenious and probable, and has been adopted." 30 MAP OF MIDDLE ANCIENT ITALY To Illustrate Macaulay's "LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME" # A :;r, SCALE OF MILES 1 1 60 in 100 Longitud< East from I.L. P0ATCS ENG. CO., N.Y.I Greenwich LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME HORATIUS A LAY MADE ABOUT THE YEAR OF THE CITY CCCLX I Lars Porsena of Clusium By the Nine Gods he swore That the great house of Tarquin Should suffer wrong no more. By the Nine Gods he swore it, s And named a trysting day, 1 And bade his messengers ride forth, East and west and south and north, To summon his array. ii East and west and south and north 10 The messengers ride fast, And tower and town and cottage Have heard the trumpet's blast. Shame on the false Etruscan Who lingers in his home, is When Porsena of Clusium Is on the march for Rome! in The horsemen and the footmen Are pouring in amain 2 From many a stately market-place, 20 From many a fruitful plain; 1 Meeting day. 2 In force. 27 28 MACAU LAY From many a lonely hamlet, Which, hid by beech and pine, Like an eagle's nest, hangs on the crest Of purple Apennine; 25 IV From lordly Volaterrae, Where scowls the far-famed hold 1 Piled by the hands of giants For godlike kings of old; From seagirt Populonia, 30 Whose sentinels descry Sardinia's snowy mountain-tops Fringing the southern sky; v From the proud mart 2 of Pisae, Queen of the western waves, 35 Where ride Massilia's triremes Heavy with fair-haired slaves; From where sweet Clanis wanders Through corn and vines and flowers; From where Cortona lifts to heaven 4c Her diadem of towers. VI Tall are the oaks whose acorns Drop in dark Auser's rill; Fat are the stags that champ 3 the boughs Of the Ciminian hill; 45 Beyond all streams Clitumnus Is to the herdsman dear; Best of all pools the fowler loves The great Volsinian mere. 1 Stronghold, fort. 2 Market. 3 Bite repeatedly and impatiently. HO RATI US 29 VII But now no stroke of woodman 50 Is heard by Auser's rill; No hunter tracks the stag's green path Up the Ciminian hill; Unwatched along Clitumnus Grazes the milk-white steer; 55 Unharmed the waterfowl may dip In the Volsinian mere. VIII The harvests of Arretium, This year, old men shall reap; This year, young boys in Umbro 60 Shall plunge the struggling sheep; And in the vats of Luna, This year, the must l shall foam Round the white feet of laughing girls Whose sires have marched to Rome. 65 IX There be thirty chosen prophets, The wisest of the land, Who alway by Lars Porsena Both morn and evening stand; Evening and morn the Thirty 70 Have turned the verses o'er, Traced from the right on linen white By mighty seers 2 of yore. 3 x And with one voice 4 the Thirty Have their glad answer given : 75 "Go forth, go forth, Lars Porsena; Go forth, beloved of Heaven; 1 Juice from the grape. 3 Old. 2 One who foresees the future. 4 All agreed. 3° MACAU LAY Go, and return in glory To Clusium's royal dome, And hang round Nurscia's altars 80 The golden shields of Rome." XI And now hath every city Sent up her tale 1 of men; The foot are fourscore thousand, The horse are thousands ten : 85 Before the gates of Sutrium Is met the great array. A proud man was Lars Porsena Upon the trysting day. XII For all the Etruscan armies go Were ranged beneath his eye, And many a banished Roman, And many a stout ally; And with a mighty following To join the muster came 9s The Tusculan Mamilius, Prince of the Latian name. XIII But by the yellow Tiber Was tumult and affright: From all the spacious champaign 100 To Rome men took their flight. A mile around the city The throng stopped up the ways; A fearful sight it was to see Through two long nights and days. 105 1 Counted share. 3i us HORA TIUS XIV For aged folks on crutches, And women great with child, And mothers sobbing over babes That clung to them and smiled, And sick men borne in litters l High on the necks of slaves, And troops of sunburnt husbandmen With reaping-hooks and staves, xv And droves of mules and asses Laden with skins of wine, And endless flocks of goats and sheep, And endless herds of kine, 2 And endless trains of wagons That creaked beneath the weight Of corn-sacks and of household goods, Choked every roaring gate. XVI Now, from the rock Tarpeian, Could the wan burghers 3 spy The line of blazing villages Red in the midnight sky. The Fathers of the City, They sat 4 all night and day, For every hour some horseman came With tidings of dismay. XVII To eastward and to westward i 30 Have spread the Tuscan bands; Nor house, nor fence, nor dovecote 5 ' In Crustumerium stands. 1 A couch on shafts borne by men. 3 Citizens. 5 House for doves. 2 Old plural of cow. 4 Continued in meeting. 125 32 MACAU LAY Verbenna down to Ostia Hath wasted all the plain; 13s Astur hath stormed Janiculum, And the stout guards are slain. XVIII I wis, in all the Senate, There was no heart so bold, But sore it ached, and fast it beat, 140 When that ill news was told. Forthwith up rose the Consul, 1 Up rose the Fathers all; In haste they girded up their gowns, And hied 2 them to the wall. 14s XIX They held a council standing Before the River-Gate; Short time was there, ye well may guess, For musing 3 or debate. Out spake the Consul roundly: 150 "The bridge must straight go down; For, since Janiculum is lost, Naught else can save the town." xx Just then a scout came flying, All wild with haste and fear : 155 "To arms! to arms! Sir Consul; Lars Porsena is here." On the low hills to westward The Consul fixed his eye, And saw the swarthy storm of dust 160 Rise fast along the sky. 1 Chief official of Rome. 2 Hastened. 3 Slow thinking. HORATIUS 33 XXI And nearer fast and nearer Doth the red whirlwind come; And louder still and still more loud, From underneath that rolling cloud, 165 Is heard the trumpet's war-note proud, The trampling, and the hum. And plainly and more plainly Now through the gloom appears, Far to left and far to right, 170 In broken gleams of dark-blue light, The long array of helmets bright, The long array of spears. XXII And plainly and more plainly, Above that glimmering line, 175 Now might ye see the banners Of twelve fair cities shine; But the banner of proud Clusium Was highest of them all, The terror of the Umbrian, 180 The terror of the Gaul. XXIII And plainly and more plainly Now might the burghers know, By port l and vest, 2 by horse and crest, 3 Each warlike Lucumo. 185 There Cilnius of Arretium On his fleet roan 4 was seen ; And Astur of the fourfold shield, Girt with the brand 5 none else may wield, 1 Bearing. 3 Ornament on top of the helmet. 5 Sword. 2 Dress. 4 Chestnut-colored horse. 34 MACAU LAY Tolumnius with the belt of gold, w And dark Verbenna from the hold By reedy Thrasymene. XXIV Fast by the royal standard, O'erlooking all the war, Lars Porsena of Clusium »os Sat in his ivory car. 1 By the right wheel rode Mamilius Prince of the Latian name; And by the left false Sextus, That wrought the deed of shame. 200 XXV But when the face of Sextus Was seen among the foes, A yell that rent the firmament From all the town arose. On the housetops was no woman 205 But spat towards him and hissed, No child but screamed out curses, And shook its little fist. XXVI But the Consul's brow was sad, And the Consul's speech was low, 210 And darkly looked he at the wall, And darkly at the foe. "Their van will be upon us Before the bridge goes down; And if they once may win the bridge, «s What hope to save the town?" 1 Chariot. HO RATI US 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 "Hew 1 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? " XXX Then out spake Spurius Lartius; A Ramnian proud was he: "Lo, I will stand at thy right hand. And keep the bridge with thee." l Cut 35 225 230 235 240 36 MACAULAY And out spake strong Herminius; 24s Of Titian blood was he: "I will abide on thy left side, And keep the bridge with thee." XXXI "Horatius," quoth the Consul, "As thou sayest, so let it be." 250 And straight against that great array Forth went the dauntless Three. For Romans in Rome's quarrel Spared neither land nor gold, Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life, 255 In the brave days of old. XXXII Then none was for a party; * Then all were for the state; Then the great man helped the poor, And the poor man loved the great; 260 Then lands were fairly portioned; Then spoils 2 were fairly sold : The Romans were like brothers In the brave days of old. XXXIII Now Roman is to Roman 265 More hateful than a foe, And the Tribunes beard 3 the high, And the Fathers grind 4 the low. As we wax 5 hot in faction, In battle we wax cold; 270 Wherefore men fight not as they fought In the brave days of old. 1 Political group or faction. 3 Oppose to the face. 5 Grow. 2 Things captured in war. 4 Oppress. HORATIUS 37 XXXIV Now while the Three were tightening Their harness l on their backs, The Consul was the foremost man 27s To take in hand an ax; And Fathers mixed with Commons, Seized hatchet, bar, and crow, And smote upon the planks above, And loosed the props below. 2 3o xxxv Meanwhile the Tuscan army, Right glorious to behold, Came flashing back the noonday light, Rank behind rank, like surges bright Of a broad sea of gold. , 285 Four hundred trumpets sounded A peal of warlike glee, As that great host, with measured tread, And spears advanced, and ensigns 2 spread, Rolled slowly toward the bridge's head, 290 Where stood the dauntless Three. XXXVE The Three stood calm and silent, And looked upon the foes, And a great shout of laughter From all the vanguard rose; 295 And forth three chiefs came spurring Before that deep array; To earth they sprang, their swords they drew, And lifted high their shields, and flew To win the narrow way; 300 Vrmor. 2 Standards, insignia. 38 MACAU LAY XXXVII Aunus from green Tifernum Lord of the Hill of Vines; And Seius, whose eight hundred slaves Sicken in Ilva's mines; And Picus, long to Clusium 30s Vassal l in peace and war. Who led to fight his Umbrian powers 2 From that gray crag where, girt with towers, The fortress of Nequinum lowers O'er the pale waves of Nar. 310 XXXVIII Stout Lartius hurled down Aunus Into the stream beneath ; Herminius struck at Seius, And clove 3 him to the teeth ; At Picus brave Horatius 31s Darted one fiery thrust, And the proud Umbrian's gilded arms Clashed in the bloody dust. xxxix Then Ocnus of Falerii Rushed on the Roman Three; 320 And Lausulus of Urgo, The rover 4 of the sea; And Aruns of Volsinium, Who slew the great wild boar, The great wild boar that had his den 325 Amidst the reeds of Cosa's fen, And wasted fields, and slaughtered men, Along Albinia's shore. 1 Dependent. 3 s P lit: - 2 Forces of soldiers. * Pirate. HORATIUS 39 XL Herminius smote down Aruns; Lartius laid Ocnus low; 33 o Right to the heart of Lausulus Horatius sent a blow. "Lie there," he cried, "fell l pirate! No more, aghast and pale, From Ostia's walls the crowd shall mark 335 The track of thy destroying bark. 2 No more Campania's hinds 3 shall fly To woods and caverns when they spy Thy thrice accursed sail." XLI But now no sound of laughter 34 o Was heard among the foes; A wild and wrathful clamor From all the vanguard rose. Six spears' length from the entrance Halted that deep array, 34s And for a space no man came forth To win the narrow way. XLII But hark! the cry is Astur: And lo! the ranks divide; And the great Lord of Luna 350 Comes with his stately stride. Upon his ample shoulders Clangs loud the fourfold shield, And in his hand he shakes the brand Which none but he can wield. 355 1 Fierce, ruthless. 2 Ship. 3 Peasants. 40 MACAU LAY XLIII He smiled on those bold Romans A smile serene and high; He eyed the flinching Tuscans, And scorn was in his eye. Quoth he, "The she-wolf's litter 360 Stand savagely at bay ; But will ye dare to follow, If Astur clears the way? ' ' XLIV Then, whirling up his broadsword With both hands to the height, 36s He rushed against Horatius, And smote with all his might. With shield and blade * Horatius Right deftly turned the blow. The blow, though turned, came yet too nigh; 370 It missed his helm, 2 but gashed his thigh: The Tuscans raised a joyful cry To see the red blood flow. XLV He reeled, and on Herminius He leaned one breathing-space; 375 Then, like a wild cat mad with wounds, Sprang right at Astur's face; Through teeth and skull and helmet So fierce a thrust he sped, The good sword stood a handbreadth out 380 Behind the Tuscan's head. XLVI And the great Lord of Luna Fell at that deadly stroke, 1 Sword. 2 Helmet. HO RATI US 41 As falls on Mount Alvernus A thunder-smitten oak. 385 Far o'er the crashing forest The giant arms lie spread; And the pale augurs, muttering low, Gaze on the blasted head. XLVII On Astur's throat Horatius 390 Right firmly pressed his heel, And thrice and four times tugged amain, Ere he wrenched out the steel. "And see," he cried, "the welcome, Fair guests, that waits you here! 395 What noble Lucumo comes next To taste our Roman cheer? " XL VIII But at his haughty challenge A sullen murmur ran, Mingled of wrath and shame and dread, 400 Along that glittering van. There lacked not men of prowess, 1 Nor men of lordly race; For all Etruria's noblest Were round the fatal place. 405 XLIX But all Etruria's noblest Felt their hearts sink to see On the earth the bloody corpses, In the path the dauntless Three ; And from the ghastly entrance 410 Where those bold Romans stood, 1 Bravery. 42 MACAU LAY All shrank, like boys who unaware, Ranging the woods to start a hare, Come to the mouth of the dark lair 1 Where, growling low, a fierce old bear 415 Lies amidst bones and blood. L Was none who would be foremost To lead such dire attack ; But those behind cried " Forward! " And those before cried "Back! " 420 And backward now and forward Wavers the deep array; And on the tossing sea of steel To and fro the standards reel, And the victorious trumpet-peal 42s Dies fitfully away. LI Yet one man for one moment Stood out before the crowd; Well known was he to all the Three, And they gave him greeting loud : 430 "Now welcome, welcome, Sextus! Now welcome to thy home! Why dost thou stay, and turn away? Here lies the road to Rome." LII Thrice looked he at the city, 43s Thrice looked he at the dead; And thrice came on in fury, And thrice turned back in dread ; x Den, HO RATI US 43 And, white with fear and hatred, Scowled at the narrow way, 440 Where, wallowing in a pool of blood, The bravest Tuscans lay. LIII But meanwhile ax and lever Have manfully been plied; And now the bridge hangs tottering 445 Above the boiling tide. "Come back, come back, Horatius! " Loud cried the Fathers all. "Back, Lartius! back, Herminius! Back, ere the ruin fall! " 4SO LIV Back darted Spurius Lartius, Herminius darted back; And, as they passed, beneath their feet They felt the timbers crack. But when they turned their faces, 455 And on the farther shore Saw brave Horatius stand alone, They would have crossed once more. LV But with a crash like thunder Fell every loosened beam, 460 And, like a dam, the mighty wreck Lay right athwart * the stream. And a long shout of triumph Rose from the walls of Rome, As to the highest turret-tops 465 Was splashed the yellow foam. 1 Across. 44 MACAU LAY LVI And, like a horse unbroken When first he feels the rein, The furious river struggled hard, And tossed his tawny mane, 470 And burst the curb, and bounded Rejoicing to be free, And whirling down, in fierce career, Battlement and plank and pier, 1 Rushed headlong to the sea. 47s lvii Alone stood brave Horatius, But constant 2 still in mind, Thrice thirty thousand foes before And the broad flood behind. " Down with him! " cried false Sextus, 480 With a smile on his pale face. " Now yield thee," cried Lars Porsena, " Now yield thee to our grace." 3 LVIII Round turned he, as not deigning 4 Those craven 5 ranks to see; 485 Naught spake he to Lars Porsena, To Sextus naught spake he; But he saw on Palatinus The white porch of his home, And he spake to the noble river 490 That rolls by the towers of Rome: LIX "Oh, Tiber, father Tiber! To whom the Romans pray, 1 Support. 2 Unshaken. 3 Mercy. 4 Condescending. 5 Cowardly. HORATIUS 45 i A Roman's life, a Roman's arms, Take thou in charge this day! " 495 So he spake, and speaking sheathed The good sword by his side, And with his harness on his back, Plunged headlong in the tide. LX No sound of joy or sorrow 500 Was heard from either bank, But friends and foes in dumb surprise, With parted lips and straining eyes, Stood gazing where he sank; And when above the surges l 505 They saw his crest appear, All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, And even the ranks of Tuscany Could scarce forbear to cheer. LXI But fiercely ran the current, 510 Swollen high by months of rain; And fast his blood was flowing, And he was sore in pain, And heavy with his armor, And spent 2 with changing blows; 5 i S And oft they thought him sinking, But still again he rose. LXII Never, I ween, did swimmer, In such an evil case, 3 Struggle through such a raging flood 520 Safe to the landing place; 1 Waves. 2 Exhausted, ' Condition. 46 MACAU LAY But his limbs were borne up bravely By the brave heart within, And our good father Tiber Bore bravely up his chin. 525 LXIII "Curse on him!" quoth false Sextus; " Will not the villain drown? But for this stay, 1 ere close of day We should have sacked the town!" "Heaven help him!" quoth Lars Porsena, 530 "And bring him safe to shore; For such a gallant feat 2 of arms Was never seen before." LXIV And now he feels the bottom; Now on dry earth he stands; 535 Now round him throng the Fathers To press his gory hands; And now, with shouts and clapping, And noise of weeping loud, He enters through the River- Gate, 540 Borne by the joyous crowd. LXV They gave him of the corn-land, That was of public right, As much as two strong oxen Could plow from morn till night; 545 And they made a molten image, And set it up on high, And there it stands unto this day To witness if I lie. 1 Hindrance, 2 Deed. HORATIUS 47 LXVI It stands in the Comitium, 550 Plain for all folk to see, Horatius in his harness, Halting 1 upon one knee; And underneath is written, In letters all of gold, 555 How valiantly he kept the bridge In the brave days of old. LXVII And still his name sounds stirring Unto the men of Rome, As the trumpet-blast that cries to them 560 To charge the Volscian home; And wives still pray to Juno For boys with hearts as bold As his who kept the bridge so well In the brave days of old. 565 LXVIII And in the nights of winter, When the cold north winds blow, And the long howling of the wolves Is heard amidst the snow; When round the lonely cottage 570 Roars loud the tempest's din, And the good logs of Algidus Roar louder yet within; LXIX When the oldest cask 2 is opened, And the largest lamp is lit; 575 When the chestnuts glow in the embers, And the kid 3 turns on the spit; Stooping. 2 Cask of wine. 3 Young goat. 48 MACAU LAY When young and old in circle Around the firebrands * close; When the girls are weaving baskets, 580 And the lads are shaping bows; LXX When the goodman 2 mends his armor, And trims his helmet's plume; When the goodwife's shuttle merrily Goes flashing through the loom; 585 With weeping and with laughter Still is the story told, How well Horatius kept the bridge In the brave days of old. 1 Burning logs. 2 Father of the family. INTRODUCTION TO "THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS" Macaulay, in his introduction to "The Battle of the Lake Regillus" makes the following points: 1. The poem is supposed to have been produced about ninety years after the lay of Horatius. 2. Some characters are common to each. 3. It has a slight tincture of Greek learning and of Greek super- stition. 4. Images and incidents have been borrowed on principle from Homer's battle-pieces. 5. It was a popular belief from an early period that the battle was won through the supernatural agency of Castor and Pollux who fought in the battle, carried the news to Rome, washed their steeds at a well in the Forum, and disappeared. One of their horses left a hoof mark in the rock near Lake Regillus. In their honor a great festival was kept on the Ides of Quintilis. 6. The legend probably arose from the Roman general's vow- ing in the hour of peril, a temple to the Twin Gods, and further, from the statement by some man that he had seen godlike forms scattering the Latines. 7. When the equestrian order of Roman citizens was remodeled it was ordained that a grand muster and inspection of the order should be a part of the ceremony performed on the anniversary of the battle. 8. This poem is supposed to have been made for this great occasion. 9. Antiquaries differ widely as to the situation of the field of battle. The opinion of those who suppose that the armies met between Frascati and the Monte Porzio has been followed in this poem. 49 THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS A LAY SUNG AT THE FEAST OF CASTOR AND POLLUX ON THE IDES OF QUINTILIS, IN THE YEAR OF THE CITY CCCCLI I Ho, trumpets, sound a war note! Ho, lictors, clear the way! The Knights will ride, in all their pride, Along the streets to-day. To-day the doors and windows s Are hung with garlands all, From Castor in the Forum, To Mars without the wall. Each Knight is robed in purple, With olive each is crowned; 10 A gallant war horse under each Paws haughtily the ground. While flows the Yellow River, While stands the Sacred Hill, The proud Ides of Quintilis is Shall have such honor still. Gay are the Martian Kalends, December's Nones are gay; But the proud Ides, when the squadron 1 rides, Shall be Rome's whitest day. 20 11 Unto the Great Twin Brethren We keep this solemn feast. Swift, swift, the Great Twin Brethren Came spurring from the east. 1 Knights on horseback. 50 THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 5 1 They came o'er wild Parthenius 25 Tossing in waves of pine, O'er Cirrha's dome, o'er Adria's l foam, O'er purple Apennine, From where with flutes and dances Their ancient mansion rings, 30 In lordly Lacedaemon, The city of two kings, To where, by Lake Regillus, Under the Porcian height, All in the lands of Tusculum, 35 Was fought the glorious fight. in Now on the place of slaughter Are cots 2 and sheepfolds seen, And rows of vines, and fields of wheat, And apple orchards green ; 40 The swine crush the big acorns That fall from Corne's oaks ; Upon the turf by the Fair Fount The reaper's pottage 3 smokes. The fisher baits his angle, 4 45 The hunter twangs his bow; Little they think on those strong limbs That moulder deep below. Little they think how sternly That day the trumpets pealed; s© How in the slippery swamp of blood Warrior and war horse reeled; How wolves came with fierce gallop, And crows on eager wings, To tear the flesh of captains, 55 And peck the eyes of kings; 1 The Adriatic. 2 Huts. 3 Food. * Hook. 52 MAC AULA Y How thick the dead lay scattered Under the Porcian height; How through the gates of Tusculum Raved the wild stream of flight; 60 And how the Lake Regillus Bubbled with crimson foam, What time the Thirty Cities Came forth to war with Rome. IV But, Roman, when thou standest 65 Upon that holy ground, Look thou with heed on the dark rock That girds the dark lake round ; So shalt thou see a hoof mark Stamped deep into the flint ; 70 It was no hoof of mortal steed That made so strange a dint. There to the Great Twin Brethren Vow thou thy vows, and pray That they, in tempest and in fight, 7s Will keep thy head alway. v Since last the Great Twin Brethren Of mortal eyes were seen, Have years gone by an hundred And fourscore and thirteen. 80 That summer a Virginius Was Consul first in place; The second was stout * Aulus, Of the Posthumian race. 1 Brave, resolute. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 53 The Herald of the Latines 85 From Gabii came in state ; The Herald of the Latines Passed through Rome's Eastern Gate; The Herald of the Latines Did in our Forum stand, 90 And there he did his office, 1 A scepter 2 in his hand. VI "Hear, Senators and people Of the good town of Rome, The Thirty Cities charge you 95 To bring the Tarquins home; And if ye still be stubborn, To work the Tarquins wrong, The Thirty Cities warn you, Look that your walls be strong." 100 VII Then spake the Consul Aulus — He spake a bitter jest — Once the jays sent a message Unto the eagle's nest: — 1 Now yield thou up thine eyrie 105 Unto the carrion kite, Or come forth valiantly, and face The jays in deadly fight.' Forth looked in wrath the eagle; And carrion kite and jay, no Soon as they saw his beak and claw Fled screaming far away." 1 Duty. 2 Symbol of office. 54 MACAU LAY VIII The Herald of the Latines Hath hied him back in state ; The Fathers of the City us Are met in high debate. Then spake the elder Consul, An ancient man and wise: "Now hearken, Conscript Fathers, To that which I advise. 120 In seasons of great peril 'Tis good that one bear sway; Then choose we a Dictator, Whom all men shall obey. Camerium knows how deeply us The sword of Aulus bites, And all our city calls him The man of seventy fights. Then let him be Dictator For six months and no more, 130 And have a Master of the Knights And axes twenty-four." IX So Aulus was Dictator, The man of seventy fights; He made ^Ebutius Elva 13s His Master of the Knights. On the third morn thereafter, • At dawning of the day, Did Aulus and ^Ebutius Set forth with their array. 140 Sempronius Atratinus Was left in charge at home With boys, and with gray-headed men, To keep the walls of Rome. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 55 Hard by the Lake Regillus 145 Our camp was pitched at night; Eastward a mile the Latines lay, Under the Porcian height. Far over hill and valley Their mighty host was spread; 150 And with their thousand watch fires The midnight sky was red. Up rose the golden morning Over the Porcian height, The proud Ides of Quintilis 155 Marked evermore with white. Not without secret trouble Our bravest saw the foes; For girt by threescore thousand spears The thirty standards rose. 160 From every warlike city That boasts the Latian name, Foredoomed to dogs and vultures, That gallant army came : From Setia's purple vineyards, 165 From Norba's ancient wall, From the white streets of Tusculum, The proudest town of all; From where the Witch's Fortress O'erhangs the dark-blue seas; 170 From the still glassy lake that sleeps Beneath Aricia's trees — Those trees in whose dim shadow The ghastly priest doth reign, The priest who slew the slayer, 175 And shall himself be slain; 56 MACAU LAY From the drear banks of Ufens, Where flights of marsh fowl play, And buffaloes lie wallowing Through the hot summer's day; 180 From the gigantic watch towers, No work of earthly men, Whence Cora's sentinels o'erlook The never-ending fen; From the Laurentian jungle, 185 The wild hog's reedy home; From the green steeps whence Anio leaps In floods of snow-white foam. XI Aricia, Cora, Norba, Velitrae, with the might 190 Of Setia and of Tusculum, Were marshaled on the right. The leader was Mamilius, Prince of the Latian name; Upon his head a helmet 195 Of red gold shone like flame ; High on a gallant charger Of dark-gray hue he rode ; Over his gilded armor A vest of purple flowed, 200 Woven in the land of sunrise By Syria's dark-browed daughters, And by the sails of Carthage brought Far o'er the southern waters. XII Lavinium and Laurentum 205 Had on the left their post, With all the banners of the marsh, And banners of the coast. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 57 Their leader was false Sextus, That wrought the deed of shame ; 210 With restless pace and haggard face To his last field he came. Men said he saw strange visions Which none beside might see, And that strange sounds were in his ears 21s Which none might hear but he. A woman fair and stately, But pale as are the dead, Oft through the watches of the night Sat spinning by his bed. 220 And as she plied her distaff, In a sweet voice and low, She sang of great old houses And fights fought long ago. So spun she and so sang she, 225 Until the east was gray, Then pointed to her bleeding breast, And shrieked, and fled away. XIII But in the center thickest Were ranged the shields of foes, 230 And from the center loudest The cry of battle rose. There Tibur marched and Pedum Beneath proud Tarquin's rule And Ferentinum of the rock, 235 And Gabii of the pool. There rode the Volscian succors; There, in a dark stern ring, The Roman exiles gathered close Around the ancient king. 240 58 MACAU LAY Though white as Mount Soracte When winter nights are long, His beard flowed down o'er mail and belt, His heart and hand were strong ; Under his hoary * eyebrows 24 s Still flashed forth quenchless rage, And, if the lance shook in his gripe, 'Twas more with hate than age. Close at his side was Titus On an Apulian steed — 250 Titus, the youngest Tarquin, Too good for such a breed. XIV Now on each side the leaders Gave signal for the charge; And on each side the footmen 255 Strode on with lance and targe; 2 And on each side the horsemen Struck their spurs deep in gore, And front to front the armies Met with a mighty roar; 260 And under that great battle The earth with blood was red; And, like the Pomptine fog at morn The dust hung overhead; And louder still and louder 26s Rose from the darkened field The braying of the war horns, The clang of sword and shield, The rush of squadrons sweeping Like whirlwinds o'er the plain, 270 The shouting of the slayers, And screeching of the slain. 1 White. 2 Shield. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 59 XV False Sextus rode out foremost, His look was high and bold; His corselet l was of bison's 2 hide, 27s Plated with steel and gold. As glares the famished eagle From the Digentian rock On a choice lamb that bounds alone Before Bandusia's flock, 280 Herminius glared on Sextus, And came with eagle speed, Herminius on black Auster, Brave champion on brave steed; In his right hand the broadsword 285 That kept the bridge so well, And on his helm 3 the crown he won When proud Fidenae fell. Woe to the maid whose lover Shall cross his path to-day! 290 False Sextus saw and trembled, And turned and fled away. As turns, as flies, the woodman In the Calabrian brake, When through the reeds gleams the round eye 295 Of that fell speckled snake, So turned, so fled, false Sextus, And hid him in the rear, Behind the dark Lavinian ranks Bristling with crest and spear. 300 XVI But far to the north ^Ebutius, The Master of the Knights, 1 Armor for body. 2 Wild ox. 3 Helmet. 6o MACAU LAY Gave Tubero of Norba To feed the Porcian kites. Next under those red horsehoofs 3 « Flaccus of Setia lay; Better had he been pruning Among his elms that day. Mamilius saw the slaughter, And tossed his golden crest, And towards the Master of the Knights Through the thick battle pressed. ^Ebutius smote Mamilius So fiercely on the shield That the great lord of Tusculum Well nigh rolled on the field. Mamilius smote ^Ebutius, With a good aim and true, Just where the neck and shoulder join, And pierced him through and through; And brave iEbutius Elva Fell swooning to the ground, But a thick wall of bucklers * Encompassed him around. His clients from the battle Bare him some little space, And filled a helm from the dark lake, And bathed his brow and face; And when at last he opened His swimming eyes to light, 330 Men say, the earliest word he spake Was, " Friends, how goes the fight?" XVII But meanwhile in the center Great deeds of arms were wrought; 1 Shields. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 61 There Aulus the Dictator 335 And there Valerius fought. Aulus with his good broadsword A bloody passage cleared To where, amidst the thickest foes, He saw the long white beard. 340 Flat lighted that good broadsword Upon proud Tarquin's head. He dropped the lance, he dropped the reins; He fell as fall the dead. Down Aulus springs to slay him, 34s With eyes like coals of fire; But faster Titus hath sprung down, And hath bestrode his sire. Latian captains, Roman knights, Fast down to earth they spring, 350 And hand to hand they fight on foot Around the ancient king. First Titus gave tall Caeso A death wound in the face; Tall Caeso was the bravest man 35s Of the brave Fabian race; 1 Aulus slew Rex of Gabii, The priest of Juno's shrine; Valerius smote down Julius, Of Rome's great Julian line — 360 Julius, who left his mansion High on the Velian hill, And through all turns of weal and woe Followed proud Tarquin still. Now right across* proud Tarquin 36s A corpse was Julius laid; And Titus groaned with rage and grief, And at Valerius made. 1 Family. 62 MACAU LAY Valerius struck at Titus, And lopped off half his crest 370 But Titus stabbed Valerius A span deep in the breast. Like a mast snapped by the tempest, Valerius reeled and fell. Ah! woe is me for the good house 37s That loves the people well! Then shouted loud the Latines, And with one rush they bore The struggling Romans backward Three lances' length and more; 380 And up they took proud Tarquin And laid him on a shield, And four strong yeomen bare him, Still senseless, from the field. XVIII But*fiercer grew the fighting 38s Around Valerius dead; For Titus dragged him by the foot And Aulus by the head. "On, Latines, on!" quoth Titus, " See how the rebels fly!" 590 "Romans, stand firm!" quoth Aulus "And win this fight or die! They must not give Valerius To raven and to kite; For aye * Valerius loathed the wrong 39s And aye upheld the right; And for your wives and babies In the front rank he fell. Now play the men for the good house That loves the people well!" 400 1 Ever. Pronounced a. