Chapter 4

But meanwhile in the centre Great deeds of arms were wrought; There Aulus the Dictator 335 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. 340 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, 345 With eyes like coals of fire; But faster Titus[47] hath sprung down, And hath bestrode his sire. Latian captains, Roman knights, Fast down to earth they spring, 350 And hand to hand they fight on foot Around the ancient king. First Titus gave tall Caeso A death wound in the face; Tall Caeso was the bravest man 355 Of the brave Fabian[48] race: Aulus slew Rex of Gabii, The priest of Juno's shrine: Valerius smote down Julius, Of Rome's great Julian line;[49] 360 Julius, who left his mansion High on the Velian hill,[50] And through all turns of weal and woe Followed proud Tarquin still. Now right across proud Tarquin 365 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; 370 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 375 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: 380 And up they took proud Tarquin, And laid him on a shield, And four strong yeoman bare him, Still senseless from the field.

XVIII

But fiercer grew the fighting 385 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!" 390 "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, 395 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!" 400

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, 405 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, 410 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 415 A Consular of Rome.

[_Mamilius is seen coming to the aid of the Latins. Cossus gallops off to summon Herminus, who comes at once. Mamilius flings himself athwart his course, and both champions are slain_.]

XX

But north looked the Dictator; North looked he long and hard; And spake to Caius Cossus, The Captain of his Guard: 420 "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 425 "I see an evil sight; The banner of proud Tusculum Comes from the Latian right: I see the plumed horsemen; And far before the rest 430 I see the dark-grey charger, I see the purple vest, I see the golden helmet That shines far off like flame; So ever rides Mamilius, 435 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; 440 Haste to our southward battle: And never draw thy rein Until thou find Herminius, And bid him come amain."

XXIII

So Aulus spake, and turned him 445 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, 450 And many a curdling pool of blood Splashed him from heel to head. So came he far to southward, Where fought the Roman host, Against the banners of the marsh 455 And banners of the coast. Like corn before the sickle The stout Lavinians fell, Beneath the edge of the true sword That kept the bridge so well. 460

XXIV

"Herminius: Aulus greets thee; He bids thee come with speed, To help our central battle: For sore is there our need. There wars the youngest Tarquin, 465 And there the Crest of Flame,[51] The Tusculan Mamilius, Prince of the Latian name. Valerius hath fallen fighting In front of our array: 470 And Aulus of the seventy fields Alone upholds the day."

XXV

Herminius beat his bosom: But never a word he spake. He clapped his hand on Auster's mane, 475 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.[52] 480

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 485 Rose with a mighty swell; "Herminius comes, Herminius, Who kept the bridge so well!"

XXVII

Mamilius spied Herminius, And dashed across the way. 490 "Herminius! I have sought thee Through many a bloody day. One of us two, Herminius, Shall never more go home, I will lay on for Tusculum, 495 And lay thou on for Rome!"

XXVIII

All round them paused the battle, While met in mortal fray The Roman and the Tusculan, The horses black and grey. 500 Herminius smote Mamilius Through breast-plate and through breast, And fast flowed out the purple blood Over the purple vest. Mamilius smote Herminius 505 Through head-piece and through head; And side by side those chiefs of pride Together fell down dead. Down fell they dead together In a great lake of gore; 510 And still stood all who saw them fall While men might count a score.

[_Mamilius' charger dashes off to Tusculum, Black Auster remains by his master's body. Titus attempts to mount him, but is slain by Aulus the Dictator_.]

XXIX

Fast, fast, with heels wild spurning, The dark-grey charger fled: He burst through ranks of fighting men; 515 He sprang o'er heaps of dead. His bridle far out-streaming, His flanks all blood and foam, He sought the southern mountains, The mountains of his home. 520 The pass was steep and rugged, The wolves they howled and whined; But he ran like a whirlwind up the pass, And he left the wolves behind. Through many a startled hamlet 525 Thundered his flying feet; He rushed through the gate of Tusculum, He rushed up the long white street; He rushed by tower and temple, And paused not from his race 530 Till he stood before his master's door In the stately market-place. And straightway round him gathered A pale and trembling crowd, And when they knew him, cries of rage 535 Brake forth, and wailing loud: And women rent their tresses For their great prince's fall; And old men girt on their old swords, And went to man the wall. 540

