<P> Lays of Ancient Rome is a collection of narrative poems, or lays, by Thomas Babington Macaulay . Four of these recount heroic episodes from early Roman history with strong dramatic and tragic themes, giving the collection its name . Macaulay also included two poems inspired by recent history: Ivry (1824) and The Armada (1832). </P> <P> The Lays were composed by Macaulay in his thirties, during his spare time while he was the "legal member" of the Governor - General of India's Supreme Council from 1834 to 1838 . He later wrote of them: </P>

Who said how can a man die better