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 63 XIX Then tenfold round the body The roar of battle rose, Like the roar of a burning forest When a strong north wind blows. Now backward and now forward 405 Rocked furiously the fray, . Till none could see Valerius, And none wist 1 where he lay. For shivered arms and ensigns Were heaped there in a mound, 410 And corpses stiff, and dying men That writhed and gnawed the ground; And wounded horses kicking, And snorting purple foam ; Right well did such a couch befit 415 A Consular of Rome. xx But north looked the Dictator; North looked he long and hard, And spake to Caius Cossus, The Captain of his Guard: 420 " Caius, of all the Romans Thou hast the keenest sight; Say, what through yonder storm of dust Comes from the Latian right? " XXI Then answered Caius Cossus: 425 "I see an evil sight; The banner of proud Tusculum Comes from the Latian right. I see the plumed horsemen; And far before the rest 430 1 Knew. Pret. of 'wit.' 64 MACAU LAY I see the dark-gray charger, I see the purple vest, I see the golden helmet That shines far off like flame; So ever rides Mamilius 435 Prince of the Latian name." XXII "Now hearken, Caius Cossus: Spring on thy horse's back; Ride as * the wolves of Apennine Were all upon thy track; 440 Haste to our southward battle, And never draw thy rein Until thou find Herminius, And bid him come amain." XXIII So Aulus spake, and turned him 445 Again to that fierce strife; And Caius Cossus mounted And rode for death and life. Loud clanged beneath his horsehoofs The helmets of the dead, 450 And many a curdling pool of blood Splashed him from heel to head. So came he far to southward, Where fought the Roman host, Against the banners of the marsh 455 And banners of the coast. Like corn before the sickle The stout Lavinians fell, Beneath the edge of the true sword That kept the bridge so well. 460 1 As if. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 65 XXIV "Herminius! Aulus greets thee; He bids thee come with speed To help our central battle, For sore is there our need. There wars the youngest Tarquin 465 And there the Crest of Flame, The Tusculan Mamilius, Prince of the Latian name. Valerius hath fallen fighting In front of our array, 470 And Aulus of the seventy fields Alone upholds the day." xxv Herminius beat his bosom, But never a word he spake. He clapped his hand on Auster's mane, 47s He gave the reins a shake ; Away, away went Auster Like an arrow from the bow — Black Auster was the fleetest steed From Aufidus to Po. 480 XXVI Right glad were all the Romans Who, in that hour of dread, Against great odds bare up the war Around Valerius dead, When from the south the cheering 485 Rose with a mighty swell : " Herminius comes, Herminius Who kept the bridge so well!" 66 MAC AULA Y XXVII Mamilius spied Herminius And dashed across the way: 490 "Herminius! I have sought thee Through many a bloody day. One of us two, Herminius, Shall never more go home. I will lay on for Tusculum, 495 And lay thou on for Rome!" XXVIII All round them paused the battle, While met in mortal fray The Roman and the Tusculan, The horses black and gray. 500. Herminius smote Mamilius Through breastplate and through breast; And fast flowed out the purple blood Over the purple vest. Mamilius smote Herminius 505 Through headpiece and through head; And side by side those chiefs of pride Together fell down dead. Down fell they dead together In a great lake of gore; 510 And still stood all who saw them fall While men might count a score. XXIX Fast, fast, with heels wild spurning, The dark-gray charger fled; He burst through ranks of fighting men 515 He sprang o'er heaps of dead. His bridle far outstreaming, His flanks all blood and foam, THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 67 He sought the southern mountains, The mountains of his home. 520 The pass was steep and rugged, The wolves they howled and whined; But he ran like a whirlwind up the pass, And he left the wolves behind. Through many a startled hamlet 52s Thundered his flying feet; He rushed through the gates of Tusculum, He rushed up the long white street; He rushed by tower and temple, And paused not from his race 530 Till he stood before his master's door In the stately market place. And straightway round him gathered A pale and trembling crowd, And when they knew him, cries of rage 535 Brake forth, and wailing loud; And women rent their tresses For their great prince's fall; And old men girt on their old swords, And went to man the wall. 540 XXX f But, like a graven image, Black Auster kept his place, And ever wistfully he looked Into his master's face. The raven mane that daily, 54s With pats and fond caresses, The young Herminia washed and combed, And twined in even tresses, And decked with colored ribbons From her own gay attire, 550 Hung sadly o'er her father's corpse 68 MACAU LAY In carnage and in mire. Forth with a shout sprang Titus And seized black Auster's rein. Then Aulus sware a fearful oath, sss And ran at him amain : "The furies of thy brother With me and mine abide, If one of your accursed house Upon black Auster ride!" 560 As on an Alpine watchtower From heaven comes down the flame, Full on the neck of Titus The blade of Aulus came; And out the red blood spouted 565 In a wide arch and tall, As spouts a fountain in the court Of some rich Capuan's hall. The knees of all the Latines Were loosened with dismay 570 When dead, on dead Herminius The bravest Tarquin lay. XXXI And Aulus the Dictator Stroked Auster's raven mane, With heed he looked unto the girths, 575 With heed unto the rein. "Now bear me well, black Auster, Unto yon thick array, And thou and I will have revenge For thy good lord this day." 580 XXXII So spake he, and was buckling Tighter black Auster's band, THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 69 When he was aware of a princely pair That rode at his right hand. So like they were, no mortal 58s Might one from other know; White as snow their armor was, Their steeds were white as snow. Never on earthly anvil Did such rare armor gleam, 590 And never did such gallant steeds Drink of an earthly stream. XXXIII And all who saw them trembled, And pale grew every cheek; And Aulus the Dictator s 95 Scarce gathered voice to speak : " Say by what name men call you? What city is your home? And wherefore ride ye in such guise Before the ranks of Rome?" 600 xxxiv " By many names men call us, In many lands we dwell: Well Samothracia knows us, Cyrene knows us well; Our house in gay Tarentum 605 Is hung each morn with flowers; High o'er the masts of Syracuse Our marble portal 1 towers; But by the proud Eurotas Is our dear native home; 610 And for the right we come to fight Before the ranks of Rome." 1 Doorway of their temple. 70 MACAU LAY XXXV So answered those strange horsemen, And each couched 1 low his spear; And forthwith all the ranks of Rome 615 Were bold and of good cheer; And on the thirty armies Came wonder and affright, And Ardea wavered on the left, And Cora on the right. 620 "Rome to the charge!" cried Aulus; " The foe begins to yield ! Charge for the hearth of Vesta! Charge for the Golden Shield! Let no man stop to plunder, 625 But slay, and slay, and slay; The gods who live forever Are on our side to-day. " xxxvi Then the fierce trumpet flourish From earth to heaven arose. 630 The kites know well the long stern swell That bids the Romans close. 2 Then the good sword of Aulus Was lifted up to slay; Then like a crag down Apennine 63s Rushed Auster through the fray. But under those strange horsemen Still thicker lay the slain; And after those strange horses Black Auster toiled in vain. 640 Behind them Rome's long battle 3 1 Leveled. 2 Come to close quarters. 3 Line of battle. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 7 1 Came rolling on the foe, Ensigns dancing wild above, Blades all in line below. So comes the Po in flood time 645 Upon the Celtic plain ; So comes the squall, blacker than night, Upon the Adrian main. Now, by our Sire Quirinus, It was a goodly sight 650 To see the thirty standards Swept down the tide of flight. So flies the spray of Adria When the black squall doth blow ; So corn sheaves in the flood time 655 Spin down the whirling Po. False Sextus to the mountains Turned first his horse's head; And fast fled Ferentinum, And fast Lanuvium fled. 660 The horsemen of Nomentum Spurred hard out of the fray; The footmen of Velitrae Threw shield and spear away. And underfoot was trampled, 665 Amidst the mud and gore, The banner of proud Tusculum, That never stooped before ; And down went Flavius Faustus, Who led his stately ranks 670 From where the apple blossoms wave On Anio's echoing banks; And Tullus of Arpinum, Chief of the Volscian aids, And Metius with the long fair curls, 67s The love of Anxur's maids, 72 MACAU LAY And the white head of Vulso, The great Arician seer, And Nepos of Laurentum, The hunter of the deer; 680 And in the back false Sextus Felt the good Roman steel, And wriggling in the dust he died, Like a worm beneath the wheel; And fliers and pursuers 68s Were mingled in a mass; And far away the battle Went roaring through the pass. XXXVII Sempronius Atratinus Sate in the Eastern Gate, 690 Beside him were three Fathers, Each in his chair of state — Fabius, whose nine stout grandsons That day were in the field, And Manlius, eldest of the Twelve 695 Who kept the Golden Shield, And Sergius, the High Pontiff, For wisdom far renowned; In all Etruria's colleges Was no such Pontiff found. 700 And all around the portal, And high above the wall, Stood a great throng of people, But sad and silent all; Young lads and stooping elders 70s That might not bear the mail, 1 Matrons with lips that quivered, And maids with faces pale. 1 Armor. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 73 Since the first gleam of daylight, Sempronius had not ceased 710 To listen for the rushing Of horsehoofs from the east. The mist of eve was rising, The sun was hastening down, When he was aware of a princely pair 7 i S Fast pricking towards the town. So like they were, man never Saw twins so like before; Red with gore their armor was, Their steeds were red with gore. 720 XXXVIII "Hail to the great Asylum! Hail to the hilltops seven ! Hail to the fire that burns for aye, And the shield that fell from heaven! This day, by Lake Regillus, 725 Under the Porcian height, All in the lands of Tusculum Was fought a glorious fight. To-morrow your Dictator Shall bring in triumph home 730 The spoils of thirty cities To deck the shrines of Rome!" xxxix Then burst from that great concourse A shout that shook the towers, And some ran north, and some ran south, 735 Crying, "The day is ours! " But on rode these strange horsemen With slow and lordly pace, And none who saw their bearing Durst ask their name or race. 740 74 MACAU LAY On rode they to the Forum, While laurel boughs and flowers, From housetops and from windows, Fell on their crests in showers. When they drew nigh to Vesta, 745 They vaulted down amain, And washed their horses in the well That springs by Vesta's fane. 1 And straight again they mounted, And rode to Vesta's door; 750 Then, like a blast, away they passed, And no man saw them more. XL And all the people trembled, And pale grew every cheek; And Sergius the High Pontiff 755 Alone found voice to speak: "The gods who live for ever Have fought for Rome to-day! These be the Great Twin Brethren To whom the Dorians pray. 760 Back comes the Chief in triumph Who in the hour of fight Hath seen the Great Twin Brethren In harness on his right. Safe comes the ship to haven, 76s Through billows and through gales, If once the Great Twin Brethren Sit shining on their sails. Wherefore they washed their horses In Vesta's holy well, 770 Wherefore they rode to Vesta's door, I know, but may not tell. 1 Shrine. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS 75 Here, hard by Vesta's Temple, Build we a stately dome Unto the Great Twin Brethren 77s Who fought so well for Rome. And when the months returning Bring back this day of fight, The proud Ides of Quintilis, Marked evermore with white, 780 Unto the Great Twin Brethren Let all the people throng, With chaplets and with offerings, With music and with song; And let the doors and windows 78s Be hung with garlands all, And let the Knights be summoned To Mars without the wall; Thence let them ride in purple With joyous trumpet sound, 7go Each mounted on his war horse, And each with olive crowned; And pass in solemn order Before the sacred dome, Where dwell the Great Twin Brethren 79s W T ho fought so well for Rome!" INTRODUCTION TO " VIRGINIA" Macaulay, in his introduction to " Virginia", makes the fol- lowing points: i . A collection consisting exclusively of war songs would give an imperfect, or rather an erroneous, notion of the spirit of the old Latin ballads, for the war songs dealt only with Patrician or upper class heroes. 2. But there was a class of compositions in which the great houses were by no means so courteously treated. These dealt with those parts of early Roman history which re- late to the long contest between the great families of the Patricians and the commonalty or Plebeians. 3. The Plebeians suffered under many grievances: particularly, their exclusion from the highest magistracies; their ex- clusion from all share in the public lands; and the hard laws of debtor and creditor. 4. But the Plebeians had secured some constitutional rights. They had secured representation by Tribunes who, though they had no share in the government, could safeguard the people. And the people had gradually wrung other concessions from the aristocracy. 5. In A. u. c. 378 the Tribune, Caius Licinius, seconded by his colleague, Lucius Sextius, proposed the three Licinian laws to redress the three grievances. Being elected year after year, finally they won. The result was a united city which became the mistress of the world. 6. During the great Licinian contest the Plebeian poets were, doubtless, not silent. And songs are powerful at such times. These songs are satirical poems. This was a 76 VIRGINIA 77 native form of composition in which the Latin literature excels. These minstrels appear generally to have taken the popular side. Doubtless they versified the speeches of the Trib- unes and heaped abuse on the leaders of the aristocracy dwelling on every personal defect, domestic scandal, and dishonorable tradition. During the Licinian conflict a fierce opponent of the Ple- beians was Appius Claudius Crassus whose line offered a shining mark for the satirists as its history was noted for cowardice and arrogance. His grandfather called by the same name was as detested as Sextus Tarquinius for, during a crisis, not only had he secured the abolition of the Tribuneship and the establishment of a Council of Ten, called Decemvirs, but his administration had been swept away as a result of an attempted outrage upon a beautiful young girl of humble birth. This story was doubtless seized upon by the minstrels. "In order that the reader may judge fairly of these frag- ments of the lay of Virginia, he must imagine himself a Plebeian who has just voted for the reelection of Sextius and Licinius. All the power of the Patricians has been exerted to throw out the two great champions of the Commons. Every Posthumius, iEmilius, and Cornelius has used his influence to the utmost. Debtors have been let out of the workhouses on condition of voting against the men of the people; clients have been posted to hiss and to interrupt the favorite candidates ; Appius Claudius Crassus has spoken with more than his usual eloquence and asperity; all has been in vain; Licinius and Sextius have a fifth time carried all the tribes ; work is suspended ; the booths are closed; the Plebeians bear on their shoul- ders the two champions of liberty through the Forum. Just at this moment it is announced that a popular poet, a zealous adherent of the Tribunes, has made a new song 78 MACAU LAY which will cut the Claudian nobles to the heart. The crowd gathers round him, and calls on him to recite it. He takes his stand on the spot where, according to tradi- tion, Virginia, more than seventy years ago, was seized by the pander of Appius, and he begins his story." VIRGINIA FRAGMENTS OF A LAY SUNG IN THE FORUM ON THE DAY WHEREON LUCIUS SEXTIUS SEXTINUS LATERANUS AND CAIUS LICINIUS CALVUS STOLO WERE ELECTED TRIBUNES OF THE COMMONS THE FIFTH TIME, IN THE YEAR OF THE CITY CCCLXXXII 1 Ye good men of the Commons, with loving hearts and true, Who stand by the bold Tribunes that still have stood by you, Come, make a circle round me, and mark my tale with care, — A tale of what once Rome hath borne, of what Rome yet may bear. This is no Grecian fable, 2 of fountains running wine, 5 Of maids with snaky tresses, or sailors turned to swine. Here, in this very Forum, under the noonday sun, In sight of all the people, the bloody deed was done. Old men still creep among us who saw that fearful day, Just seventy years and seven ago, when the wicked Ten bare sway. 10 Of all the wicked Ten still the names are held accursed, And of all the wicked Ten Appius Claudius was the worst. He stalked along the Forum like King Tarquin in his pride; Twelve axes waited on him, six marching on a side. The townsmen shrank to right and left, and eyed askance with fear is His lowering brow, his curling mouth, which always seemed to sneer. That brow of hate, that mouth of scorn, marks all the kindred still; For never was there Claudius yet but wished the Commons ill. 1 B. C. 372. 