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A Lay Sung at the Feast of Castor and Pollux on the
Ides of Quintilis in the year of the City CCCCLI
I
Ho； trumpets； sound a war…note！ Ho； lictors； clear the way！ The
Knights will ride； in all their pride； Along the streets to…day。 To…day
the doors and windows Are hung with garlands all； From Castor in
the Forum； To Mars without the wall。 Each Knight is robed in
purple； With olive each is crowned； A gallant war…horse under each
Paws haughtily the ground。 While flows the Yellow River； While
stands the Sacred Hill； The proud Ides of Quintilis Shall have such
honor still。 Gay are the Martian Kalends； December's Nones are
gay； But the proud Ides； when the squadron rides； Shall be Rome's
whitest day。
II
Unto the Great Twin Brethren We keep this solemn feast。 Swift；
swift； the Great Twin Brethren Came spurring from the east。 They
came o'er wild Parthenius Tossing in waves of pine； O'er Cirrha's
dome； o'er Adria's foam； O'er purple Apennine； From where with
flutes and dances Their ancient mansion rings； In lordly Laced鎚on；
The City of two kings； To where； by Lake Regillus； Under the
Porcian height； All in the lands of Tusculum； Was fought the
glorious fight。
III
Now on the place of slaughter Are cots and sheepfolds seen；
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And rows of vines； and fields of wheat； And apple…orchards green；
The swine crush the big acorns That fall from Corne's oaks。 Upon
the turf by the Fair Fount The reaper's pottage smokes。 The fisher
baits his angle； The hunter twangs his bow； Little they think on
those strong limbs That moulder deep below。 Little they think how
sternly That day the trumpets pealed； How in the slippery swamp of
blood Warrior and war…horse reeled； How wolves came with fierce
gallops； And crows on eager wings； To tear the flesh of captains；
And peck the eyes of kings； How thick the dead lay scattered Under
the Porcian height； How through the gates of Tusculum Raved the
wild stream of flight； And how the Lake Regillus Bubbled with
crimson foam； What time the Thirty Cities Came forth to war with
Rome。
IV
But Roman； when thou standest Upon that holy ground； Look
thou with heed on the dark rock That girds the dark lake round。 So
shalt thou see a hoof…mark Stamped deep into the flint： It was not
hoof of mortal steed That made so strange a dint： There to the Great
Twin Brethren Vow thou thy vows； and pray That they； in tempest
and in flight； Will keep thy head alway。
V
Since last the Great Twin Brethren Of mortal eyes were seen；
Have years gone by an hundred And fourscore and thirteen。 That
summer a Virginius Was Consul first in place； The second was stout
Aulus； Of the Posthumian race。 The Herald of the Latines
From Gabii came in state： The Herald of the Latines Passed through
Rome's Eastern Gate： The Herald of the Latines Did in our Forum
stand； And there he did his office； A sceptre in his hand。
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VI
‘‘Hear； Senators and people Of the good town of Rome； The
Thirty Cities charge you To bring the Tarquins home： And if ye still
be stubborn To work the Tarquins wrong； The Thirty Cities warn
you； Look your walls be strong。''
VII
Then spake the Consul Aulus； He spake a bitter jest： ‘‘Once the
jays sent a message Unto the eagle's nest： Now yield thou up thine
eyrie Unto the carrion…kite； Or come forth valiantly； and face
The jays in deadly fight。 Forth looked in wrath the eagle； And
carrion…kite and jay； Soon as they saw his beak and claw； Fled
screaming far away。''
VIII
The Herald of the Latines Hath hied him back in state： The
Fathers of the City Are met in high debate。 Then spake the elder
Consul； And ancient man and wise： ‘‘Now harken； Conscript
Fathers； To that which I advise。 In seasons of great peril 'Tis
good that one bear sway； Then choose we a Dictator； Whom all
men shall obey。 Camerium knows how deeply The sword of Aulus
bites； And all our city calls him The man of seventy fights。 Then let
him be Dictator For six months and no more； And have a Master of
the Knights； And axes twenty…four。''
IX
So Aulus was Dictator； The man of seventy fights； He made 芺
utius Elva His Master of the Knights。 On the third morn thereafter；
At downing of the day； Did Aulus and 芺 utius Set forth with their
array。 Sempronius Atratinus Was left in charge at home With boys；
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and with gray…headed men； To keep the walls of Rome。 Hard by the
Lake Regillus Our camp was pitched at night： Eastward a mile the
Latines lay； Under the Porcian height。 Far over hill and valley
Their mighty host was spread； And with their thousand watch…fires
The midnight sky was red。
X
Up rose the golden morning Over the Porcian height； The proud
Ides of Quintilis Marked evermore in white。 Not without secret
trouble Our bravest saw the foe； For girt by threescore thousand
spears； The thirty standards rose。 From every warlike city
That boasts the Latian name； Fordoomed to dogs and vultures； That
gallant army came； From Setia's purple vineyards； From Norba's
ancient wall； From the white streets of Tusculum； The proudust
town of all； From where the Witch's Fortress O'er hangs the dark…
blue seas； From the still glassy lake that sleeps Beneath Aricia's
trees Those trees in whose dim shadow The ghastly priest doth
reign； The priest who slew the slayer； And shall himself be slain；
From the drear banks of Ufens； Where flights of marsh…fowl play；
And buffaloes lie wallowing Through the hot summer's day； From
the gigantic watch…towers； No work of earthly men； Whence Cora's
sentinels o'erlook The never…ending fen； From the Laurentian
jungle； The wild hog's reedy home； From the green steeps whence
Anio leaps In floods of snow…white foam。
XI
Aricia； Cora； Norba； Velitr*； with the might Of Setia and of
Tusculum； Were marshalled on the right： The leader was Mamilius；
Prince of the Latian name； Upon his head a helmet Of red gold
shone like flame： High on a gallant charger Of dark…gray hue he
rode； Over his gilded armor A vest of purple flowed； Woven in the
land of sunrise By Syria's dark…browed daughters； And by the sails
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