XXX

But, like a graven image, Black Auster kept his place, And ever wistfully he looked Into his master's face. The raven-mane that daily, 545 With pats and fond caresses, The young Herminia washed and combed, And twined in even tresses, And decked with coloured ribands From her own gay attire, 550 Hung sadly o'er her father's corpse In carnage and in mire. Forth with a shout sprang Titus, And seized Black Auster's rein. Then Aulus sware a fearful oath, 555 And ran at him amain. "The furies of thy brother[53] With me and mine abide, If one of your accursed house Upon black Auster ride!" 560 As on an Alpine watch-tower From heaven comes down the flame, Full on the neck of Titus The blade of Aulus came: And out the red blood spouted, 565 In a wide arch and tall, As spouts a fountain in the court Of some rich Capuan's[54] hall. The knees of all the Latines Were loosened with dismay 570 When dead, on dead Herminius, The bravest Tarquin lay.

[_Aulus prepares to mount black Auster, when he spies two strange horsemen by his side. These are Castor and Pollux, who charge at the head of the Roman army_.]

XXXI

And Aulus the Dictator Stroked Auster's raven mane, With heed he looked unto the girths, 575 With heed unto the rein. "Now bear me well, black Auster, Into yon thick array; And thou and I will have revenge For thy good lord this day." 580

XXXII

So spake he; and was buckling Tighter black Auster's band, When he was aware of a princely pair That rode at his right hand. So like they were, no mortal 585 Might one from other know: White as snow their armour was; Their steeds were white as snow. Never on earthly anvil Did such rare armour gleam; 590 And never did such gallant steeds Drink of an earthly stream.

XXXIII

And all who saw them trembled, And pale grew every cheek, And Aulus the Dictator 595 Scarce gathered voice to speak. "Say by what name men call you? What city is your home? And wherefore ride ye in such guise Before the ranks of Rome?" 600

XXXIV

"By many names men call us; In many lands we dwell; Well Samothracia[55] knows us, Cyrene knows us well. Our house in gay Tarentum[56] 605 Is hung each morn with flowers: High o'er the masts of Syracuse[57] Our marble portal towers; But by the proud Eurotas[58] Is our dear native home; 610 And for the right we come to fight Before the ranks of Rome."

XXXV

So answered those strange horsemen, And each couched low his spear; And forthwith all the ranks of Rome 615 Were bold, and of good cheer; And on the thirty armies Came wonder and affright, And Ardea wavered on the left, And Cora on the right. 620 "Rome to the charge!" cried Aulus; "The foe begins to yield! Charge for the hearth of Vesta![59] Charge for the Golden Shield![60] Let no man stop to plunder, 625 But slay, and slay, and slay: The Gods who live forever Are on our side to-day."

[_The Latins turn and flee. Many of their chiefs are slain, and above all false Sextus, who dies a coward's death_.]

XXXVI

Then the fierce trumpet-flourish From earth to heaven arose. 630 The kites know well the long stern swell That bids the Romans close. Then the good sword of Aulus Was lifted up to slay: Then, like a crag down Apennine, 635 Rushed Auster through the fray. But under those strange horsemen Still thicker lay the slain: And after those strange horses Black Auster toiled in vain. 640 Behind them Rome's long battle Came rolling on the foe, Ensigns dancing wild above, Blades all in line below, So comes the Po in flood-time 645 Upon the Celtic plain:[61] So comes the squall, blacker than night, Upon the Adrian main. How, by our Sire Quirinus,[62] It was a goodly sight 650 To see the thirty standards Swept down the tide of flight. So flies the spray of Adria When the black squall doth blow, So corn-sheaves in the flood-time 655 Spin down the whirling Po. False Sextus to the mountains Turned first his horse's head; And fast fled Ferentinum, And fast Lanuvium fled. 660 The horsemen of Nomentum Spurred hard out of the fray, The footmen of Velitrae Threw shield and spear away. And underfoot was trampled, 665 Amidst the mud and gore, The banner of proud Tusculum, That never stooped before: And down went Flavius Faustus, Who led his stately ranks 670 From where the apple-blossoms wave On Anio's echoing banks, And Tullus of Arpinum, Chief of the Volscian aids, And Metius with the long fair curls, 675 The love of Anxur's maids, And the white head of Vulgo, The great Arician seer, And Nepos of Laurentum, The hunter of the deer; 680 And in the back false Sextus Felt the good Roman steel; And wriggling in the dust he died, Like a worm beneath the wheel: And fliers and pursuers 685 Were mingled in a mass; And far away the battle Went roaring through the pass.