2 Myth. 79 80 MACAU LAY Nor lacks he fit attendance; for close behind his heels, With outstretched chin and crouching pace, the client Marcus steals, 2c His loins girt up to run with speed, be the errand what it may, And the smile flickering on his cheek for aught his lord may say. Such varlets pimp and jest for hire among the lying Greeks; Such varlets still are paid to hoot when brave Licinius speaks. Where'er ye shed the honey, the buzzing flies will crowd; 25 Where'er ye fling the carrion, the raven's croak is loud; Where'er down Tiber garbage floats, the greedy pike ye see; And wheresoe'er such lord is found, such client still will be. Just then, as through one cloudless chink in a black and stormy sky Shines out the dewy morning-star, a fair young girl came by. 30 With her small tablets in her hand and her satchel on her arm, Home she went bounding from the school, nor dreamed of shame or harm; And past those dreaded axes she innocently ran, With bright, frank brow that had not learned to blush at gaze of man; And up the Sacred Street she turned, and, as she danced along, 35 She warbled gayly to herself lines of the good old song, How for a sport the princes came spurring from the camp, And found Lucrece combing the fleece under the midnight lamp. The maiden sang as sings the lark, when up he darts his flight, From his nest in the green April corn, to meet the morning light; And Appius heard her sweet young voice, and saw her sweet young face, 4I And loved her with the accursed love of his accursed race, And all along the Forum and up the Sacred Street, His vulture eye pursued the trip of those small glancing feet. VIRGINIA 8 1 Over the Alban mountains the light of morning broke; 45 From all the roofs of the Seven Hills curled the thin wreaths of smoke ; The city gates were opened; the Forum, all alive With buyers and with sellers, was humming like a hive; Blithely on brass and timber the craftsman's stroke was ringing, And blithely o'er her panniers x the market girl was singing, so And blithely young Virginia came smiling from her home ; Ah! woe for young Virginia, the sweetest maid in Rome! With her small tablets in her hand and her satchel on her arm, Forth she went bounding to the school, nor dreamed of shame or harm. She crossed the Forum shining with stalls 2 in alleys gay, 55 And just had reached the very spot whereon I stand this day, When up the varlet Marcus came; not such as when erewhile He crouched behind his patron's heels with the true client smile; He came with lowering forehead, swollen features, and clenched fist, And strode across Virginia's path, and caught her by the wrist. 60 Hard strove the frightened maiden and screamed with look aghast, And at her scream from right and left the folk came running fast, — The money changer Crispus, with his thin silver hairs, And Hanno from the stately booth glittering with Punic 3 wares, And the strong smith Muraena, grasping a half-forged brand, 65 And Volero the flesher, 4 his cleaver in his hand. All came in wrath and wonder, for all knew that fair child, And, as she passed them twice a day, all kissed their hands and smiled ; And the strong smith Muraena gave Marcus such a blow, The caitiff reeled three paces back, and let the maiden go. 70 Yet glared he fiercely round him, and growled in harsh, fell tone, "She's mine, and I will have her; I seek but for mine own. 1 Baskets. 2 Small shops. 3 Carthaginian. 4 Butcher. 82 MACAULAY She is my slave, born in my house, and stolen away and sold, The year of the sore sickness, ere she was twelve hours old. 'Twas in the sad September, the month of wail and fright; 75 Two augurs were borne forth that morn, the Consul died ere night. I wait on Appius Claudius, I waited on his sire; Let him who works the client wrong beware the patron's ire!" So spake the varlet Marcus; and dread and silence came On all the people at the sound of the great Claudian name. 80 For then there was no Tribune to speak the word of might, Which makes the rich man tremble, and guards the poor man's right. There was no brave Licinius, no honest Sextius then; But all the city, in great fear, obeyed the wicked Ten. Yet ere the varlet Marcus again might seize the maid, 85 Who clung tight to Muraena's skirt and sobbed and shrieked for aid, Forth through the throng of gazers the young Icilius pressed, And stamped his foot, and rent his gown, and smote upon his breast, And sprang upon that column, by many a minstrel sung, Whereon three moldering helmets, three rusting swords, are hung, 90 And beckoned to the people, and in bold voice and clear Poured thick and fast the burning words which tyrants quake to hear: "Now, by your children's cradles, now by your fathers' graves, Be men to-day, Quirites, or be forever slaves! For this did Servius give us laws? For this did Lucrece bleed? 95 For this was the great vengeance wrought on Tarquin's evil seed? 1 1 Posterity. VIRGINIA 83 For this did those false sons make red the axes of their sire? For this did Scaevola's right hand hiss in the Tuscan fire? Shall the vile fox-earth awe the race that stormed the lion's den? Shall we, who could not brook one lord, crouch to the wicked Ten? 100 O for that ancient spirit which curbed the Senate's will! O for the tents which in old time whitened the Sacred Hill ! In those brave days our fathers stood firmly side by side; They faced the Marcian fury, they tamed the Fabian pride; They drove the fiercest Quinctius an outcast forth from Rome; 105 They sent the haughtiest Claudius with shivered fasces home. But what their care bequeathed us our madness flung away; All the ripe fruit of threescore years was blighted in a day. Exult, ye proud Patricians! The hard-fought fight is o'er. We strove for honors — 'twas in vain; for freedom — 'tis no more. no No crier to the polling summons the eager throng; No tribune breathes the word of might that guards the weak from wrong. Our very hearts, that were so high, sink down beneath your will. Riches and lands, and power and state — ye have them; keep them still. Still keep the holy fillets; still keep the purple gown, 115 The axes and the curule chair, the car and laurel crown ; Still press us for your cohorts, and, when the fight is done, Still fill your garners from the soil which our good swords have won. Still, like a spreading ulcer which leech-craft 1 may not cure, Let your foul usance eat away the substance 2 of the poor. 120 Still let your haggard debtors bear all their fathers bore; Still let your dens of torment be noisome as of yore; No fire when Tiber freezes ; no air in dog-star heat ; And store of rods for free-born backs, and holes for free-born feet. 1 Medical skill. 2 Possessions. 84 MACAU LAY Heap heavier still the fetters, bar closer still the grate; * i 2S Patient as sheep we yield us up unto your cruel hate. But, by the Shades beneath us, and by the Gods above, Add not unto your cruel hate your yet more cruel love ! Have ye not graceful ladies, whose spotless lineage springs From Consuls and High Pontiffs and ancient Alban Kings? 130 Ladies, who deign not on our paths to set their tender feet, Who from their cars look down with scorn upon the wondering street, Who in Corinthian mirrors their own proud smiles behold, And breathe of Capuan odors, and shine with Spanish gold? Then leave the poor Plebeian his single tie to life — 135 The sweet, sweet love of daughter, of sister, and of wife, The gentle speech, the balm for all that his vexed soul endures, The kiss, in which he half forgets even such a yoke as yours. Still let the maiden's beauty swell the father's breast with pride; Still let the bridegroom's arms infold an unpolluted bride. 140 Spare us the inexpiable wrong, the unutterable shame, That turns the coward's heart to steel, the sluggard's blood to flame, Lest, when our latest hope is fled, ye taste of our despair, And learn by proof, in some wild hour, how much the wretched dare." ********** Straightway Virginius led the maid a little space aside, 145 To where the reeking shambles 2 stood, piled up with horn and hide, Close to yon low dark archway, where in a crimson flood Leaps down to the great sewer the gurgling stream of blood. Hard by, a flesher on a block had laid his whittle 3 down; Virginius caught the whittle up and hid it in his gown. 150 And then his eyes grew very dim, and his throat began to swell, And in a hoarse, changed voice he spake, "Farewell, sweet child! Farewell ! 1 The bars. 2 Slaughterhouses. 3 Knife. VIRGINIA 85 O how I loved my darling! Though stern I sometimes be, To thee thou know'st I was not so. Who could be so to thee? And how my darling loved me ! How glad she was to hear 15s My footstep on the threshold when I came back last year! And how she danced with pleasure to see my civic crown, And took my sword and hung it up, and brought me forth my gown! Now, all those things are over — yes, all thy pretty ways, Thy needlework, thy prattle, thy snatches of old lays; 160 And none will grieve when I go forth, or smile when I return, Or watch beside the old man's bed, or weep upon his urn. The house that was the happiest within the Roman walls, The house that envied not the wealth of Capua's marble halls, Now, for the brightness of thy smile, must have eternal gloom, 165 And for the music of thy voice, the silence of the tomb. The time is come. See how he points his eager hand this way ! See how his eyes gloat on thy grief, like a kite's upon the prey! With all his wit, he little deems that, spurned, betrayed, bereft, Thy father hath in his despair one fearful refuge left. 170 He little deems that in this hand I clutch what still can save Thy gentle youth from taunts and blows, the portion of the slave; Yea, and from nameless evil, that passeth taunt and blow — Foul outrage which thou knowest not, which thou shalt never know. Then clasp me round the neck once more, and give me one more kiss; 1 75 And now, mine own dear little girl, there is no way but this." With that he lifted high the steel and smote her in the side, And in her blood she sank to earth, and with one sob she died. Then, for a little moment, all people held their breath, And through the crowded Forum was stillness as of death; 180 And in another moment brake forth from one and all A cry as if the Volscians were coming o'er the wall. 86 MACAU LAY Some with averted faces shrieking fled home amain; Some ran to call a leech, x and some ran to lift the slain; Some felt her lips and little wrist, if life might there be found; 185 And some tore up their garments fast, and strove to stanch the wound. In vain they ran and felt and stanched; for never truer blow That good right arm had dealt in fight against a Volscian foe. When Appius Claudius saw that deed, he shuddered and sank down, And hid his face some little space with the corner of his gown, 190 Till with white lips and bloodshot eyes, Virginius tottered nigh, And stood before the judgment seat, and held the knife on high. " O dwellers in the nether gloom, avengers of the slain, By this dear blood I cry to you, do right between us twain; And even as Appius Claudius hath dealt by me and mine, 195 Deal you by Appius Claudius and all the Claudian line!" So spake the slayer of his child, and turned and went his way; But first he cast one haggard glance to where the body lay, And writhed, and groaned a fearful groan, and then with stead- fast feet Strode right across the market place unto the Sacred Street. 200 Then up sprang Appius Claudius: "Stop him, alive or dead! Ten thousand pounds of copper to the man who brings his head." He looked upon his clients, but none would work his will; He looked upon his lictors, but they trembled and stood still. And, as Virginius through the press 2 his way in silence cleft, 205 Ever the mighty multitude fell back to right and left. And he hath passed in safety unto his woeful home, And there ta'en horse to tell the camp what deeds are done in Rome. 1 Physician. 2 Throng. VIRGINIA 87 By this the flood of people was swollen from every side, And streets and porches 1 round were rilled with that o'erflow- ing tide; 210 And close around the body gathered a little train Of them that were the nearest and dearest to the slain. They brought a bier, and hung it with many a cypress crown, And gently they uplifted her, and gently laid her down. 2I4 The face of Appius Claudius wore the Claudian scowl and sneer, And in the Claudian note 2 he cried, "What doth this rabble here? Have they no crafts 3 to mind at home, that hitherward they stray? Ho! lictors, clear the market place, and fetch the corpse away!" The voice of grief and fury till then had not been loud; But a deep sullen murmur wandered among the crowd, 220 Like the moaning noise that goes before the whirlwind on the deep, Or the growl of a fierce watch dog but half -aroused from sleep. But when the lictors at that word, tall yeomen 4 all and strong, Each with his ax and sheaf of twigs, went down into the throng, Those old men say, who saw that day of sorrow and of sin, 225 That in the Roman Forum was never such a din. The wailing, hooting, cursing, the howls of grief and hate, Were heard beyond the Pincian Hill, beyond the Latin Gate. But close around the body, where stood the little train Of them that were the nearest and dearest to the slain, 230 No cries were there, but teeth set fast, low whispers and black frowns, And breaking up of benches and girding up of gowns. 'Twas well the lictors might not pierce to where the maiden lay, Else surely had they been all twelve torn limb from limb that day. Right glad they were to struggle back, blood streaming from their heads, 23s With axes all in splinters, and raiment all in shreds. 1 Covered walks. 3 Trades, occupation, business. 2 Manner of speaking. 4 Guards. 88 MACAU LAY Then Appius Claudius gnawed his lip, and the blood left his cheek, And thrice he beckoned with his hand, and thrice he strove to speak, And thrice the tossing Forum set up a frightful yell: "See, see, thou dog! what thou hast done, and hide thy shame in hell! 24c Thou that wouldst make our maidens slaves must first make slaves of men. Tribunes ! Hurrah for Tribunes ! Down with the wicked Ten ! ' ' And straightway, thick as hailstones, came whizzing through the air Pebbles and bricks and potsherds all round the curule chair; And upon Appius Claudius great fear and trembling came, 245 For never was a Claudius yet brave against aught but shame. Though the great houses love us not, we own, to do them right, That the great houses, all save one, have borne them well in fight. Still Caius of Corioli, his triumphs and his wrongs, . His vengeance and his mercy, live in our camp-fire songs. 250 Beneath the yoke of Furius oft have Gaul and Tuscan bowed; And Rome may bear the pride of him of whom herself is proud. But evermore a Claudius shrinks from a stricken field, And changes color like a maid at sight of sword and shield. The Claudian triumphs all were won within the city towers; 255 The Claudian yoke was never pressed on any neck but ours. A Cossus, like a wild cat, springs ever at the face; A Fabius rushes like a boar against the shouting chase; But the vile Claudian litter, raging with currish spite, Still yelps and snaps at those who run, still runs from those who smite. 260 So now 'twas seen of Appius. When stones began to fly, He shook and crouched, and wrung his hands, and smote upon his thigh: VIRGINIA 89 "Kind clients, honest lictors, stand by me in this fray! Must I be torn in pieces? Home, home, the nearest way!" While yet he spake, and looked around with a bewildered stare, 265 Four sturdy lictors put their necks beneath the curule chair; And fourscore clients on the left and fourscore on the right Arrayed themselves with swords and staves, and loins girt up for fight. But, though without or l staff or sword, so furious was the throng, That scarce the train with might and main could bring their lord along. 270 Twelve times the crowd made at him, five times they seized his gown; Small chance was his to rise again, if once they got him down; And sharper came the pelting, and evermore the yell — " Tribunes! We will have Tribunes! " — rose with a louder swell; And the chair tossed as tosses a bark with tattered sail 27s When raves the Adriatic beneath an eastern gale, When the Calabrian sea-marks are lost in clouds of spume, 2 And the great Thunder Cape has donned his veil of inky gloom. One stone hit Appius in the mouth, and one beneath the ear, And ere he reached Mount Palatine he swooned with pain and fear. 280 His cursed head, that he was wont to hold so high with pride, Now, like a drunken man's, hung down and swayed from side to side; And when his stout retainers had brought him to his door, His face and neck were all one cake of filth and clotted gore. As Appius Claudius was that day, so may his grandson be! 285 God send Rome one such other sight, and send me there to see! 1 Poetical for "either." 2 Foam. INTRODUCTION TO "THE PROPHECY OF CAPYS" Macaulay, in his introduction to "The Prophecy of Capys", makes the following points: i. Romulus, after he had slain his granduncle Amulius, and restored his grandfather Numitor, determined to quit Alba, the hereditary domain of the Sylvian princes, and to found a new city. 2. This event was likely to be a favorite theme of the old Latin minstrels, who would attribute the project to divine in- timation of the destined power of the city and who would introduce seers foretelling victories especially the last great one. 3. There is nothing strange in the supposition that the poet who was employed to celebrate the first great triumph of the Romans over the Greeks might throw his song of exultation into this form. 4. The occasion was one likely to excite the strongest feelings of national pride. Lucius Posthumius Megellus had been sent for the purpose of demanding reparation for injuries to Tarentum where he had been insulted, his gown being bespattered with filth. Declaring that "it will take not a little blood to wash this gown," he returned home. Rome declared war. Despite Pyrrhus' army and elephants sent to help the Greeks, despite their fame in arms they were defeated by the Romans. Manius Curius Dentatus, the successful general, received a great triumph in the city. 5. On such a day of triumphal procession the patriotic en- thusiasm of a Latin poet would vent itself, admitting the superiority of the Greeks in the lazy arts of peace but boasting of the Roman preeminence in all the qualities which fit a people to subdue and to govern mankind. 