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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome - above all that of Horatius - were well known to earlier generations who first heard them at school but now seem to be unknown in book-shops. This is odd because, whenever I looked for a copy, various modern poets were listed under M who were unknown to me and whose 'verse' was mostly unmemorable, obscure and pretentious prose split up into arbitrary lines, whereas 'Horatius' is eminently memorable. From among the many quotations that spring to mind for those who read it in their youth, at least two have gone into general currency:'Those behind cried Forward/And those before cried Back.' and 'Even the Ranks of Tuscany/Could scarce forebear to cheer.'
The poem might be qualified as being 'declamatory' or mainly for school boys. But unlike e.g. Newbolt, Belloc or Chesterton, who speak directly to the reader, Macaulay, as he explains in an Introduction which wears its great scholarship lightly, was trying to reproduce the effect of a traditional Latin poem of the early Republican era; he draws a parallel with what Scott tried to do with his ballads. Remarkably, he was only an occasional poet.
Through Amazon and Abebooks I acquired an 1852 edition. I cannot see the solipsistic obscurities of any modern poets being sought out in 150 years time for the mere pleasure of reading them.
The poem might be qualified as being 'declamatory' or mainly for school boys. But unlike e.g. Newbolt, Belloc or Chesterton, who speak directly to the reader, Macaulay, as he explains in an Introduction which wears its great scholarship lightly, was trying to reproduce the effect of a traditional Latin poem of the early Republican era; he draws a parallel with what Scott tried to do with his ballads. Remarkably, he was only an occasional poet.
Through Amazon and Abebooks I acquired an 1852 edition. I cannot see the solipsistic obscurities of any modern poets being sought out in 150 years time for the mere pleasure of reading them.
12 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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/ ... 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:/ Then lands were fairly portioned;/ Then spoils were fairly sold:/ The Romans were like brothers/ In the brave days of old./ Now Roman is to Roman/ More hateful than a foe,/ And the Tribunes beard the high,/ And the Fathers grind the low./ As we wax hot in faction,/ In battle we wax cold:/ Wherefore men fight not as they fought/ In the brave days of old./
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This "edition" is an insult to the original. Even the US Bibliobazaar version spells the author's name correctly.
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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,
Highlighted by 23 Kindle users
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?"
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For Romans in Rome's quarrel Spared neither land nor gold, Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life, In the brave days of old.
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