From the Rock Island Argus, May 13, 1914. By Henry Howland.
Then out spake brave Horatius,
The captain of the gate:
“Halt! Every mother’s son of you,
Both friends and foemen wait!
Let not a blow be given
No matter what the odds,
For the ashes of your sires
Or the temples of your gods.
“Hew not the bridge, sir consul,
Please put your ax away;
I’ll later call upon you
To hew, but not today—
In yon straight path a thousand
May well be stopped by three;
There I will stand and have command—
Not now, but presently.”
Then out spake Spurius Lartius,
A counterfeiter bold:
“Lo, I will stand at thy right hand,
With thee the bridge I’ll hold!”
And out spake young Herminius,
A strong-arm artist he:
“I will abide by thy left side
And keep the bridge with thee.”
“Horatius,” quoth the consul,
“Behold yon great array;
Why may I not begin to hew,
Why counsel this delay?
For Romans in Rome’s quarrel
Spare neither land nor gold,
Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life—
At least, so I’ve been told.”
“Fool,” answered brave Horatius,
“Hold off till I say when;
We must await in patience
The moving picture men!
As soon as they get ready,
And not till then, cut loose—
We want this scrap recorded
On films for future use.”
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