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Populonia； Whose sentinels descry Sardinia's snowy mountain…tops
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Fringing the southern sky；
V
From the proud mart of Pis*； Queen of the western waves；
Where ride Massilia's triremes Heavy with fair…haired slaves； From
where sweet Clanis wanders Through corn and vines and flowers；
From where Cortona lifts to heaven Her diadem of towers。
VI
Tall are the oaks whose acorns Drop in dark Auser's rill； Fat are
the stags that champ the boughs Of the Ciminian hill； Beyond all
streams Clitumnus Is to the herdsman dear； