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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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Lays of Ancient Rome
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 Through many a bloody day。 One
of us two； Herminius； Shall never more go home。 I will lay on for
Tusculum； 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 gray。 Herminius
smote Mamilius Through breast…plate and through breast； And fast
flowed out the purple blood Over the purple vest。 Mamilius smote
Herminius 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； And still stood all who saw them
fall While men might count a score。
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XXIX
Fast； fast； with heels wild spurning； The dark…gray charger fled：
He burst through ranks of fighting men； He sprang o'er heaps of
dead。 His bridle far out…streming； His flanks all blood and foam； He
sought the southern mountains； The mountains of his home。 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 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 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 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。
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； With pats and fond caresses； The young Herminia washed
and combed； And twined in even tresses； And decked with colored
ribbons From her own gay attire； 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； And ran at him
amain。 ‘‘The furies of thy brother With me and mine abide； If one
of your accursed house Upon black Auster ride！'' As on a 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；
In a wide arch and tall； As spouts a fountain in the court Of some
rich Capuan's hall。 The knees of all the Latines Were loosened with
dismay； When dead； on dead Herminius； The bravest Tarquin lay。
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XXXI
And Aulus the Dictator Stroked Auster's raven mane； With heed
he looked unto the girths； 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。''
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 Might one from other know： White as
snow their armor was： Their steeds were white as snow。 Never on
earthly anvil Did such rare armor gleam； 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 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？''
XXXIV
‘‘By many names men call us； In many