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Lays of Ancient Rome
of Carthage brought Far o'er the southern waters。
XII
Lavinium and Laurentum Had on the left their post； With all the
banners of the marsh； And banners of the coast。 Their leader was
false Sextus； That wrought the deed of shame： With restless pace
and haggard face To his last field he came。 Men said he saw strange
visions Which none beside might see； And that strange sounds were
in his ears Which none might hear but he。 A woman fair and stately；
But pale as are the dead； Oft through the watches of the night Sat
spinning by his bed。 And as she plied the distaff； In a sweet voice
and low； She sang of great old houses； And fights fought long ago。
So spun she； and so sang she； Until the east was gray。 Then pointed
to her bleeding breast； And shrieked； and fled away。
XIII
But in the centre thickest Were ranged the shields of foes； And
from the centre loudest The cry of batle rose。 There Tibur marched
and Pedum Beneath proud Tarquin's rule； And Ferentinum of the
rock； And Gabii of the pool。 There rode the Volscian succors：
There； in the dark stern ring； The Roman exiles gathered close
Around the ancient king。 Though white as Mount Soracte； When
winter nights are long； His beard flowed down o'er mail and belt；
His heart and hand were strong： Under his hoary eyebrows Still
flashed forth quenchless rage： And； if the lance shook in his gripe；
'Twas more with hate than age。 Close at his side was Titus On an
Apulian steed； Titus； the youngest Tarquin； Too good for such a
breed。
XIV
Now on each side the leaders Gave signal for the charge； And
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Lays of Ancient Rome
on each side the footmen Strode on with lance and targe； And on
each side the horsemen Struck their spurs deep in gore； And front to
front the armies Met with a mighty roar： And under that great battle
The earth with blood was red； And； like the Pomptine fog at morn；
The dust hung overhead； And louder still and louder Rose from the
darkened field The braying of the war…horns； The clang of sword
and shield； The rush of squadrons sweeping Like whirlwinds o'er
the plain； The shouting of the slayers； And screeching of the slain。
XV
False Sextus rode out foremost； His look was high and bold；
His corslet was of bison's hide； Plated with steel and gold。 As glares
the famished eagle From the Digentian rock On a choice lamb that
bounds alone Before Bandusia's flock； Herminius glared on Sextus；
And came with eagle speed； Herminius on black Auster； Brave
champion on brave steed； In his right hand the broadsword That
kept the bridge so well； And on his helm the crown he won When
proud Fiden* fell。 Woe to the maid whose lover Shall cross his path
to…day！ False Sextus saw； and trembled； And turned； and fled away。
As turns； as flies； the woodman In the Calabrian brake； When
through the reeds gleams the round eye Of that fell speckled snake；
So turned； so fled； false Sextus； And hid him in the rear； Behind the
dark Lavinian ranks； Bristling with crest and spear。
XVI
But far to the north 芺 utius； The Master of the Knights； Gave
Tubero of Norba To feed the Porcian kites。 Next under those red
horse…hoofs Flaccus of Setia lay； Better had he been pruning
Among his elms that day。 Mamilus saw the slaughter； And tossed
his golden crest； And towards the Master of the Knights Through
the thick battle pressed。 芺 utius smote Mamilius So fiercely on the
shield That the great lord of Tusculum Well…nigh rolled on the field。
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Lays of Ancient Rome
Mamilius smote 芺 utius； With a good aim and true； Just where the
next and shoulder join； And pierced him through and through； And
brave 芺 utius Elva Fell swooning to the ground： But a thick wall
of bucklers Encompassed him around。 His clients from the battle
Bare him some little space； And filled a helm from the dark lake；
And bathed his brow and face； And when at last he opened His
swimming eyes to light； Men say； the earliest words he spake Was；
‘‘Friends； how goes the fight？''。
XVII
But meanwhile in the centre Great deeds of arms were wrought；
There Aulus the Dictator And there Valerius fought。 Aulus with his
good broadsword A bloody passage cleared To where； amidst the
thickest foes； He saw the long white beard。 Flat lighted that good
broadsword Upon proud Tarquin's head。 He dropped the lance： he
dropped the reins： He fell as fall the dead。 Down Aulus springs to
slay him； With eyes like coals of fire； But faster Titus hath sprung
down； And hath bestrode his sire。 Latian captains； Roman knights；
Fast down to earth they spring； And hand to hand they fight on foot
Around the ancient king。 First Titus gave tall C 鎠 o A death wound
in the face； Tall C 鎠 o was the bravest man Of the brave Fabian
race： Aulus slew Rex of Gabii； The priest of Juno's shrine； Valerius
smote down Julius； Of Rome's great Julian line； Julius； who left his
mansion； High on the Velian hill； And through all turns of weal and
woe Followed proud Tarquin still。 Now right across proud Tarquin
A corpse was Julius laid； And Titus groaned with rage and grief；
And at Valerius made。 Valerius struck at Titus； And lopped off half
his crest； But Titus stabbed Valerius A span deep in the breast。 Like
a mast snapped by the tempest； Valerius reeled and fell。 Ah！ woe is
me for the good house That loves the people well！ Then shouted
loud the Latines； And with one rush they bore The struggling
Romans backward Three lances' length and more： And up they took
proud Tarquin； And laid him on a shield； And four strong yeomen
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bare him； Still senseless； from the field。
XVIII
But fiercer grew the fighting Around Valerius dead； For Titus
dragged him by the foot And Aulus by the head。 ‘‘On； Latines； on！''
quoth Titus； ‘‘See how the rebels fly！'' ‘‘Romans； stand firm！''
quoth Aulus； ‘‘And win this fight or die！ They must not give
Valerius To raven and to kite； For aye Valerius loathed the wrong；
And aye upheld the right： And for your wives and babies In the
front rank he fell。 Now play the men for the good house That loves
the people well！。''
XIX
Then tenfold round the body The roar of battle rose； Like the
roar of a burning forest； When a strong north wind blows； Now
backward； and now forward； Rocked furiously the fray； Till none