Poems (David)/Tarpeia

by Edith Mary David

TARPEIA.

In the days of Romulus, when Rome was beseiged by the Sabines under the leadership of Tatius, the city was difficult of access, and under the command of Tarpeius, father of Tarpeia, the citadel being on the site of the capitol. Tarpeia being charmed with the golden bracelets of the Sabines, betrayed the capitol to them, on condition of their being given to her. These bracelets were worn on the left arm, and, to grudge her nothing, Tatius bid his men to give, according to her wish, what they wore on their left arms. They obeyed, throwing on her not only their bracelets, but their shields, and Tarpeia was crushed beneath them.

ONCE round about proud Rome,
 A Sabine army lay;
East and west, north and south,
 Stretched out their vast array.
The people of Crustumenium,
 And Fidenea too have fled;—
Yet the brave hosts of Alba Longa
 Haste to revenge the dead!

Now the gay sun light dances
 On breastplate, and on shield;
On the great towers of Rome,
 Which ne'er to foe did yield;—
Now hail to the great city,
 The noblest in the world!
Who up would give his country,
 To hated Sabine churls.

But from those walls Tarpeia
 With envious eyes looked down
On the rich bands of glittering gold
 That round their arms were bound.
She longs that she might clasp them
 About her arms so fair!
And in her brain an evil thought
 Too quickly doth it bear.

"Tatius, brave Tatius," the fair Tarpeia cried,
 "Give those glittering bands to me,
And I by night alone will give
 The city up to thee."
"It shall be," cried the Sabine chief,
 "Yet only can it be,
When thou shalt this night surrender
 The strongest gate to me!"

That night, when all was silent,
 And at the midnight hour,
When the full moon fell trembling
 On temple, porch, and tower;
It was then to the strongest gateway,
 A figure robed in white
Swiftly past the sleeping guard
 And fled on with footsteps light.

Now backward flies each bolt and bar
 And the portals open wide;
"Now give to me thy golden bands,"
 The fair Tarpeia cried!
"Aye! Lady," said the Sabine chief,
 "Thy golden gift is there;
And every man shall give to thee
 What his left arm doth bear."

Now at the fair traitoress' lovely feet:
 Bracelet and shield he flings:—
And now too at his bidding
 The falling bracelets ring.
Down sinks the Roman lady,
 Struck low by the falling shields;
And beneath that iron pile, alas!
 Her silent breath she yields!