The king ordered me to play Horatius and keep the bridge.

For a while the enemy came thick and fast; but no matter, the head man of each procession always got a buffet that dislodged him as soon as he came in reach.

The king's spirits rose, his joy was limitless.

He said that if nothing occurred to mar the prospect we should have a beautiful night, for on this line of tactics we could hold the tree against the whole country-side.
However, the mob soon came to that conclusion themselves; wherefore they called off the assault and began to debate other plans.
They had no weapons, but there were plenty of stones, and stones might answer.

We had no objections.