90 THE PROPHECY OF CAPYS 91 6. The following lay belongs to the latest age of Latin ballad poetry. The minstrel's poem shows a much wider ac- quaintance with the geography, manners, and productions of remote nations than would have been found in the compositions of an earlier age. The poet troubles himself little about dates and introduces the things spoken of by travelers without thought of inquiring whether these things existed in the age of Romulus. THE PROPHECY OF CAPYS A LAY SUNG AT THE BANQUET IN THE CAPITOL, ON THE DAY WHEREON MANIUS CURIUS DENTATUS, A SECOND TIME CONSUL, TRIUMPHED OVER KING PYRRHUS AND THE TARENTINES, IN THE YEAR OF THE CITY CCCCLXXIX 1 I Now slain is King Amulius, Of the great Sylvian line, Who reigned in Alba Longa, On the throne of Aventine. Slain is the Pontiff Camers, s Who spake the words of doom: "The children to the Tiber; The mother to the tomb." ii In Alba's lake no fisher His net to-day is flinging; 10 On the dark rind of Alba's oaks To-day no ax is ringing; The yoke hangs o'er the manger, The scythe lies in the hay; Through all the Alban villages 15 No work is done to-day. in And every Alban burgher Hath donned his whitest gown; And every head in Alba Weareth a poplar crown; 20 1 B. C. 275. 92 THE PROPHECY OF CAPYS 93 And every Alban doorpost With boughs and flowers is gay; For to-day the dead are living, The lost are found to-day. IV They were doomed by a bloody king, 25 They were doomed by a lying priest; They were cast on the raging flood, They were tracked by the raging beast. Raging beast and raging flood Alike have spared their prey; 3 o And to-day the dead are living, The lost are found to-day. v The troubled river knew them And smoothed his yellow foam, And gently rocked the cradle That bore the fate of Rome. The ravening she- wolf knew them And licked them o'er and o'er, And gave them of her own fierce milk, Rich with raw flesh and gore. 4 o Twenty winters, twenty springs, Since then have rolled away; And to-day the dead are living, The lost are found to-day. VI Blithe it was to see the twins, 4S Right goodly youths and tall, Marching from Alba Longa To their old grandsire's hall. 55 94 MACAU LAY Along their path fresh garlands Are hung from tree to tree; 50 Before them stride the pipers, Piping a note of glee. VII On the right goes Romulus With arms to the elbows red, And in his hand a broadsword 55 And on the blade a head — A head in an iron helmet, With horsehair hanging down, A shaggy head, a swarthy head, Fixed in a ghastly frown — 60 The head of King Amulius Of the great Sylvian line, Who reigned in Alba Longa On the throne of Aventine. VIII On the left side goes Remus 65 With wrists and fingers red, And in his hand a boar-spear, And on the point a head — A wrinkled head and aged, With silver beard and hair, 70 And holy fillets round it, Such as the pontiffs wear — The head of ancient Camers, Who spake the words of doom: "The children to the Tiber; 7s The mother to the tomb." IX Two and two behind the twins Their trusty comrades go, THE PROPHECY OF CAPYS 95 Four and forty valiant men, With club and ax and bow. 80 On each side every hamlet Pours forth its joyous crowd, Shouting lads and baying dogs And children laughing loud, And old men weeping fondly 8s As Rhea's boys go by, And maids who shriek to see the heads, Yet shrieking, press more nigh. x So they marched along the lake; They marched by fold and stall, 90 By cornfield and by vineyard, Unto the old man's hall. XI In the hall-gate sate Capys, Capys, the sightless seer; From head to foot he trembled 95 As Romulus drew near. And up stood stiff his thin white hair, And his blind eyes flashed fire: "Hail! foster child of the wondrous nurse! Hail! son of the wondrous sire! 100 XII " But thou — What dost thou here In the old man's peaceful hall? What doth the eagle in the coop, The bison in the stall? Our corn fills many a garner, 10s Our vines clasp many a tree, Our flocks are white on many a hill, But these are not for thee. 96 MACAU LAY XIII " For thee no treasure ripens In the Tartessian mine; no For thee no ship brings precious bales Across the Libyan brine; Thou shalt not drink from amber, Thou shalt not rest on down; Arabia shall not steep thy locks, ns Nor Sidon tinge thy gown. XIV " Leave gold and myrrh and jewels, Rich table and soft bed, To them who of man's seed are born, Whom woman's milk hath fed. 120 Thou wast not made for lucre, For pleasure, nor for rest; Thou, that art sprung from the War-god's l loins, And hast tugged at the she-wolf's breast. xv " From sunrise unto sunset 125 All earth shall hear thy fame; A glorious city thou shalt build, And name it by thy name; And there, unquenched through ages, Like Vesta's sacred fire, 130 Shall live the spirit of thy nurse, The spirit of thy sire. XVI "The ox toils through the furrow, Obedient to the goad; The patient ass, up flinty paths, 13s Plods with his weary load; 1 Mars. THE PROPHECY OF CAPYS 97 With whine and bound the spaniel His master's whistle hears; And the sheep yields her patiently To the loud clashing shears. 140 XVII " But thy nurse will hear no master, Thy nurse will bear no load; And woe to them that shear her, And woe to them that goad! When all the pack, 1 loud baying, us Her bloody lair surrounds, She dies in silence, biting hard, Amidst the dying hounds. XVIII " Pomona loves the orchard, And Liber loves the vine, 150 And Pales loves the straw-built shed Warm with the breath of kine; And Venus loves the whispers Of plighted youth and maid, In April's ivory moonlight 15s Beneath the chestnut shade. XIX "But thy father loves the clashing Of broadsword and of shield; He loves to drink the steam that reeks From the fresh battlefield; 160 He smiles a smile more dreadful Than his own dreadful frown, When he sees the thick black cloud of smoke Go up from the conquered town. 1 Of hounds. 98 MACAU LAV XX "And such as is the War-god, 165 The author of thy line, And such as she who suckled thee, Even such be thou and thine. Leave to the soft Campanian His baths and his perfumes; 170 Leave to the sordid race of Tyre Their dyeing vats and looms; Leave to the sons of Carthage The rudder and the oar; Leave to the Greek his marble Nymphs 175 And scrolls of wordy lore. XXI " Thine, Roman, is the pilum; Roman, the sword is thine, The even trench, the bristling mound, The legion's ordered line; 180 And thine the wheels of triumph Which with their laureled train Move slowly up the shouting streets To Jove's eternal fane. XXII " Beneath thy yoke the Volscian 1S5 Shall vail his lofty brow; Soft Capua's curled revelers Before thy chairs shall bow; The Lucumoes of Arnus Shall quake thy rods * to see; 190 And the proud Samnite's heart of steel Shall yield to only thee. 1 Rods of the lictors. THE PROPHECY OF CAPYS XXIII " The Gaul shall come against thee From the land of snow and night ; Thou shalt give his fair-haired armies To the raven and the kite. XXIV The Greek shall come against thee, The conqueror of the East. Beside him stalks to battle The huge earth-shaking beast — The beast on whom the castle With all its guards doth stand, The beast who hath between his eyes The serpent for a hand. First march the bold Epirotes, 1 Wedged close with shield and spear, And the ranks of false Tarentum Are glittering in the rear. xxv "The ranks of false Tarentum Like hunted sheep shall fly; In vain the bold Epirotes Shall round their standards die; And Apennine's gray vultures Shall have a noble feast On the fat and the eyes Of the huge earth-shaking beast. XXVI Hurrah for the good weapons That keep the War-god's land! Hurrah for Rome's stout pilum In a stout Roman hand! 1 People from Epirus. 99 105 205 215 iOO MACAU LAY Hurrah for Rome's short broadsword, That through the thick array Of leveled spears and serried shields Hews deep its gory way ! XXVII " Hurrah for the great triumph 225 That stretches many a mile! Hurrah for the wan captives That pass in endless file ! Ho! bold Epirotes, whither Hath the Red King ta'en flight? 230 Ho! dogs of false Tarentum, Is not the gown washed white? XXVIII " Hurrah for the great triumph That stretches many a mile! Hurrah for the rich dye of Tyre, 23s And the fine web of Nile, The helmets gay with plumage Torn from the pheasant's wings, The belts set thick with starry gems That shone on Indian kings, 240 The urns of massy silver, The goblets rough with gold, The many-colored tablets 1 bright With loves and wars of old, The stone that breathes and struggles, 24s The brass that seems to speak ! — Such cunning they who dwell on high Have given unto the Greek. 1 Pictures. THE PROPHECY OF CAPYS ioi XXIX 1 Hurrah for Manius Curius, The bravest son of Rome, 250 Thrice in utmost need sent forth, Thrice drawn in triumph home! Weave, weave, for Manius Curius The third embroidered gown; Make ready the third lofty car, 255 And twine the third green crown ; And yoke the steeds of Rosea With necks like a bended bow, And deck the bull, Mevania's bull, The bull as white as snow. 260 XXX " Blest and thrice blest the Roman Who sees Rome's brightest day, Who sees that long victorious pomp Wind down the Sacred Way, And through the bellowing Forum, 265 And round the Suppliant's Grove, Up to the everlasting gates Of Capitolian Jove. XXXI " Then where, o'er two bright havens The towers of Corinth frown; 270 Where the gigantic King of Day On his own Rhodes looks down; Where soft Orontes murmurs Beneath the laurel shades; Where Nile reflects the endless length 27s Of dark-red colonnades; 102 MACAU LAY Where in the still deep water, Sheltered from waves and blasts, Bristles the dusky forest Of Byrsa's thousand masts; 2 8o Where fur-clad hunters wander Amidst the northern ice; Where through the sand of morning-land The camel bears the spice; Where Atlas flings his shadow 285 Far o'er the western foam, Shall be great fear on all who hear The mighty name of Rome." IVRY A SONG OF THE HUGUENOTS Now glory to the Lord of Hosts, from whom all glories are! And glory to our Sovereign Liege, King Henry of Navarre! Now let there be the merry sound of music and of dance, Through thy cornfields green, and sunny vines, oh pleasant land of France! And thou, Rochelle, 1 our own Rochelle, proud city of the waters, s Again let rapture light the eyes of all thy mourning daughters. As thou wert constant in our ills, be joyous in our joy, For cold, and stiff, and still are they who wrought thy walls annoy. Hurrah ! Hurrah ! a single field hath turned the chance of war, Hurrah! Hurrah! for Ivry, and Henry of Navarre. 10 Oh! how our hearts were beating when, at the dawn of day, We saw the army of the League drawn out in long array; With all its priest-led citizens, and all its rebel peers, And AppenzePs stout infantry, and Egmont's Flemish spears. There rode the brood of false Lorraine, the curses of our land; 15 And dark Mayenne 2 was in the midst, a truncheon in his hand: And, as we looked on them, we thought of Seine's enpurpled flood, And good Coligni's hoary hair all dabbled with his blood; And we cried unto the living God, who rules the fate of war, To fight for His own holy name, and Henry of Navarre. 20 The King is come to marshal us, in all his armor drest, And he has bound a snow-white plume upon his gallant crest. 1 Headquarters of the Huguenots, situated on the Bay of Biscay. 2 Guise's younger brother. 103 104 MACAU LAY He looked upon his people, and a tear was in his eye; He looked upon the traitors, and his glance was stern and high. Right graciously he smiled on us, as rolled from wing to wing, 25 Down all our line, a deafening shout, " God save our Lord and King!" "And if my standard-bearer fall, as fall full well he may, For never saw I promise yet of such a bloody fray, Press where ye see my white plume shine, amidst the ranks of war, And be your oriflamme 1 to-day the helmet of Navarre." 30 Hurrah! the foes are moving. Hark to the mingled din Of fife, and steed, and trump, and drum, and roaring culverin. The fiery Duke 2 is pricking fast across Saint Andre's plain, With all the hireling chivalry of Guelders 3 and Almayne. 4 Now by the lips of those ye love, fair gentlemen of France, 35 Charge for the golden lilies, — upon them with the lance! A thousand spurs are striking deep, a thousand spears in rest, A thousand knights are pressing close behind the snow-white crest; And in they burst, and on they rushed, while like a guiding star, Amidst the thickest carnage blazed the helmet of Navarre. 4 o Now, God be praised, the day is ours. Mayenne hath turned his rein. D'Aumale 5 hath cried for quarter. The Flemish count is slain. Their ranks are breaking like thin clouds before a Biscay gale; The field is heaped with bleeding steeds, and flags, and cloven mail. And then we thought on vengeance, and, all along our van, 4 s "Remember St. Bartholomew!" was passed from man to man. But out spake gentle Henry, "No Frenchman is my foe: 1 Royal standard of France. 2 Mayenne. 3 A province of Netherlands. 4 Germany. 5 First cousin of Guise. IVRY 105 Down, down with every foreigner, but let your brethren go." Oh ! was there ever such a knight in friendship or in war, As our Sovereign Lord, King Henry, the soldier of Navarre? 50 Right well fought all the Frenchmen who fought for France to- day; And many a lordly banner God gave them for a prey. But we of the religion have borne us best in fight; And the good Lord of Rosny has ta'en the cornet white. Our own true Maximilian the cornet white hath ta'en, 55 The cornet white with crosses black, the flag of false Lorraine. Up with it high; unfurl it wide; that all the host may know How God hath humbled the proud house which wrought His church such woe. Then on the ground, while trumpets sound the loudest point of war, Fling the red shreds, a footcloth meet for Henry of Navarre. 60 Ho! maidens of Vienna; ho! matrons of Lucerne; Weep, weep, and rend your hair for those who never shall return. Ho! Philip, send, for charity, thy Mexican pistoles, That Antwerp monks may sing a mass for thy poor spearmen's souls. Ho! gallant nobles of the League, look that your arms be bright; 65 Ho! burghers of Saint Genevieve, keep watch and ward to- night. For our God hath crushed the tyrant, our God hath raised the slave, And mocked the counsel of the wise, and the valor of the brave. Then glory to His holy name, from whom all glories are; And glory to our Sovereign Lord, King Henry of Navarre. 70 THE BATTLE OF NASEBY BY OBADIAH-BIND-THEIR-KINGS-IN-CHAINS-AND-THEIR-NOBLES- WITH-LINKS-OF-IRON, SERGEANT IN IRETON'S REGIMENT Oh! wherefore come ye forth, in triumph from the North, With your hands, and your feet, and your raiment all red? And wherefore doth your rout send forth a joyous shout? And whence be the grapes of the wine-press which ye tread? Oh evil was the root, and bitter was the fruit, 5 And crimson was the juice of the vintage that we trod; For we trampled on the throng of the haughty and the strong, Who sate in the high places, and slew the saints of God. It was about the noon of a glorious day of June, That we saw their banners dance, and their cuirasses shine, 10 And the Man of Blood x was there, with his long essenced hair, And Astley, and Sir Marmaduke, and Rupert of the Rhine. Like a servant of the Lord, with his Bible and his sword, The General 2 rode along us to form us to the fight, When a murmuring sound broke out, and swell'd into a shout, 15 Among the godless horsemen upon the tyrant's right. 3 And hark! like the roar of the billows on the shore, The cry of battle rises along their charging line! For God ! for the Cause ! for the Church ! for the Laws ! For Charles, King of England, and Rupert of the Rhine! 20 1 Charles I. 2 Cromwell. 3 See note on Rupert. 106 THE BATTLE OF NASEBY 107 The furious German comes, with his clarions and his drums, His bravoes of Alsatia, and pages of Whitehall; They are bursting on our flanks. Grasp your pikes, close your ranks ; For Rupert never comes but to conquer or to fall. They are here ! They rush on ! We are broken ! We are gone ! 25 Our left is borne before them like stubble on the blast. O Lord, put forth thy might! O Lord, defend the right! Stand back to back, in God's name, and fight it to the last. Stout Skippon 1 hath a wound; the center hath given ground: Hark! hark! — What means the trampling of horsemen on our rear? 30 Whose banner do I see, boys? 