Horatius di Jembatan

Dahulu kala pernah terjadi perang antara bangsa Romawi dan orang-orang Etruria yang tinggal di kota-kota di seberang Sungai Tiber. Porsena, Raja orang Etruria, mengumpulkan pasukan besar dan bergerak menuju Roma. Kota itu belum pernah berada dalam bahaya sebesar itu.

Once there was a war between the Roman people and the Etruscans who lived in the towns on the other side of the Tiber River. Porsena, the King of the Etruscans, raised a great army, and marched toward Rome. The city had never been in so great danger.

Orang-orang Romawi tidak memiliki banyak prajurit pada masa itu, dan mereka tahu bahwa mereka tidak cukup kuat untuk menghadapi orang-orang Etruria dalam pertempuran terbuka. Jadi mereka tetap bertahan di dalam tembok-tembok mereka, dan menempatkan para penjaga untuk mengawasi jalan-jalan.

The Romans did not have very many fighting men at that time, and they knew that they were not strong enough to meet the Etruscans in open battle. So they kept themselves inside of their walls, and set guards to watch the roads.

Suatu pagi pasukan Porsena terlihat datang melewati bukit-bukit dari arah utara. Ada ribuan penunggang kuda dan prajurit pejalan kaki, dan mereka sedang berbaris lurus menuju jembatan kayu yang membentang di atas sungai di Roma.

One morning the army of Porsena was seen coming over the hills from the north. There were thousands of horsemen and footmen, and they were marching straight toward the wooden bridge which spanned the river at Rome.

“Apa yang harus kita lakukan?” kata para Tetua berambut putih yang membuat hukum bagi rakyat Romawi. “Jika mereka berhasil menguasai jembatan itu, kita tidak dapat menghalangi mereka untuk menyeberang; lalu harapan apa lagi yang tersisa bagi kota ini?”

“What shall we do?” said the white-haired Fathers who made the laws for the Roman people. “If they once gain the bridge, we cannot hinder them from crossing; and then what hope will there be for the town?”

Kini, di antara para penjaga di jembatan itu, ada seorang pria pemberani bernama Horatius. Ia berada di sisi sungai yang lebih jauh, dan ketika melihat bahwa orang-orang Etruria sudah begitu dekat, ia berseru kepada orang-orang Romawi yang berada di belakangnya.

Now, among the guards at the bridge, there was a brave man named Horatius. He was on the farther side of the river, and when he saw that the Etruscans were so near, he called out to the Romans who were behind him.

“Tebanglah jembatan itu secepat mungkin!” serunya. “Aku, bersama dua pria yang berdiri di sampingku ini, akan menahan musuh.”

“Hew down the bridge with all the speed that you can!” he cried. “I, with the two men who stand by me, will keep the foe at bay.”

Kemudian, dengan perisai di depan mereka dan tombak panjang di tangan mereka, ketiga pria pemberani itu berdiri di jalan, dan menahan para penunggang kuda yang dikirim Porsena untuk merebut jembatan tersebut.

Then, with their shields before them, and their long spears in their hands, the three brave men stood in the road, and kept back the horsemen whom Porsena had sent to take the bridge.

Di atas jembatan, orang-orang Romawi terus menebas balok-balok dan tiang-tiang penyangga. Kapak-kapak mereka berdentang, serpihan kayu beterbangan cepat; dan tak lama kemudian jembatan itu berguncang, siap untuk runtuh.

On the bridge the Romans hewed away at the beams and posts. Their axes rang, the chips flew fast; and soon it trembled, and was ready to fall.

“Kembalilah! Kembalilah, dan selamatkan nyawa kalian!” seru mereka kepada Horatius dan dua orang yang bersamanya.

“Come back! come back, and save your lives!” they cried to Horatius and the two who were with him.

Tetapi tepat pada saat itu para penunggang kuda Porsena menerjang ke arah mereka lagi.

But just then Porsena’s horsemen dashed toward them again.

“Larilah demi keselamatan kalian!” kata Horatius kepada teman-temannya. “Aku yang akan menjaga jalan ini.”

“Run for your lives!” said Horatius to his friends. “I will keep the road.”

Mereka berbalik, dan berlari kembali menyeberangi jembatan. Mereka hampir saja mencapai sisi seberang ketika terdengar suara gemeretak keras dari balok-balok dan kayu-kayu. Jembatan itu condong ke satu sisi, lalu roboh dengan deburan air yang sangat keras ke dalam sungai.

They turned, and ran back across the bridge. They had hardly reached the other side when there was a crashing of beams and timbers. The bridge toppled over to one side, and then fell with a great splash into the water.

Ketika Horatius mendengar suara itu, ia tahu bahwa kota sudah aman. Dengan wajah masih menghadap ke arah pasukan Porsena, ia bergerak mundur perlahan-lahan sampai ia berdiri di tepi sungai.

When Horatius heard the sound, he knew that the city was safe. With his face still toward Porsena’s men, he moved slowly backward till he stood on the river’s bank.

Sebuah anak panah lempar yang dilemparkan oleh salah satu prajurit Porsena membutakan mata kirinya; tetapi ia tidak goyah. Ia melemparkan tombaknya ke arah penunggang kuda terdepan, lalu berbalik dengan cepat.

A dart thrown by one of Porsena’s soldiers put out his left eye; but he did not falter. He cast his spear at the foremost horseman, and then he turned quickly around.