霍拉提乌斯在桥上

从前，罗马人和住在台伯河对岸城镇里的伊特鲁里亚人发生了一场战争。伊特鲁里亚国王波森纳集结了一支大军，向罗马进发。这座城市从来没有遇到过这么大的危险。

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.

那时罗马人没有多少战士。他们知道自己不够强大，无法在开阔的战场上迎战伊特鲁里亚人。于是，他们留在城墙里面，派守卫看守道路。

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.

一天早晨，人们看见波森纳的军队从北方翻过山丘走来。那里有成千上万的骑兵和步兵，他们正径直走向横跨罗马河水的那座木桥。

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.

“我们该怎么办？”为罗马人制定法律的白发元老们说，“如果他们夺下了桥，我们就无法阻止他们过河了。到那时，这座城镇还有什么希望呢？”

“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?”

当时，在守桥的卫兵中有一个勇敢的人，名叫霍拉提乌斯。他在河的对岸，看到伊特鲁里亚人离得这么近，就向身后的罗马人大声呼喊。

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.

“用你们最快的速度把桥砍倒！”他喊道，“我和身边的两个人会把敌人挡住。”

“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.”

于是，三位勇士把盾牌挡在身前，手里拿着长矛，站在路上，挡住了波森纳派来夺桥的骑兵。

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.

在桥上，罗马人奋力砍着梁木和立柱。斧头声当当作响，木屑飞溅。很快，桥身摇晃起来，快要塌了。

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.

“快回来！快回来逃命吧！”他们向霍拉提乌斯和同行的两个人喊道。

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

但就在这时，波森纳的骑兵又向他们冲了过来。

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

“你们快逃命吧！”霍拉提乌斯对朋友们说，“我来守住这条路。”

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

他们转过身，跑过桥去。他们刚到对岸，就传来了梁木断裂的巨响。桥向一侧倒塌，扑通一声巨响落入水中。

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.

霍拉提乌斯听到声音，知道城市安全了。他的脸依然对着波森纳的士兵，慢慢向后退，直到退到了河岸边。

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.

波森纳的一名士兵掷出一支飞镖，刺瞎了他的左眼，但他没有退缩。他把长矛掷向最前面的骑兵，然后迅速转过身来。

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.