* Tullus, regele Romei
* Batranul Horatiu, cavaler roman
* Horatiu, fiul sau
* Curatiu, patrician din Alba, iubitul Camiliei
* Valeriu, cavaler roman, indragostit de Camilia
* Sabina, sotia lui Horatiu si sora lui Curatiu
* Camilia, iubita lui Curiatiu si sora lui Horatiu
* Iulia, doamna romana, confidenta Sabinei si a Camiliei
* Flavian, soldat in armata Albei
* Procul, soldat in armata Romei

Actiunea se petrece la Roma, intr-o sala a casei lui Horatiu.

De la curs:

Piesa inspirata din istoria latina, insa de pe vremea ocupatiei romane.

Razboi intre Roma si Alba Longa.

Se hotarasc sa se lupte doar doua familii, cea a Curiatilor (din Alba Longa)
 si cea a Horatilor (Roma).

O sora a Curiatilor era casatorita cu Horatiu. O alta sora din Horiati era 
logodita cu un baiat al Curiatilor.

Tatal Horatilor isi incuraja fiii, baga zazanie. Un frate dintre Horiati
 este ranit, altul – ucis, ramane singur doar baiatul cel mai mare. Se preface
 ca fuge, dar se intoarce brusc si ucide un Curiat. Repeta manevra si ucide inca unul.

Ramane un singur cuceritor, un Horatiu.

Ajunge acasa, il intampina sotia, din neamul Curiatilor, frumoasa si suparata.
 Apoi se intalneste cu soare sa mai mica, tot furioasa pentru ca ii ucisese 
viitorul sot, logodnicul. Horatiu avea un cutit in mana, iar sora mai mica se
 invarteste bezmetic in jurul lui si nimereste cu pieptul in cutit.

In actul final, judecata ii da dreptate lui Horatiu (interventie a tatalui, si-a
 facut datoria fata de stat).
---------------

In aceasta piesa, orice sentiment, chiar si dragostea frateasca, dispare in fata
dragostei de patrie si a mandriei de a fi roman:
Horatiu: "Dar a jerfi iubirea pentru obstescul bine
Si-n valmasagul luptei, sa lupti intai cu tine.
S-ataci un grup in care se afla sorocit 
Si fratele sotiei si-al sorei scump iubit[..]"
---------------

Horace is a play by the French dramatist Pierre Corneille, drawing
 on Livy's (Titus Livius - Istoria Romei) account of the battle between 
the Horatii and the Curiaces. Written in reply to critics of his Le Cid,
 it was dedicated to cardinal Richelieu and proved the author's second 
major success on its premiere in March 1640. Its protagonist Horatius 
is more daring than Rodrigue in Le Cid, in that he sacrifices his best 
friend and kills his sister Camilla. It was the basis for the libretti
 for the operas Les Horaces and Gli Orazi e i Curiazi.

Plot summary

The play, which begins in Rome, starts out in an atmosphere of peace
 and happiness. The Roman Horatii family is united to the Alban Curatii
 family. The young Horace is married to Sabine, a young Alban woman whose
 brother, Curiace, is engaged to Camille, the sister of Horace.

But the fratricidal war which breaks out between the two cities destroys
 this harmony. To finish it, each city designates three champions to fight
 in single combat to determine who will win. Contrary to expectations, fate
 chooses the three Horatii brothers for Rome and the three Curiatii brothers
 for Alba Longa. Horace, astonished, did not expect such a great honor. The 
friends once again find themselves face to face, with their consciences resolved 
for different reasons. While Horace is motivated by his patriotic duty, Curiace 
laments his cruel fate.

The people are likewise moved to see these six young men, nevertheless closely 
knit, fighting for the good of their country. However, their fate has been decided. 
During combat, two Horatii are quickly killed, and the last, the hero of the play, 
must then confront the three injured Curiatii alone. Filled with cunning and bravery, 
he first pretends to flee to avoid facing them all together. Then, when he attacks, 
he kills them one by one and thus achieves victory.

After having received the congratulations of all of Rome, Horace kills his sister, 
who blames him for the murder of her beloved. The trial which follows includes a 
scene of a rousing plea from the father Horatius, who defends honor (a value very 
dear to Corneille), and thus Horace, against the romanticism represented by Camille. 
Horace is acquitted despite the indictment of Valere, a Roman gentleman who was also 
in love with Camille, much like Curiace.