'Tis he, thank God, 'tis he, boys, Bear up another minute: brave Oliver is here. Their heads all stooping low, their points all in a row, Like a whirlwind on the trees, like a deluge on the dykes, Our cuirassiers have burst on the ranks of the Accurst, 35 And at a shock have scattered the forest of his pikes. Fast, fast, the gallants ride, in some safe nook to hide Their coward heads, predestined to rot on Temple Bar; And he — he turns, he flies: — shame on those cruel eyes That bore to look on torture, and dare not look on war. 4 o Ho! comrades, scour the plain; and, ere ye strip the slain, First give another stab to make your search secure, Then shake from sleeves and pockets their broad-pieces and lockets, The tokens of the wanton, the plunder of the poor. 1 In command of the center division of Cromwell's troops. 108 MACAU LAY Fools! your doublets shone with gold, and your hearts were gay and bold, 45 When you kissed your lily hands to your lemans x to-day; And to-morrow shall the fox, from her chambers in the rocks, Lead forth her tawny cubs to howl above the prey. Where be your tongues that late mocked at heaven and hell and fate, And the fingers that once were so busy with your blades, 50 Your perfum'd satin clothes, your catches 2 and your oaths, Your stage-plays and your sonnets, your diamonds and your spades? Down, down, for ever down with the miter and the crown, With the Belial 3 of the Court, and the Mammon of the Pope; 4 There is woe in Oxford halls; there is wail in Durham's stalls; 55 The Jesuit smites his bosom; the Bishop rends his cope. And She 5 of the seven hills shall mourn her children's ills, And tremble when she thinks on the edge of England's sword ; And the Kings of earth in fear shall shudder when they hear What the hand of God hath wrought for the Houses 6 and the Word. 7 60 1 Lovers. 4 The god of gold. 6 Houses of Parliament. 2 Songs. 5 Rome. 7 Word of God, i.e. the Bible. 3 Prince of devils in the Old Testament. THE ARMADA A FRAGMENT Attend, all ye who list to hear our noble England's praise; I tell of the thrice famous deeds she wrought in ancient days, When that great fleet invincible against her bore in vain The richest spoils of Mexico, the stoutest hearts of Spain. It was about the lovely close of a warm summer day, s There came a gallant merchant-ship full sail to Plymouth Bay; Her crew hath seen Castile's l black fleet, beyond Auringy's isle, 2 At earliest twilight, on the waves lie heaving many a mile. At sunrise she escaped their van, by God's especial grace; And the tall Pinta, till the noon, had held her close in chase. 10 Forthwith a guard at every gun was placed along the wall; The beacon blazed upon the roof of Edgecumbe's 3 lofty hall; Many a light fishing-bark put out to pry along the coast, And with loose rein and bloody spur rode inland many a post. With his white hair unbonneted, the stout old sheriff comes; 15 Behind him march the halberdiers; before him sound the drums; His yeomen round the market cross make clear an ample space; For there behooves him to set up the standard of Her Grace. 4 And haughtily the trumpets peal, and gaily dance the bells, As slow upon the laboring wind the royal blazon swells. 20 Look how the Lion of the sea lifts up his ancient crown, And underneath his deadly paw treads the gay lilies down ! So stalked he when he turned to flight, on that famed Picard field, Bohemia's plume, and Genoa's bow, and Caesar's eagle shield. 1 Spain's. 3 A headland on Plymouth Sound. 2 Alderney, situated in the English Channel. 4 Queen Elizabeth, 109 no - MACAU LAY So glared he when at Agincourt in wrath he turned to bay, 25 And crushed and torn beneath his claws the princely hunters lay. Ho! strike the flagstaff deep, Sir Knight; ho! scatter flowers, fair maids; Ho! gunners, fire a loud salute; ho! gallants, draw your blades; Thou sun, shine on her joyously; ye breezes, waft her wide; Our glorious semper eadem, the banner of our pride. 30 The freshening breeze of eve unfurled that banner's massy fold; The parting gleam of sunshine kissed that haughty scroll of gold; Night sank upon the dusky beach, and on the purple sea, Such night in England ne'er had been, nor ne'er again shall be. From Eddystone to Berwick bounds, from Lynn to Milford Bay, 35 That time of slumber was as bright and busy as the day; For swift to east and swift to west the ghastly war-flame spread, High on St. Michael's Mount l it shone; it shone on Beachy Head. 2 Far on the deep the Spaniard saw, along each southern shire, Cape beyond cape, in endless range, those twinkling points of fire. 40 The fisher left his skiff to rock on Tamar's glittering waves; The rugged miners poured to war from Mendip's sunless caves; O'er Longleat's towers, o'er Cranbourne's oaks, the fiery herald flew: He roused the shepherds of Stonehenge, the rangers of Beaulieu. Right sharp and quick the bells all night rang out from Bristol tOWn, 45 And ere the day three hundred horse had met on Clifton down; The sentinel on Whitehall 3 gate looked forth into the night, 1 A rock off the southwestern coast of England. 2 A headland in Sussex, southeastern England. 3 Then the royal residence in London. THE ARMADA ill And saw o'erhanging Richmond Hill l the streak of blood-red light. Then bugle's note and cannon's roar the deathlike silence broke, And with one start, and with one cry, the royal city woke. 50 At once on all her stately gates arose the answering tires; At once the wild alarum clashed from all her reeling spires; From all the batteries of the Tower 2 pealed loud the voice of fear; And all the thousand masts of Thames sent back a louder cheer; And from the furthest wards was heard the rush of hurrying feet, 55 x\nd the broad streams of pikes and flags rushed down each roaring street; And broader still became the blaze, and louder still the din, As fast from every village round the horse came spurring in; And eastward straight from wild Blackheath 3 the warlike er- rand went, And roused in many an ancient hall the gallant squires of Kent. Southward from Surrey's pleasant hills flew those bright couriers forth; 61 High on bleak Hampstead's 4 swarthy moor they started for the north; And on, and on, without a pause, untired they bounded still; All night from tower to tower they sprang; they sprang from hill to hill: Till the proud peak unfurled the flag o'er Darwin's rocky dales, 65 Till like volcanoes flared to heaven the stormy hills of Wales, Till twelve fair counties saw the blaze on Malvern's lonely height, Till streamed in crimson on the wind the Wrekin's crest of light, Till broad and fierce the star came forth on Ely's stately fane, 1 A part of London, to the westward. 3 An open common. 2 The ancient palace-citadel of London. 4 Now a part of London. H2 MACAULAY And tower and hamlet rose in arms o'er all the boundless plain; 70 Till Belvoir's * lordly terraces the sign to Lincoln sent, And Lincoln sped the message on o'er the wide vale of Trent; Till Skiddaw 2 saw the fire that burned on Gaunt's embattled pile, And the red glare on Skiddaw roused the burghers of Carlisle. 1 Seat of the Duke of Rutland, in Leicestershire. 2 A mountain in Cumberland, northeastern England. NOTES Meter of the Poems. Macaulay in a very interesting letter to his friend Ellis (see Trevelyan, Vol. II, p. 106) speaks of the remark- able coincidence by which the meter chosen for H or alius should be, without intention, so very similar to that probably used by the old Roman ballad writers. This was the Saturnian meter, technically explained by Macaulay as acatalectic iambic dimeter followed by three trochees, which means a line not cut off (catalectic) at the end, i. e. not lacking a syllable, consisting of four iambic (short, long) feet, and three trochaic (long, short) feet. It is called a "dimeter" (two measure) line because iambi are measured in pairs. The line may be represented thus Macaulay exemplifies it in English by the nursery rime The queen was in her parlor Eating bread and honey. This quotation shows why Horatius, Regillus, and Capys have what is one line written as two half lines, whereas in Virginia the half lines are discarded. The occasional change in the stanza form is due to a desire to make it more suitable to the thought. It occurs when the action is rapid or at points of intense interest. There is often found what is called line rime, that is the word in the middle of the line rimes with the one at the end. Though not in- variably yet often it is found toward the end of a stanza and seems to serve the duty of preparing for and indicating the approach of the end. This is similar to the use of a rime toward the end of a scene in Shakespeare's non-riming plays, such as Macbeth. 8 113 H4 NOTES HORATIUS CCCLX. The Romans counted the years from the founding of the city (ab urbe condita, abbreviated to A. U. C.) as we count them from the birth of Christ. This year equals 394 B. C. 1. Lars Porsena (Por'se-na). A Roman legendary king of Etruria. — Clusium. A city of Etruria, about 80 miles north of Rome. 2. Nine Gods. The Etruscans had nine gods. Their mythology differed from the Roman. 3. house of Tarquin. That is, the family of the Tarquins. 4. suffer wrong. These former kings of Rome had been banished on account of the crime of Sextus, who outraged Lucretia. The story runs that a bet was made in the camp among some young men as to the occupation of their wives. On their riding home, Lucretia was found at work while the other women were found amusing them- selves. Sextus became inflamed by her beauty and later committed the deed. Lucretia killed herself. 25. Apennine. Mountains north of Etruria. 26. lordly Volaterrae. In Etruria. " Lordly " because it stands on a hill 1700 feet high. 30. Populonia. A coast city of Etruria, opposite Sardinia. 34. Pisae. A commercial city on the Arno. 36. Massilia. Marseilles. — triremes. Boats or galleys rowed by slaves seated in three tiers. 37. fair-haired slaves. Prisoners of war became slaves. These were Gauls. 38. Clanis. A river flowing into the Tiber. 40. Cortona. A city near Lake Trasimenus, on a lofty hill. 43. Auser's rill. In northwest Etruria. 45. Ciminian hill. A mountain range northwest of Rome. 46. Clitumnus. A river of Umbria. 49. Volsinian mere. A lake in southern Etruria. 58. Arretium. A town in northwest Etruria. 60. Umbro. A large river in Etruria. 61. plunge the struggling sheep. Washing before shearing. NOTES 115 62. Luna. A town in the extreme northwest of Etruria. 64. feet of laughing girls. Grapes were pressed by the bare feet. 65. sires have marched to Rome. The work of \he men who had gone to war had to be done by those left: the old men, the boys, and the women. 71. turned the verses o'er. Before any undertaking ancient peo- ple consulted the wise men who referred to their sacred books. 72. Traced from the right. Etruscans wrote from the right to the left as is done in Hebrew. 75. glad. Because they foresaw victory. 80. Nurscia's altars. Nurscia was the Etruscan goddess of Fate, worshiped at Volsinii. 81. golden shields. Legend says one shield fell from heaven; others were made like it. It was believed that Rome would endure as long as they were kept in the city. 86. Sutrium. A city twenty-nine miles northwest of Rome. 96. Mamilius. Son-in-law of Tarquin, of Tusculum in Latium. 100. champaign. Flat, open country. Rome is surrounded by such a formation. 115. skins of wine. In ancient times skins of animals were used instead of bottles or barrels. 122. rock Tarpeian. The Capitoline Hill in Rome. In the Sabine War, Tarpeia, the daughter of the keeper, promised to open its gates to the enemy if they gave her what they wore on their left arms, i. e. their gold ornaments. But when they entered they crushed her with their heavy shields from their left arms. 126. Fathers of the City. The old men composing the Senate. 13 z. Tuscan. Modern form of " Etruscan," the adjective from Etruria. 133. Crustumerium. In Latium, a few miles northeast of Rome. 134. Verbenna. An Etruscan leader. The name was invented by Macaulay. The word is the subject of " hath wasted." — Ostia. Seaport at the mouth of the Tiber. 136. Astur. A name also invented by the author. — Janiculum. A hill on the west bank of the Tiber opposite Rome. 138. I wis. A spurious word arising from the Middle English adverb iwis (German, govts), meaning " certainly." / wis is used n6 NOTES as if it were the pres. ind., ist per. sing, of a verb wis which does not exist. The real verb is wit, meaning " know." Pres. ind., ist per. wot. The only common use of this verb is the infinitive to wit. 144. girded. Bound as with a cord or sash. — gowns. The chief article of a male Roman's dress was the toga, a long, flowing, loose over-garment something like a gown. 145. wall. Rome was a walled town. 147. River-Gate. The wall had several gates. This one was on the riverside. 151. The bridge. Called the Pons Sublicius, bridge on piles, con- necting with the hill of Janiculum. 177. twelve. The number in the Etruscan confederacy. 180. Umbrian. Umbria was a province east of Etruria. 181. Gaul. Inhabitant of Gallia, ancient name of what is now chiefly France. " Terror," because the Etruscans had defeated both of them in war. 185. Lucumo. Etruscan princes and priests. 186. Cilnius. A powerful Etruscan noble. 188. fourfold. Made of four layers of oxhide. 190. Tolumnius. Another Etruscan leader. 192. Thrasymene. Lake Trasimenus in eastern Etruria. 200. deed of shame. See note on suffer wrong, 1. 4. 213. van. Vanguard; advance part of an army. 217. Horatius. Surnamed Codes, " the one-eyed." He belonged to the tribe of the Luceres, one of the three forming the patrician or upper section of Roman society. 218. The Captain of the Gate. In charge of troops there. 223. ashes of his fathers. The Romans burned their dead and preserved the ashes in urns. See Johnston's Private Life of the Romans, p. 314. 229. holy maidens. Vesta was the goddess of the hearth. Before the shrine a fire was always kept burning by six virgin priestesses. 236. hold ... in play. Keep occupied. 242. Ramnian. The Ramnes formed the second of the patrician tribes. 246. Titian. The Tities formed the third tribe. Thus as Ma- NOTES 117 caulay pointed out in his introductory note (see p. 25), each of the three tribes was represented. 267. Tribunes. Civil representatives of the commons or plebe- ians. — the high. The patricians. 268. the low. The plebeians. 278. crow. An instrument shaped like the beak of a crow, for tearing apart. 301. Aunus, etc. Some of these names are invented, others are common. Of course all these details are made up. — Tifernum. A town in Umbria. 304. Sicken. Because of the hard life. — Ilva's mines. The iron mines on the island of Ilva (modern Elba), off the coast of Etruria. 309. Nequinum. A town in Umbria on a lofty rock, called by the Romans Narnia. — lowers. Frowns, because seeming to look down threateningly. 310. Nar. A river in Umbria flowing into the Tiber. 319. Falerii. An important town of south Etruria. 321. Urgo. An island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. 323. Volsinium. An Etruscan town on a high rock. Properly Volsinii. 326. Cosa. An Etrurian seaport. — fen. Lowland partially cov- ered by. water, producing coarse growths, as reeds. 328. Albinia. An Etruscan river. 337. Campania. A province southeast of Rome. 346. for a space. For a time. 360. she-wolf's litter. According to the legend Romulus and Remus, who had been exposed on the banks of the Tiber by the order of Amulius, were found and nursed by a she-wolf as if they belonged to her own litter. Growing up they founded Rome. Hence the Ro- mans, their descendants, could be called the " she-wolf's litter." 384. Alvernus. Near the source of the Tiber. 388. augurs. The priests who foretold the future. 417. Was none. There was none. 465. turret-tops. The tops of the towers on the walls. 467. unbroken. Not accustomed to harness. 470. mane. Referring to the foam. Ii8 NOTES 471. curb. Continuing the figure, the broken bridge is called the curb or bit in the mouth. 474. Battlement. The parts for defense. 488. Palatinus. One of the hills of Rome. 508. Tuscany. The modern name of Etruria. 525. Bore bravely up his chin. To this line the author placed as a footnote the following quotations: "Our ladye bare upp her chinne." Ballad of Childe Waters. "Never heavier man and horse Stemmed a midnight torrent's force; Yet, through good heart and our Lady's grace, At length he gained the landing place." Lay of the Last Minstrel, I. They were given because of the similarity to the text. 543. public right. Belonging to the state. 546. molten image. A figure made from melted metal. 549. I. The citizen narrating the story. See Macaulay's Intro- duction. 550. Comitium. Part of the Roman forum or public market place. 561. charge . . . home. Fight effectively. — Volscian. People living in the southern part of Latium. At the supposed date of this poem the Romans had just subdued them. 562. Juno. Queen of the gods. 572. Algidus. A mountain in Latium, about twelve miles from Rome. 577. spit. A device for roasting over an open fire. 584. shuttle. The mother is weaving cloth. The shuttle carries the thread back and forth through the upright threads. 