Horation at the Bridge?

"Lars Porsena of Clusium, by the nine gods he swore
That the brave name of Clusium would suffer wrong no more...."

(or something like that)

Or another goodie is Burke's speech on the French Revolution, with the lines:

"Oh! what a revolution! and what a heart must I have to contemplate without emotion that elevation and that fall! Little did I dream when she added titles of veneration to those of enthusiastic, distant, respectful love, that she should ever be obliged to carry the sharp antidote against disgrace concealed in that bosom; little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fallen upon her in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honour, and of cavaliers. I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards to avenge even a look that threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone. That of sophisters, economists, and calculators, has succeeded; and the glory of Europe is extinguished for ever. "

Great foaming-at-the-mouth stuff. I've heard that Burke's own delivery was so deadly dull that the chamber would empty when he stood to speak, but it's wonderful stuff to read. You'll find it in Bartleby.com.