[_The Dioscuri ride to Rome with news of victory. No one dares to ask who they are, and after washing their steeds in Vesta's fountain they vanish from mortal sight_.]

XXXVII

Sempronius Atratinus Sate in the Eastern Gate, 690 Beside him were three Fathers, Each in his chair of state; Fabius, whose nine stout grandsons That day were in the field, And Manlius, eldest of the Twelve[63] 695 Who kept the Golden Shield; And Sergius, the High Pontiff,[64] For wisdom far renowned, In all Etruria's colleges Was no such Pontiff found. 700 And all around the portal, And high above the wall, Stood a great throng of people, But sad and silent all; Young lads, and stooping elders 705 That might not bear the mail, Matrons with lips that quivered, And maids with faces pale. Since the first gleam of daylight, Sempronius had not ceased 710 To listen for the rushing Of horse-hoofs from the east. The mist of eve was rising. The sun was hastening down, When he was aware of a princely pair 715 Fast pricking towards the town, So like they were, man never Saw twins so like before; Red with gore their armour was, Their steeds were red with gore. 720

XXXVIII

"Hail to the great Asylum![65] Hail to the hill-tops seven! Hail to the fire[66] that burns for aye! And the shield that fell from heaven! This day, by Lake Regillus, 725 Under the Porcian height, All in the lands of Tusculum Was fought a glorious fight. To-morrow your Dictator Shall bring in triumph home 730 The spoils of thirty cities To deck the shrines of Rome!"

XXXIX

Then burst from that great concourse A shout that shook the towers, And some ran north, and some ran south, 735 Crying, "The day is ours!" But on rode these strange horsemen, With slow and lordly pace; And none who saw their bearing Durst ask their name or race. 740 On rode they to the Forum, While laurel-boughs and flowers, From house-tops and from windows, Fell on their crests in showers. When they drew nigh to Vesta, 745 They vaulted down amain, And washed their horses in the well That springs by Vesta's fane. And straight again they mounted, And rode to Vesta's door; 750 Then, like a blast, away they passed, And no man saw them more.

[_The Pontiff tells the Romans who their god-like visitors are, and bids the citizens build a temple to them and establish an annual procession in their honour_.]

XL

And all the people trembled, And pale grew every cheek; And Sergius the High Pontiff 755 Alone found voice to speak: "The gods who live for ever Have fought for Rome to-day! These be the Great Twin Brethren To whom the Dorians[67] pray. 760 Back comes the Chief in triumph, Who, in the hour of fight, Hath seen the Great Twin Brethren In harness on his right. Safe comes the ship to haven, 765 Through billows and through gales, If once the Great Twin Brethren Sit shining on the sails.[68] Wherefore they washed their horses In Vesta's holy well, 770 Wherefore they rode to Vesta's door, I know, but may not tell. Here, hard by Vesta's Temple, Build we a stately dome Unto the Great Twin Brethren 775 Who fought so well for Rome. And when the months returning Bring back this day of fight, The proud Ides of Quintilis, Marked evermore with white, 780 Unto the Great Twin Brethren Let all the people throng, With chaplets and with offerings, With music and with song; And let the doors and windows 785 Be hung with garlands all, And let the Knights be summoned To Mars without the wall: Thence let them ride in purple With joyous trumpet-sound, 790 Each mounted on his war-horse, And each with olive crowned; And pass in solemn order Before the sacred dome, Where dwell the Great Twin Brethren 795 Who fought so well for Rome!"

--_Macaulay_.

[1] Ten years after the siege of Rome by Lars Porsena, the Latins, under Mamilius of Tusculum, made a last attempt to force the Romans to restore the Tarquin kings. A battle was fought at Lake Regillus (B.C. 498) between the Latins and the Romans, in which the Romans were successful. Lake Regillus has disappeared and its exact site is no longer known. It is supposed to have been situated at the foot of the Tusculan hills, about ten miles to the southeast of Rome.

[2] Castor and Pollux were twin deities, the sons of Zeus (or Jupiter). Their birthplace was Sparta, in Greece, and there they had their chief temple.

[3] Ides of Quintilis. The fifteenth of July.