585. loom. Machine for weaving. It holds the upright threads. The Action after the Incident of the Bridge After the bridge fell Lars Porsena with his army laid siege to the city. The food supply running short, the people were threatened with famine. At this crisis Mucius, a noble Roman, secretly entered NOTES 119 the camp of Porsena to kill him in the hope that the army would retire if its leader were slain. But by mistake he slew another, and being captured was brought before the general for sentence. To show his fearlessness he let the flames on an altar consume his right hand. His boldness and endurance so aroused the admiration of Por- sena that he set him free. In gratitude Mucius revealed a determined plot to kill the Etruscan. Alarmed for his safety Porsena made peace with the Romans who gave him certain hostages. Among these was a girl named Cloelia, who, escaping, swam the Tiber to Rome. But the Romans kept their faith, and though they admired Cloelia's pluck, returned her to Porsena. Thereupon, filled with admiration for the Romans' faith, he released Cloelia and other hostages whom she selected. Porsena then returned to Clusium. THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS Regillus. A small body of water near Rome. It no longer exists. — Castor and Pollux. Twin gods noted for their skill with horses. — Ides. The 15th. — Quintilis. The old fifth month, later named July.— The year of the city CCCCLI. B. C. 303. 2. lictors. Officers who attended Roman magistrates to enforce respect. They carried the fasces or rods bound in a bundle from the middle of which an ax protruded. 3. Knights. The equestrian order of citizens. At first they were merely cavalry, but later a class of society. 7. Castor. A statue of the god. 8. Mars. A statue of the god. — without the wall. Outside of the fortifications of the city. 10. crowned. The olive crown of the knights at their imperial review typified gifts of peace that, in a barbarous age, could be se- cured by victory alone. 13. Yellow River. The Tiber. See Horatius, 1. 98. 14. Sacred Hill. A mountain near Rome to which the people once retired when in distress. By this secession they gained the election of representatives called Tribunes. 17. Martian Kalends. March first. 120 NOTES 18. December's Nones. December fifth. 20. whitest. Lucky days were marked with chalk or a white stone. 24. Came. Came to the scene of the battle. 25. Parthenius. A mountain in southern Greece. 27. Cirrha. A town north of the mountain. 31. Lacedaemon. The beginning of their route. The old name for Sparta in Greece. 32. two kings. Sparta had two kings as Rome had two consuls. 34. Porcian height. A hill near Tusculum. 42. Come. A hill remarkable for the size of its trees. 63. Thirty Cities. A league of the thirty cities of Latium. 69. hoof mark. The legend relates that one of the divine steeds of the gods made an impress of his hoof on the margin of Lake Regillus. 70. into the flint. The volcanic rock in the soil. 77. Great Twin Brethren. See Introduction, p. 49. 83. Aulus. Aulus Posthumius (properly spelled " Postumius "). 84. race. A group of families or gens. 86. Gabii. One of the towns of the Latin league. 105. eyrie. Old spelling of " aerie," nest of an eagle. 106. carrion kite. The kite is a kind of hawk. 119. Conscript Fathers. Translation of patres conscripti, short- ened form of patres et conscripti, a term applied to the Senators, who were originally patricians and called patres. Later when plebeians were added to the Senate they were conscripti, "added to the roll." Hence the term. 123. Dictator. An officer with absolute authority, appointed in times of great danger for six months by a consul at the order of the Senate. 125. Camerium. A town in Latium. 131. Master of the Knights. An assistant appointed by the Dictator. 132. axes. Lictors who bore axes. See note on lictors, 1. 2. 165. Setia. A town of Latium above the Pontine marshes. 166. Norba. Another town of Latium. 169. Witch's Fortress. Circeii, on a promontory in Latium, where the enchantress Circe is supposed to have dwelt. NOTES 121 172. Aricia. A town in Latium, near which is a lake. 174. ghastly priest. In Aricia was a famous temple of Diana whose priest was a fugitive slave. According to custom he had ob- tained his position by killing his predecessor and in like manner would in turn be killed. 177. Ufens. A muddy, sluggish stream of Latium. 183. Cora. An ancient city of Latium, notable for remains of huge stone walls. 185. Laurentian. Marshes near Laurentum, a seacoast city and the ancient capital of Latium. 187. Anio. A river flowing into the Tiber above Rome, after a fine waterfall. 190. Velitrae. An ancient town of Latium, east of Rome. 201. land of sunrise. The East. 203. Carthage. The chief Phoenician city in the north of Africa. It carried on an extensive commerce. 205. Lavinium. A town of Latium. 207. marsh. Pontine marshes near Rome. 217. A woman. A vision of Lucretia whom he had outraged and who killed herself. 219. watches. The Romans divided the night into periods ac- cording to the tours of duty of sentinels. 221. distaff. A primitive instrument for spinning. 233. Tibur. A famous ancient town, the modern Tivoli, twenty miles from Rome. — Pedum. A town of Latium, ten miles from Rome. 235. Ferentinum. A town in Latium. 236. pool. The town was on a small lake. 237. succors. Allies from the Volscians, a people of Latium. 240. king. Tarquinius Superbus. See p. 24. 241. Soracte. A mountain in southern Etruria, famous in litera- ture. 249. Titus. The youngest son of Tarquinius Superbus. 250. Apulian. Apulia, a province in southeast Italy, well adapted to the raising of horses. 263. Pomptine. The vapor that rises from the Pontine Marshes, Pomptinae Paludes, which are in Latium between the coast and 122 NOTES the Volscian Mountains, seven miles in breadth and thirty-one miles in length. Macaulay uses " Pomptine," which is nearer the Latin. 278. Digentian rock. A small hill above the junction of the River Digentia with the Anio. 280. Bandusia's flock. Flock from the Fountain of Bandusia in Apulia, originally thought to be in the country of the Sabines. 283. Auster. The name of his horse. It is also the name of the south wind. 287. crown. Crowns were granted for distinctive service in war. 288. Fidenae. A town of Latium captured by the Romans. 294. Calabrian brake. A thicket in Calabria, the heel of Italy. 325. clients. Persons in Rome who put themselves under the protection of another, usually a patrician, called a patron. 362. Velian hill. In Rome, between the Palatine and Esquiline hills. 372. A span. The distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is spread. 383. yeomen. Members of his bodyguard. 399. play the men. Act as men should act. 416. Consular. Adjective used as a noun. Man of consular rank, one who has been a consul. 441. southward battle. The division of troops at the south. 480. Aufidus. A river of southeast Italy in Apulia. — Po. A river of northern Italy. 557. The furies. Goddesses, called " The Eumenides," who as avengers of crime plagued the criminal. 568. Capuan. Capua was a city of Campania noted for luxury. 582. Auster's band. Girth round the horse to hold the saddle cloth. 603. Samothracia. An island in the ^Egean Sea. 604. Cyrene. A celebrated city in Libya, Africa. 605. Tarentum. A Greek town in Calabria, noted for luxury. 607. Syracuse. A powerful Greek city of Sicily, noted for ex- tensive shipping. 609. Eurotas. A river of Greece near Sparta, their home. 619. Ardea. A town of Latium, here used in the sense of " the men of Ardea." So " the men of Cora," 1. 620. 631. swell. A gradual increase, followed by a decrease of sound. NOTES 123 646. Celtic plain. That part of northern Italy which the Gauls, who were Celts, occupied when they crossed the Alps. It is generally called Gallia Cisalpina. 648. Adrian main. The expanse of the Adriatic Sea. 649. Sire Quirinus. A name given to Romulus after he was car- ried away by Mars to heaven. 660. Lanuvium fled. That is, the men of the town of Lanuvium, in Latium. 661. Nomentum. A town of Latium. 673. Arpinum. A town of Latium, famous as the birthplace of Cicero. 676. Anxur. A town near the Pontine Marshes. 695. Twelve. The men who took care of the shields. 696. Golden Shield. See Horatius, note on 1. 81. 697. High Pontiff. The Pontifex Maximus, chief priest. 699. Etruria's colleges. " College " means a gathering. Etruria instructed Rome in many things. 716. pricking. Hurrying by the use of the spur. 721. Asylum. Romulus set aside a part of the city as a refuge for those fleeing from other places. 722. seven. Rome was situated on seven hills. 724. heaven. See Horatius, note on 1. 81. 742. laurel boughs. Emblems of victory. 745. nigh to Vesta. That is, to her temple. 760. Dorians. These two gods had their home in Sparta whose inhabitants belonged to the Dorian branch of the Greeks. 768. sails. Castor and Pollux later were made into a constella- tion of two stars which has been confounded with the electrical display seen sometimes on ships at sea. 781. Unto the Great Twin Brethren. That is, to their temple. VIRGINIA 5. running wine. In Euripides's Bacchce characters are repre- sented as striking the ground from which fountains of wine issued. Macaulay was very fond of this play. 124 NOTES 6. snaky tresses. See the myth of the Furies and that of Medusa in a classical dictionary. — swine. See the myth of Circe. 10. wicked Ten. Decemvirs. See Macaulay's Introduction, p. 77. 12. Appius Claudius. See Introduction, p. 77. 14. axes. Lictors. See Regillus, note on 1. 2. 20. client. See Regillus, note on 1. 325. 23. lying Greeks. The Romans despised the Greeks. 24. Licinius. See Introduction, p. 76. 31. tablets. Smooth plates of wood or ivory, covered with a thin layer of wax, protected by raised edges, hinged together by wire, and written upon with a pointed instrument of iron called a stylus. 35. Sacred Street. The Via Sacra, a celebrated street of Rome, so called probably because upon it were some of the greatest sanctu- aries. 38. Lucrece. See Horatius, note on 1. 4. — combing the fleece. Dis- entangling the fleece of sheep preparatory to spinning. 45. Alban mountains. Fifteen miles from Rome, in Latium. 70. caitiff. One who is both wicked and mean. 74. sickness. A great plague raged in Rome in B. C. 463. 75. month of wail and fright. September is a very unhealthy month in Rome. 76. augurs. An augur foretold the future by interpreting such signs as the flight of birds. — borne forth. Carried out dead from their houses. 87. Icilius. An imaginary character who took the opportunity to stir up the people to revolt. 89. column. The pila Horatia on which were displayed the spoils of the fight between the Curatii, the champions of the Albans, and the Horatii, those of the Romans. 95. Servius. Servius Tullius, an early king who gave the people a constitution. 97. false sons. In the first attempt of Tarquin to regain his throne the conspirators included two sons of the Consul, Lucius Junius Brutus, who had the lictor put them to death like the others. On Tarquin's attempts see page 24. 98. Scaevola. In the siege of Rome, during Tarquin's third at- tempt, Mucius, a Roman noble, went to Porsena's camp to kill him, NOTES 125 but was captured. To show his contempt for any punishment, he calmly let his right hand burn in a fire. Henceforth he was called Sccevola, " left-handed." 99. fox-earth. Fox's hole standing for the fox himself, referring to the Decemvirs. Shall they awe the people who overthrew the kings (lion's den)? 101. the Senate's will. Since the Senate was mostly composed of patricians, the successful efforts of the people to obtain their rights from time to time may be thought of as curbing the will of the for- mer. 102. Sacred Hill. In one of their attempts, B. C. 494, to gain their rights, the plebeians marched away to a hill beyond the Anio. After terms were made, the hill was called the Sacred Hill or Mount. 104. Marcian fury. During a famine some ships laden with corn came from Syracuse. Caius Marcius Coriolanus thereupon proposed that none be distributed till the plebeians had consented to give up their tribunes. The tribunes impeached him before the assembly of the tribes and he had to flee. — Fabian pride. The Fabian gens, or group of families, usurped the consulship for ten years. After a while they were all compelled to leave Rome. 105. Quinctius. Caeso, son of Lucius Quinctius, who often drove the tribunes from the forum and put the plebeians to flight. He fled after being brought to trial. 106. Claudius. Probably this refers to one of the family whose soldiers rebelled against him. 108. blighted in a day. When the Decemvirs were elected in B. C. 451, to draw up a code of laws, they were given power to act as supreme magistrates until the new code came into force, all other magistrates being suspended, and the plebeians giving up their tribunes. The effort to secure these tribunes originally had been the work of years. Further, the Decemvirs ruled arbitrarily; hence all the plebeians' successfully established rights were swept away. in. No crier. The herald, who called the men to the voting. 115. holy fillets. Ceremonial headdress of the priests, who were patricians. — purple gown. Insignia of a Senator. 116. curule chair. The chair of state used by the consuls. — the car. The chariot used in triumphal processions by generals, who 126 NOTES were chiefly patricians. — laurel crown. The emblem of victory worn by the generals. 117. press. Cause us to serve. — cohorts. A cohort was the tenth part of a legion or body of soldiers. 120. usance. Interest for the use of money. 122. dens of torment. Prisons where debtors who could not pay were placed. 123. dog-star heat. The period when the Dog Star, Sirius, was visible. 124. holes. Stocks for punishment by confining the feet. 127. Shades. The spirits of the dead who inhabited Hades, a place considered to exist below the earth. 130. High Pontiffs. Chief Priests. — Alban Kings. Kings of Alba Longa, a city more ancient than Rome and the old capital of Latium. 133. Corinthian mirrors. Made in Corinth of polished metal. 134. Capuan. See Regillus, note on 1. 568. 157. civic crown. Corona civica, made of oak leaves. It was given to a soldier for saving the life of a citizen. 162. upon his urn. The receptacle of a person's ashes after crema- tion. 167. he. Appius Claudius. 182. Volscians. A people inhabiting the coast of Latium with whom the Romans had had much trouble. 192. judgment seat. The official place where Appius Claudius was sitting. 193. dwellers in the nether gloom. Gods of the lower regions with their ministers of vengeance, the Furies. 213. cypress crown. The cypress was a death emblem in Rome. 224. sheaf of twigs. The fasces. See Regillus, note on 1. 2. 228. Pincian Hill. In the northern part of the city. — the Latin Gate. The gate on the Via Latina leading to Tusculum. 244. potsherds. Broken pieces of earthenware. 249. Caius. Coriolanus. See note on 1. 104. 251. Furius. Marcus Furius Camillus who captured Veii in south- ern Etruria, a town with which Rome had been at war for centuries. He is also said to have driven away the Gauls under Brennus. NOTES 127 255. within the city towers. That is, inside of the city. 259. litter. Litter is used as the offspring of a dog, so here it is contemptuous. 266. necks. The chair was carried on their shoulders. 276. Adriatic. It is noted for its storms. 277. sea-marks. Lights on the west coast of the " heel " of Italy. 278. Thunder Cape. Acroceraunia in Epirus, western Greece, nearly opposite the " heel " of Italy. The name is from the Greek and means derivatively " the thunder-smitten peaks." Events after the Death of Virginia After he had killed his daughter Virginius hurried to the army which took up his cause. The troops marched to the city and en- camped on the Aventine where they were joined by the other army. All the soldiers then took station on the Sacred Mount, the scene of the first Plebeian Secession. The situation was so acute that the Decemvirs were compelled to resign. The Patricians sent Valerius and Horatius, men of known moderation, as envoys to treat with the army. An agreement was entered upon by which the tribunes were restored. As soon as they assumed office these officials proceeded against the Decemvirs. Appius Claudius and another were put into prison where they committed suicide and the rest went into exile. THE PROPHECY OF CAPYS Dentatus. See Introduction, p. 90. 1. Amulius. See Introduction, p. 90. The entire legend is as fol- lows: ^Eneas after the fall of Troy came to Italy where he was well received by King Latinus who gave him his daughter Lavinia in marriage. ^Eneas built a town called Lavinium after his wife. At his death his son Ascanius became king. He built a new city on Mt. Albanus called Alba Longa. His descendants ruled in regular order till after the death of Procas. This king left two sons Numitor and Amulius. The latter, the younger, usurped the throne and to make his position secure killed Numitor's son and made his daughter, Rhea Silvia, a vestal virgin in order that she might have no children. But she bore to the god Mars twins, Romulus and Remus. Then the 128 NOTES doom was pronounced according to law that the mother be buried alive and the children thrown into the Tiber, then in flood. But the basket containing the children came to the shore, where they were suckled by a she-wolf. Later they were found by a shepherd who brought them up. The twins became great hunters and collected a band of devoted young men. Discovering their birth they marched to Alba with their followers, killed Amulius, and restored Numitor to the throne. Macaulay gives the priest a name and has the brothers kill him too. Later they left Alba to found a city on one of the hills of the Tiber. This city was Rome, named from Romulus. 