Lays of Ancient Rome

by Thomas Babington Macaulay

Overview

Now in the public domain, the "Lays of Ancient Rome" by Thomas Babington Macaulay were originally published in 1842. Immensely popular in England during Victorian times, these ballads are still a popular subject for recitation. As a student, Winston Churchill memorized them to prove his mental capabilities. This edition, newly typeset, includes all four of Macaulay's lays, with introductions, verse numbers, and explanatory footnotes (from his 1891 edition)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781449574116
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	11/02/2009
Pages:	104
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.25(d)

About the Author

Thomas Babington Macaulay, the great historian of England, was born at Rothley, near Leicester, in 1800, and was named Thomas Babington after his uncle. Macaulay was a member of Parliament first for Colne, then for Leeds. In 1842 he gave to the world his spirited "Lays of Ancient Rome." Lord Macaulay excelled as a poet and essayist, but he is chiefly illustrious as a historian. During later years his health made work increasingly difficult for him. He died in December 1859 at the age of 59.

Read an Excerpt

THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE KEGILLUS. . A. LAY SUNG AT THE FEAST OF CASTOE AND POLIUX ON THE IDES OF QTJINTILIS, IN THE TEAR 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 streets to-day. To-day the doors and windows Are hung with garlands all, From Castor in the Forum, To Mars without the wall. Each Knight is robed in purple, With olive each is crowned ; A gallant war-horse under each Paws haughtily the ground. While flows the Yellow River, While stands the Sacred Hill, The proud Ides of Quintilis Shall have such honor still. 6 Gay are the Martian Kalends : December's Nones are gay: But the proud Ides, when the squadron rides, Shall be Rome's whitest day. Unto the Great Twin Brethren We keep this solemn feast. Swift, swift, the Great Twin Brethren Came spurring from the east. They came o'er wild Parthenius Tossing in waves of pine, O'er Cirrha's dome, o'er Adria's foam, O'er purple Apennine, From where with flutes and dances Their ancient mansion rings, In lordly Lacedsemon, The City of two kings, To where, by Lake Regillus, Under the Porcian height, All in the lands of Tusculum, Was fought the glorious fight. Now on the place of slaughter Are cots and sheepfolds seen, And rows of vines, and fields of wheat, And apple-orchards green: The swine crush the big acorns That fall from Corne's oaks. Upon the turf by the Fair Fount The reaper's pottage smokes. The fisher baits his angle; The hunter twangs his bow ; Little they think on those strong limbs That moulder deep below. Little they think how sternly That day the trumpets pealed ; How in the slippery swamp of blood Warrior andwar-hors...