Lays of Ancient Rome (With Irvy and the Armada) [Paperback]

Thomas Babington Lord Macaulay (Author), J. R. Weguelin (Illustrator), III Josiah Bunting (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 1997

A stirring teacher of Roman history, and of the virtues of courage, sacrifice, and determination.

Editorial Reviews

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. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: Gateway Editions; First Edition edition (September 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089526403X
• ISBN-13: 978-0895264039
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #757,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brave Horatius, October 9, 2008

By 

Bardok (Johnston Island, UM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lays of Ancient Rome (Paperback)

I have not read all of the lays, but Horatius at the Bridge stirs me in ways that I cannot explain. What a deeply moving, inspirational poem. This should be required reading in every school in America. And required to be memorized in every service academy.

18 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We need this now: (forget that Pat Buchanan quoted it), December 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lays of Ancient Rome (With Irvy and the Armada) (Paperback)

Then out spake brave Horatius,/ The Captain of the Gate:/ ``To every man upon this earth/ Death cometh soon or late./ And how can man die better/ Than facing fearful odds,/ For the ashes of his fathers,/ And the temples of his gods/ ... Then none was for a party;/ Then all were for the state;/ Then the great man helped the poor,/ And the poor man loved the great:/ Then lands were fairly portioned;/ Then spoils were fairly sold:/ The Romans were like brothers/ In the brave days of old./ Now Roman is to Roman/ More hateful than a foe,/ And the Tribunes beard the high,/ And the Fathers grind the low./ As we wax hot in faction,/ In battle we wax cold:/ Wherefore men fight not as they fought/ In the brave days of old./

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not as good as the sequel, January 3, 2012

By 

Caraculiambro (La Mancha and environs) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lays of Ancient Rome (Paperback)

Thomas Macauley actually wrote two of these books, with very similar titles. This is the first, "Lays of Ancient Rome."

The second, "GREAT Lays of Ancient Rome," is a lot more interesting, and completely different in character. Chapter One, "Julia," will knock your socks off, although Chapter 7, "Lucretia," wouldn't be seen as politically correct anymore.