[4] lictors. The body-guard of the magistrates, armed with rods and axes.

[5] The Knights. The cavalry.

[6] Castor, and Mars. The temples of Castor and of Mars.

[7] Forum. The market-place, or public square.

[8] Yellow River. The Tiber, so called from its yellow sands.

[9] Sacred Hill. A famous hill about three miles from Rome.

[10] Martian Kalends. The first of March, on which a feast to Juno was held.

[11] December's Nones. December the fifth, on which was held a feast to Faunus, a god of the flocks and herds.

[12] whitest. We should say "a red-letter day."

[13] Parthemus. A mountain range in Greece.

[14] Cirrha's dome. The dome of the temple of Apollo at Delphi, near Cirrha, in Greece.

[15] Adria. The Adriatic.

[16] Lacedaemon. Sparta, which was governed by two kings representing two great families.

[17] Porcian height. Monte Porzio, near the scene of the battle.

[18] Corne. A hill near Tusculum.

[19] Fair Fount. A spring in the vicinity.

[20] Thirty Cities. The Latin cities, banded together in aid of the Tarquins.

[21]"One spot on the margin of Lake Regillus was regarded during many ages with superstitious awe. A mark, resembling in shape a horse's hoof, was discernible in the volcanic rock; and this mark was believed to have been made by one of the celestial chargers."--_Macaulay_.

[22] a Virginius. One of the family of the Virginii.

[23] The consul who was elected first was usually held in greater honour than the other.

[24] Gabii. A Latin city about twelve miles from Rome.

[25] Conscript Fathers. The senate. The original expression is _patres conscripti_ (_patres et conscripti_), _patres_ referring to the patrician element, and _conscripti_ to the plebeian element in the senate.

[26] Camerium. One of the Latin cities.

[27] Master of the Knights. Chief lieutenant.

[28] The Consuls usually had twelve lictors each; the Dictator twenty-four.

[29] Witch's Fortress. The town of Circeii, which Macaulay associates here with Circe, the enchantress.

[30] ghastly priest. The temple of Diana, in a grove near Aricia, had for its priest a runaway slave, who was to hold office until slain by another runaway slave stronger than he.

[31] Ufens. A river.

[32] Laurentian jungle. Marshy thickets near the town of Laurentum.

[33] Carthage. On the north coast of Africa. The Carthaginians were a commercial and sea-faring people.

[34] a woman. Lucretia. After she had been wronged by Sextus, she stabbed herself and died.

[35] Tibur. The modern city of Tivoli.

[36] Soracte. A snow-capped mountain about twenty-five miles from Rome.

[37] Apulian. Apulia was one of the divisions of Italy.

[38] targe. shield.

[39] Pomptine. The Pontine marshes in the southern part of Latium.

[40] Digentian rock. A crag near the river Digentia.

[41] Bandusia. A fountain.

[42] Auster. The word signifies "the stormy south wind."

[43] crown. The first Roman to scale the walls of a besieged town received a crown of gold.

[44] Calabrian. Calabria forms the "heel" of Italy.

[45] Pruning the vines entwined around the trunks of the elms.

[46] clients. Servants attached to the Patrician families.

[47] Titus. Son of Tarquin the Proud.

[48] Fabian. The Fabii were a famous Roman family.

[49] The Julian house claimed to be descended from Iulus, son of Aeneas.

[50] Velian hill. The Velian hill was not far from the Forum in Rome.

[51] Crest of Flame. The flaming crest on the helmet of Mamilius. See l. 434.

[52] From Aufidus to Po. In all Italy. Aufidus was a river in the south of Italy; Po, a river in the north.

[53] thy brother. False Sextus, supposed to be haunted by the furies (the Greek goddesses of Vengeance) for his crime.

[54] Capuan. Capua was a luxurious city in southern Italy.

[55] Samothracia. An island in the Aegean, where Castor and Pollux were worshipped.

[56] Tarentum. A Greek town in the south of Italy.

[57] Syracuse. An important city in Sicily.

[58] Eurotas. A river in Greece, flowing past the city of Sparta.

[59] Vesta. The goddess of the hearth.

[60] Golden Shield. The shield of Mars which had fallen from heaven during the reign of Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome.

[61] Celtic plain. The north of Italy, inhabited by Celtic tribes.

[62] Sire Quirinus. Romulus, the founder of Rome.