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shield That the great lord of Tusculum Well…nigh rolled on the field。
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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
could see Valerius； And none wist where he lay。 For shivered arms
and ensigns Were heaped there in a mound； And corpses stiff； and
dying men That writhed and gnawed the ground； And wounded
horses kicking； And snorting purple foam： Right well did such a
couch befit A Consular of Rome。
XX
But north looked the Dictator； North looked he long and hard；
And spake to Caius Cossus； The Captain of his Guard； ‘‘Caius； of
all the Romans Thou hast the keenest sight； Say； what through
yonder storm of dust Comes from the Latian right；''
XXI
Then answered Caius Cossus： ‘‘I see an evil sight； The banner
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of proud Tusculum Comes from the Latian right； I see the plum 閐
horsemen； And far before the rest I see the dark…gray charger；
I see the purple vest； I see the golden helmet That shines far off like
flame； So ever rides Mamilius； Prince of the Latian name。''
XXII
‘‘Now hearken； Caius Cossus： Spring on thy horse's back； Ride
as the wolves of Apennine Were all upon thy track； Haste to our
southward battle： And never draw thy rein Until thou find
Herminius； And bid hime come amain。''
XXIII
So Aulus spake； and turned him Again to that fierce strife； And
Caius Cossus mounted； And rode for death and life。 Loud clanged
beneath his horse…hoofs The helmets of the dead； And many a
curdling pool of blood Splashed him heel to head。 So came he far to
southward； Where fought the Roman host； Against the banners of
the marsh And banners of the coast。 Like corn before the sickle
The stout Laninians fell； Beneath the edge of the true sword That
kept the bridge so well。
XXIV
‘‘Herminius！ Aulus greets thee； He bids thee come with speed；
To help our central bettle； For sore is there our need； There wars the
youngest Tarquin； And there the Crest of Flame； The Tusculan
Mamilius； Prince of the Latian name。 Valerius hath fallen fighting
In front of our array； And Aulus of the seventy fields Alone upholds
the day。''
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XXV
Herminius beat his bosom： But never a word he spake。 He
clapped his hand on Auster's mane； He gave the reins a shake。 Away；
away； went Auster； Like an arrow from the bow： Black Auster was
the fleetest steed From Aufidus to Po。
XXVI
Right glad were all the Romans Who； in that hour of dread；
Against great odds bare up the war Around Valerius dead； When
from the south the cheering Rose with a mighty swell； ‘‘Herminius
comes； Herminius； Who kept the bridge so well！''
XXVII
Mamilius spied Herminius； And dashed across the way。
‘‘Herminius！ I have sought thee