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Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome, and Other Poems
Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome and Other Poems Author:Thomas Babington Macaulay Macaulay Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 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 poe... more »m 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. 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 Ho, trumpets, sound a war note! Ho, lictors, clear the way! The Knights will ride, in all their pride, Along the stree...« less