23. the dead. The twins. This is the day on which they have come back and restored their grandfather to the throne. 58. horsehair. The helmet had a plume of horsehair. 71. holy fillets. See Virginia, note on 1. 115. 99. foster child. A child nursed or brought up by one not its own mother. 104. The bison in the stall. He likens Romulus to the eagle and to the bison implying that he has as much place there as an eagle in a hencoop or a bison in the stall of a stable. no. Tartessian. Adjective from Tartessus, Latin name of Tarshish, a district of southern Spain. 112. Libyan brine. That part of the Mediterranean Sea along the coast of Libya, Africa. 113. amber. For cups ornamented with amber. 115. steep thy locks. " Cause thy hair to be permeated with perfume." Arabia was noted for its perfumes. 116. Sidon tinge. Sidon in Phoenicia was noted for dyes. " These will not color thy gown." 117. myrrh. A gum used for perfume. 118. Rich table. Luxurious food. 130. Vesta. See Horatius, note on 1. 229. 133. ox. In Italy the ox was used for pulling the plow. 149. Pomona. A nymph who was the goddess of fruit trees. 150. Liber. Bacchus, the god of wine. 151. Pales. The goddess of sheepfolds. 169. Campanian. The Campanians were noted for their effem- inacy and luxury. NOTES 129 171. Tyre. A Phoenician city famous for dyes and woven gar- ments. 173. Carthage. A city on the northern coast of Africa. It was powerful on the sea and a great rival of Rome. 175. marble Nymphs. Sculpture. 176. wordy lore. Literature. 177. pilum. A heavy wooden javelin with a long iron point. 179. bristling mound. The fortifications of a Roman camp con- sisted mainly of a trench or ditch, the earth from which was piled up at its edge to make a mound or wall, faced partly with sod and partly with bundles of sticks. 180. legion. A body of soldiers like a regiment. 181. wheels of triumph. Successful generals were given a triumph, a procession in which the general wearing a wreath of bay, rode in a car accompanied by soldiers, captives, and the spoils of war. 182. laureled train. The soldiers in the triumph wore laurel. 184. fane. The temple where the triumphs ended with a sacrifice to Jupiter. 185. yoke. The soldiers of a conquered army, in token of sub- mission and degradation, were compelled to pass " under the yoke," a device consisting of three spears, two planted in the ground and the third fastened across them. — Volscian. See Horatius, note on 1. 561. There were many contests between the Romans and Volscians. 186. vail. Bow in token of submission. 187. revelers. See 1. 169. They paid much attention to personal adornment. 188. chairs. Curule chairs. See Virginia, note on 1. 116. 189. Lucumoes. See Horatius, note on 1. 185. — Arnus. A river in northern Etruria. 191. Samnite. Inhabitants of Samnium, a region east of Latium. 194. land of snow and night. The north is so considered by those living in the south. 197. The Greek. In the person of Pyrrhus, king of Epirus. 198. The conqueror. Under Alexander the Greeks subdued the East. 200. beast. The elephant. 201. castle. On the backs of the elephants were fortlike structures filled with soldiers. 130 NOTES 207. false Tarentum. See Introduction, p. 90. 223. shields. This line refers to the Greek military formation known as the phalanx, in which the soldiers, drawn up in several ranks, so held their spears that the points of all were presented to the enemy, while their large shields afforded themselves protection. 230. Red King. Pyrrhus means " red " in Greek. 232. washed white. See Introduction, p. 90. 236. web of Nile. Egypt was famous for its woven stuffs. 240. Indian kings. The Greeks had warred with the natives of India. 245. stone that breathes and struggles. Lifelike statues. 246. brass that seems to speak. Bronze statues. 249. Curius. See Title, p. 92. 252. Thrice . . . home. He won three great victories. 254. embroidered gown. The gown, car, and crown belonged to the triumph. 257. Rosea. A valley near Reate. 259. Mevania. A town in Umbria. 265. bellowing Forum. The people were shouting in the Forum. 266. Suppliant's Grove. The place where Romulus made the asylum. See Regillus, note on 1. 721. 268. Capitolian Jove. Temple of Jove on the Capitoline Hill. 269. bright havens. Corinth had two harbors. 271. King of Day. The Colossus of Rhodes, a gigantic statue bestriding the entrance to the port. 273. Orontes. A river in Syria. 280. Byrsa. The citadel of Carthage. 283. sand of morning-land. Deserts of the east. 285. Atlas. Mountains in northern Africa. IVRY Ivry. A small place in Normandy. Here in 1590 the battle of the same name was fought between the Catholic League, under the Duke of Mayenne, and the Huguenots, under King Henry of Navarre. The latter was the rightful successor to the throne of France; but, NOTES 131 chiefly because of his religion, the League disputed his succession. Henry, at the head of the Protestant (Huguenot) forces, vindicated his right by defeating the allies at Ivry. 14. Appenzel. A canton in Switzerland. — Egmont's Flemish spears. Flanders at this time was under Spanish rule, hence in the League. Egmont was leading the Flemish division. 15. Lorraine. A French province under the rulership of the Duke of Guise, one of the founders of the League. 18. Coligni. A leader of the Huguenots, said to be the first one murdered in the massacre of St. Bartholomew. 46. St. Bartholomew. The massacre of the French Protestants, on St. Bartholomew's eve and day (August 23-24), 1572. Some 25,000 were slain. 54. Lord of Rosny. Maximilian. Afterwards Duke of Sully and a minister of Henry. 61. Vienna . . . Lucerne. Catholic centers of Austria and Swit- zerland, respectively. 63. Philip . . . Mexican pistoles. Philip II of Spain, champion of Catholicism and a loyal supporter of the League, was supplying his treasury with gold from the mines of Mexico. See the first stanza of the Armada. A pistole is a Spanish coin worth about four dollars. THE BATTLE OF NASEBY The Battle of Naseby. This battle (June 14, 1645) marked the end of the first civil war in England. It was the culmination of the struggle for the crown of England, with King Charles I at the head of the Royalists and Oliver Cromwell in command of the Parlia- mentary troops. The story is told by a Puritan, the length of whose name is not an exaggeration. — Ireton was one of Cromwell's staunch commanders. 1. in triumph from the North. Less than a year prior to the Battle of Naseby, Cromwell's troops had defeated the Royalists at Marston Moor, in the north of England. 12. Astley. Sir Jacob (afterwards Lord) Astley was in command of the center division of the Royalist army. — Sir Marmaduke. Sir 132 NOTES Marmaduke Langdale had charge of the left wing of Charles's forces. — Rupert of the Rhine. Prince Rupert of Bavaria was a nephew of Charles, and commander of the right division of the King's troops in this battle. He was a dashing cavalry leader whose forces had re- mained undefeated until Cromwell's own "Ironside" troops hurled him back at Marston Moor. 22. bravoes of Alsatia. The German troops of Rupert. — Whitehall. The royal palace in London. 38. Temple Bar. A gateway in front of the Temple in London, on which the heads of famous criminals were publicly exposed. 52. diamonds and your spades. Card playing was especially offensive to the Puritans. 55. Oxford halls. King Charles had established his headquarters in Oxford. The University was noted for its loyalty to the King. — Durham's stalls. Durham cathedral was the seat of the bishop, hence a Royalist center. THE ARMADA Armada. In July, 1588, the "Invincible Armada" of Spain, num- bering almost 150 ships and bearing 22,000 soldiers, appeared off the coast of England. To repel this invasion the English fleet had but 60 available ships, and a land force of raw recruits, hurriedly called together, under the command of the inefficient Leicester. Lord Charles Howard, Lord High Admiral of England, adopted the policy of pur- suing the Armada, and cutting off straggling vessels. Finally, in a running battle off Calais, the Spaniards were badly defeated and driven northward. The English fleet followed, and harassed the en- emy, as far as the Firth of Forth. Then a great storm set in, almost completing the destruction of the Armada, so that fewer than half of the ships and men returned to Spain three months later. Read Kingsley's Westward Ho! for a vivid account of the battle. 10. tall Pinta. The vessels of the Armada rode high out of the water, hence their clumsiness. 21-22. Lion of the sea . . . gay lilies down. A reference to the NOTES 133 # design on the British flag. The lion symbolizes England; the lilies, France. 23-24. Picard field, etc. The Battle of Crecy (1346), in Picardy, in which Edward III of England overwhelmingly defeated the French forces under Philip VI. Supporting Philip were the troops of the aged King of Bohemia, who was slain; Genoese crossbowmen; and the King of Bohemia's son, King of the Romans, hence heir to Caesar's shield. 25. Agincourt. At Agincourt, near Crecy, in 141 5, Henry V over- threw the French army, composed chiefly of knights. 30. semper eadem. "Always the same." This motto was in- scribed on the English banner. 35. From Eddystone ... to Milford Bay. From one end of Eng- land to the other. See any map of England for the location of these places. 41. Tamar's glittering waves. Tamar River is in southwestern England, forming a part of the boundary line between Devon and Cornwall. 42. Mendip's sunless caves. The mines in the Mendip Hills, southwest of Bristol. 43. Longleat's towers. A country mansion near Salisbury. — Cran- bourne's oaks. Cranborn Chase, an ancient forest in the shires of Dorset and Wilts. 44. Stonehenge. Two concentric circles of upright stones, eight miles north of Salisbury, presumably the remains of a temple of the Druids. — Beaulieu. A village near Southampton. 65. Darwin's rocky dales. Probably Darwen, a parliamentary division in northeastern Lancashire. 67. Malvern's lonely height. Probably Worcester Beacon, one of the hills in the Malvern range, near Gloucester. 68. Wrekin's crest. The Wrekin is a hill in Shropshire, near Wellington. 69. Ely's stately fane. The cathedral of Ely, a town fifteen miles from Cambridge. 73. Gaunt's embattled pile. Lancaster castle, once the strong- hold of the Duke of Gaunt. ECLECTIC ENGLISH CLASSICS New Edition in Cloth. The 20 Cent Series 53 Volumes, including the following: Addison's Sir Roger de Coverley Papers (Underwood) . . $0.20 Arnold's Sohrab and Rustum (Tanner) . - 2 ° Burke's Conciliation with the American Colonies (Clark) . .20 Byron's Childe Harold (Canto IV), Prisoner of Chillon, Mazeppa, and other Selections (Venable) - 2 ° Carlyle's Essay on Burns (Miller) - 2 ° Coleridge's Ancient Mariner (Garrigues) - 2 ° Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (Stephens) - 2 ° Dickens's Tale of Two Cities (Pearce). 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Marlowe (Phelps) Middleton (Sampson) Chapman (Ellis) Massinger (Sherman) Beaumont and Fletcher (Schelling) Webster and Tourneur(Thorndike) Jonson (Rhys) Congreve (Archer) Goldsmith and Sheridan (Demmon) Each, 70 cents THIS series presents the principal dramatists, covering English dramatic history from Marlowe's Tambur- laine in 1587 to Sheridan's School for Scandal in 1777. Each volume contains four or five plays, selected with reference to their actual worth and general interest, and also because they represent the best efforts of their authors in the different varieties of dramas chosen. ^| The texts follow the authoritative old editions, but with such occasional departures as the results of recent critical scholarship demand. Spelling and punctuation have been modernized, and obsolete and occasional words referred to the glossaries. This makes the volumes suitable for the average reader as well as for the advanced scholar. ^j Each volume is furnished with an introduction by a British or an American scholar of rank dealing with the dramatist and his work. Each volume contains a brief biographical note, and each play is preceded by an histor- ical note, its source, date of composition, and other kindred matters. Adequate notes are furnished at the end. AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY (S. 100) THE SHORT-STORY Specimens Illustrating Its Development By BRANDER MATTHEWS, LL. D., D. C. L., Litt. D., Professor of Dramatic Literature, Columbia University. $I.OO THE short-story is distinguished from the novel by its brevity, and from the more brief tale by its unity, its totality, its concentration upon a single effect or a single sequence of effects. ^j In this book a group of twenty-four specimen stories have been selected to show the development of the form — the slow evolution of this literary species through the long centuries of advancing civilization. The earlier tales here presented are not true short-stories ; each of them lacks one or another of the essential characteristics of the type. The more modern examples are true short-stories; and they have been chosen to exhibit the many varieties possi- ble within the species. They have been selected from the chief modern literatures, English, French, German, Russian, and Norwegian ; and they present many con- trasting shades of local color. *J| The introduction traces the growth of the form through the history of literature and seeks to set forth the attain- ment of the type. The notes prefixed to the several specimens outline briefly the biographies of the authors, and discuss succinctly their literary position. The notes appended to each of the specimens are intended to call the attention of the student to the merits and the defects of that particular story considered as an example of the form. AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY (S.8q) ESSENTIALS IN HISTORY ESSENTIALS IN ANCIENT HISTORY . #1.50 From the earliest records to Charlemagne. By ARTHUR MAYER WOLFSON, Ph.D., First Assistant in History, DeWitt Clinton High School, New York ESSENTIALS IN MEDIEVAL AND MODERN HISTORY gi. 5 o From Charlemagne to the present day By SAMUEL BANNISTER HARDING, Ph.D., Professor of European History, Indiana University ESSENTIALS IN ENGLISH HISTORY . $1.50 From the earliest records to the present day. By ALBERT PERRY WALKER, A.M., Master in History, English High School, Boston ESSENTIALS IN AMERICAN HISTORY . 1 1 . 50 From the discovery to the present day. By ALBERT BUSH NELL HART, LL.D., Professor of History, Harvard University THESE volumes correspond to the four subdivisions required by the College Entrance Examination Board, and by the New York State Education De- partment. Each volume is designed for one year's work. Each of the writers is a trained historical scholar, familiar with the conditions and needs of secondary schools. ^| The effort has been to deal only with the things which are typical and characteristic; to avoid names and details which have small significance, in order to deal more justly with the forces which have really directed and governed mankind. Especial attention is paid to social history. ^[ The books are readable and teachable, and furnish brief but useful sets of bibliographies and suggestive questions. No pains have been spared by maps and pictures to furnish a significant and thorough body of illustration. AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY (S. 130) DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS Published Complete and in Sections WE issue a Catalogue of High School and College Textbooks, which we have tried to make as valua- ble and as useful to teachers as possible. In this catalogue are set forth briefly and clearly the scope and leading characteristics of each of our best textbooks. In most cases there are also given testimonials from well- known teachers, which have been selected quite as much for their descriptive qualities as for their value as com- mendations. ^[ For the convenience of teachers this Catalogue is also published in separate sections treating of the various branches of study. These pamphlets are entitled : Eng- lish, Mathematics, History and Political Science, Science, Modern Foreign Languages, Ancient Languages, Com- mercial Subjects and Philosophy and Education. A sepa- rate pamphlet is devoted to the Newest Books in all subjects. ^[ Teachers seeking the newest and best books for their classes are invited to send for any of these, ^j Copies of our price lists, or of special circulars, in which these books are described at greater length than the space limitations of the catalogue permit, will be mailed to any address on request. Address all correspondence to the nearest office of the company. AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY (s.312) JAN 18 1913 Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: April 2009 PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724) 779-2111 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 493 8719^1 : ; ■ '■■ ■ •" ■ ■ ■ ■ - • | !