(原版)澳大利亞語文第五冊 LESSON 3

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LESSON 3 THE BRAVE MEN ON THE BRIDGE

THE BRAVE MEN ON THE BRIDGE

A Story of Ancient Rome

WHEN Rome grew to be a great city, the people had a quarrel with their king. This king was a proud man, and he had a wicked son. At last the people drove the king and his family out of the city, and said they would not be ruled by a king again. This king of Rome went to another king named Lars Porsena, and asked him for help to win back his crown.

Lars Porsena loved fighting, so he sent his messengers to the towns and villages of his kingdom, to call together all the fighting men. Other chiefs came to join him, and, at the head of a great army, Porsena marched towards Rome. As they passed through the country, they burned villages, and destroyed the corn in the fields. When the flames of other villages warned the folk near Rome that a great army was coming, they packed up some of their goods, and fled to Rome for safety.

At last, the people on the walls of the city could see a great cloud of dust rolling nearer and nearer. Then they saw the gleam of thousands of spears and shields, and heard the sound of trumpets. Porsena's army was close at hand.

There was only one way by which the great host could enter the city. That was by crossing the wooden bridge which led to the River Gate. If the city was to be saved, the bridge must be broken down. But was there time to do this before the enemy came up to it?

The captain who guarded the River Gate was a brave man named Horatius. He came to the consuls ［1］ , as the chief men of the city were called, and said, "In that narrow path on the other side of the bridge, three men could easily hold back a thousand for a time. If two more men will help me, we will keep back the enemy long enough for the bridge to be broken down."

At once two other soldiers stepped forward, ready to help Horatius. The three brave men rushed across the bridge, and took their places in the narrow pathway, while the other Romans behind them set to work with axes, crow-bars, and levers, to loosen the props and posts that held up the bridge.

The great army moved more slowly as they entered the narrow path leading to the bridge. They thought they would soon be able to cross to the River Gate and enter the city. When the soldiers in the front ranks saw three Romans standing in the way, they laughed. How could three men keep back a great army?

THE THREE BRAVE MEN RUSHED ACROSS THE BRIDGE

Then, one after another, the enemy chiefs rode out against the brave Romans, but one after another they were struck down dead or wounded, or thrown over the bank into the flooded river below. So the great host ［2］ stood silent six spear-lengths from the bridge.

At last, a giant chief came forward, and, with his mighty sword, he tried to crush the helmet of Horatius. Horatius lifted his shield quickly enough to save his head, but he was wounded on the thigh. He almost fell to the ground, but the next moment sprang at his foe, and struck such a blow that the giant chief fell dead at the Roman's feet.

At that moment, the last of the props had been broken down. The bridge hung trembling above the rushing yellow river.

Come back, come back! shouted the citizens to the three soldiers. "Come back quickly! The bridge is falling!"

The two friends of Horatius ran at once over the shaking timbers to the River Gate. As they crossed, they felt the bridge cracking beneath their feet. When they reached safety, they saw that Horatius was not with them. His wounds were so bad that he could not move quickly. They would have gone back to help him, but before they could do so the bridge fell with a mighty crash, and the yellow spray splashed as high as the house-tops.

Horatius was alone with the great army of the enemy.

Now yield! cried Lars Porsena.

Yield! shouted the soldiers.

Yield! cried the wicked son of the Roman king, who was riding by Porsena's war-chariot.

But Horatius did not answer them. He put his sword into its sheath, and turned to the river. "Oh! Tiber," he cried to the yellow stream, "bear me safely across." Then he sprang into the water and began to swim back to the city.

His friends and his foes were dumb with surprise. They saw him sink beneath the yellow water. Would he be able to swim in the flooded river, wounded and clad in his heavy armour? Then his helmet plume ［3］ appeared above the waves, and the Romans sent up a great shout of joy. Even the enemy could hardly help cheering.

May Heaven help him, cried Porsena, as he watched from his ivory chariot. "I have never seen a braver deed."

The only one who did not wish to see Horatius reach the shore in safety was the wicked Roman Prince.

In spite of wounds and weariness, and the weight of his armour, Horatius swam across the river, and reached the shore in safety. His friends crowded round to help him up the bank. Then with shouts of triumph they carried him into the city.

So Rome was saved from her enemies.

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［1 ］ consuls: Two men were elected each year as consuls; they were the Governors of Rome.

［2 ］ host: Crowd; army.

［3 ］ plume: Feathers worn as an ornament.