1When the enemy were at hand, everyone for himself moves from the fields into the city, and they surround the city itself with garrisons. 1Some parts seemed safe because of the walls, others because of the barrier of the Tiber; 2the Sublician bridge almost gave the enemy a way in, had there not been one man, Horatius Cocles; 2that was the bulwark which the fortune of the city of Rome had on that day. 3He, posted by chance on guard at the bridge, when he saw the Janiculum taken by a sudden assault and the enemy running down from there at full speed, and the panic-stricken crowd of his own men abandoning their weapons and ranks, catching hold of them one by one, standing in their way and appealing to the faith of gods and men, declared that it was useless for them to flee, deserting their post; 4if they left the bridge behind them for the enemy to cross, there would soon be more of the enemy on the Palatine and the Capitol than on the Janiculum.
4So he urged and charged them to break down the bridge with steel, with fire, by whatever force they could; 4he himself would receive the enemy's attack, as far as it could be withstood by a single body. 5Then he strides to the head of the bridge, and, conspicuous among the backs of those he could see retreating from the fight, turning his weapons to engage hand to hand, he stunned the enemy by the very marvel of his daring. 6Two men, however, a sense of shame kept with him, Spurius Larcius and Titus Herminius, both distinguished in birth and deeds. 7With them he withstood for a short while the first storm of danger and the most turbulent part of the fight; 7then, when only a small part of the bridge was left, and those who were cutting it down were calling them back, he forced them too to withdraw to safety.
8Then, casting his fierce eyes menacingly round at the Etruscan nobles, he now challenged them one by one, now taunted them all: slaves of proud kings, forgetful of their own liberty, they were coming to attack another's. 9They hesitated for some time, while each looked round at the others to begin the fight. 9Then shame stirred their line, and raising a shout they hurl their spears from all sides at their single enemy. 10When all of these had stuck in the shield he held before him, and he, no less stubborn, was holding the bridge with a mighty stride, they were now trying to thrust him off by a charge, when at one and the same moment the crash of the broken bridge and the shout of the Romans, raised in joy at the completion of their work, checked their charge with sudden panic.
11Then Cocles said, 'Father Tiber, I solemnly pray you, receive these arms and this soldier with a kindly stream.' 11So, armed as he was, he leapt down into the Tiber and, though many spears fell upon him, swam across unhurt to his own men, having dared a deed which would find more fame than belief with posterity. 11The state was grateful for such great courage: a statue was set up in the Comitium; 12he was given as much land as he could plough round in a single day. 12Private zeal, too, stood out amid the public honours; 13for in the great scarcity each man, in proportion to his household means, brought him something, depriving himself of his own food.