HORATIUS IN PONTE
The exiled king Tarquin has found an ally: Lars Porsenna of Clusium, the most powerful Etruscan king, marches on Rome. His army storms the Janiculum hill and runs for the wooden bridge over the Tiber, the Pons Sublicius. If he crosses it, Rome falls. The Roman guards break and flee. One man stays: Horatius Cocles, 'the One-Eyed'. He orders the bridge torn down behind him, and with two companions, Spurius Lartius and Titus Herminius, he blocks the narrow way against the whole army. At the last moment he sends the other two back. Alone, he holds until the timbers crash into the river. Then, still in armour, he prays to Father Tiber and leaps into the water.
Legend, built on a real war. Porsenna's attack on Rome is historical. The ancient writers disagree on the ending: Livy says Horatius swam back to Rome and was honoured; Polybius says he drowned.