Lays of Ancient Rome

The Lays of Ancient Rome consists of four narrative poems invoking historic episodes from Roman legends that were strongly moral in tone, exemplifying Roman virtue against Latine betrayal. They are a delightful literary adventure which allow the reader to enjoy a high point in European culture while learning some incredible details of Roman history.

The first two poems describe famous conflicts which led to the creation of the Republic: the story of Horatio's defense of the bridge over the Tiber, and the Battle of Lake Regillus. The third lay tells the story of the Plebeian uprising against their near-slave conditions, and the fourth tells of the Pyrrhic and Punic Wars.

These masterpieces were so highly regarded that they were required reading in British public schools for more than a hundred years-until they were replaced by the "accessible" anti-European curricula.