Hoartius at the bridge is the tale of a brave Roman Army
Officer Publius Horatius Cocles, who selflessly fought for his country against
King Clusium’s Army.
In 509BC king Clusium’s Army marched to the city of Rome,
there was a bridge above river Tiber that needed to be crossed by the enemy.
The defenders first sent a small army to fight the enemy, who were brutally
crushed. The enemy started advancing toward the bridge, when Horatius a minor
officer understood the plan of the enemy and took permission from the
consul(leader) to defend back the bridge along with 2 more soldiers (Spurius
and Herminius volunteered) from his Army. People were in utter shock and
started praying for the three brave soldiers who were to fight hundreds and
thousands of enemy soldiers.
The fight was furious, the brave three were heavy upon the
enemy and fought valiantly although heavily injured they continued the fight.
But soon two of them other than Horatius decided to step back due to injuries.
Now Horatius was fighting alone, his native people were praying and shouting at
him to evacuate back to safety, but he didn’t. Soon Horatius ordered that the
bridge be broken, leaving Horatius and enemy on the other side, so that the
attack becomes impossible; Horatius refused to revert back and the bridge was
broken, all eyes were on Horatius as he had bravely defended his people against
the enemy but was left alone on other side still fighting.
Horatius realised he had done his job and took a very bold
step. He jumped in the highly raised and ferocious river Tiber, even the enemy
was awestruck. With heavy armour and weight he continuously went down to drown
then again used to rise and breathe, his people started praying to the river
for his life. But all of sudden he vanished in the river, even the enemy
officers started praying for the brave Horatius as they had not witnessed a man
so powerful, determined, selfless and above all- extremely brave ; minutes
passed and it was assumed he’s dead.
Miraculously he reappeared on the other side of river, he
was immediately taken for treatment and celebrations began all around as he
survived. He was awarded for his bravery and his statue was made in the middle
of the city that still stands praising the gallant of the brave Horatius.
Here is an excerpt from the poem ‘Horatius at the Bridge’ by
Thomas Babington Macaulay written in the 1830s while serving in India in the
English government.
The poem was also Churchill’s favourite. The original poem
is a 560 line poem! You can find it - here
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,
“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?
.............................
They gave him of the corn-land,
That was of public right,
As much as two strong oxen
Could plough from morn till night;
And they made a molten image,
And set it up on high,
And there is stands unto this day
To witness if I lie.
It stands in the Comitium
Plain for all folk to see;
Plain for all folk to see;
Horatius in his harness,
Halting upon one knee:
And underneath is written,
In letters all of gold,
How valiantly he kept the bridge
In the brave days of old.
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