XXXIV
‘‘By many names men call us； In many lands we dwell： Well
Samothracia knows us； Cyrene knows us well。 Our house in gay
Tarentum Is hung each morn with flowers： High o'er the masts of
Syracuse Our marble portal towers； But by the proud Eurotas
Is our dear native home； And for the right we come to fight Before
the ranks of Rome。''
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XXV
So answered those strange horsemen； And each couched low his
spear； And forthwith all the ranks of Rome 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。 ‘‘Rome to the
charge！'' cried Aulus； ‘‘The foe begins to yield！ Charge for the
hearth of Vesta！ Charge for the Golden Shield！ Let no man stop to
plunder； But slay； and slay； and slay； The gods who live forever
Are on our side to…day。''
XXXVI
Then the fierce trumpet…flourish From earth to heaven arose；
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； 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。 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
Upon the Celtic plain； So comes the squall； blacker than night；
Upon the Adrian main。 Now； by our Sire Quirinus； It was a goodly
sight 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 Spin down the whirling Po。 False Sextus
to the mountains Turned first his horse's head； And fast fled
Ferentinum； And fast Lanuvium fled。 The horsemen of Nomentus
Spurred hard out of the fray； The footmen of Velitr* Threw shield
and spear away。 And underfoot was trampled； Amidst the mud and
gore； The banner of proud Tusculum； That never stooped before：
And down went Flavius Faustus； Who led his stately ranks From
where the apple blossoms wave On Anio's echoing banks； And
Tullus of Arpinum； Chief of the Volscian aids； And Metius with the
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long fair curls； The love of Anxur's maids； And the white head of
Vulso； The great Arician seer； And Nepos of Laurentum The
hunter of the deer； 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 Were mingled in a mass；
And far away the battle Went roaring through the pass。
XXXVII
Semponius Atratinus Sat in the Eastern Gate； 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 Who keep the Golden Shield； And Sergius； the High Pontiff；
For wisdom far renowned； In all Etruria's colleges Was no such
Pontiff found。 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 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 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 Fast
pricking towards the town。 So like they were； man never Saw twins
so like before； Red with gore their armor was； Their steeds were red
with gore。
XXXVIII
‘‘Hail to the great Asylum！ Hail to the hill…tops seven！ Hail to
the fire that burns for aye； And the shield that fell from heaven！
This day； by Lake Regillus； Under the Porcian height； All in the
lands of Tusculum Was fought a glorious fight。 Tomorrow your
Dictator Shall bring in triumph home The spoils of thirty cities
To deck the shrines of Rome！''
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XXXIX
Then burst from that great concourse A shout that shook the
towers； And some ran north； and some ran south； 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。
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； 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； Then； like a
blast； away they passed； And no man saw them more。
XL
And all the people trembled； And pale grew every cheek； And
Sergius the High Pontiff Alone found voice to speak： ‘‘The gods
who live forever Have fought for Rome to…day！ These be the Great
Twin Brethren To whom the Dorians pray。 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；
Through billows and through gales； If once the Great Twin Brethren
Sit shining on the sails。 Wherefore they washed their horses In
Vesta's holy well； 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 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； 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 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； Each mounted on his war…horse；
And each with olive crowned； And pass in solemn order Before the
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sacred dome； Where dwell the Great Twin Brethren Who fought so
well for Rome。''
Virginia
A collection consisting exclusively of war…songs would give an
imperfect； or rather an erroneous； notion of the spirit of the old Latin
ballads。 The Patrici
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