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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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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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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。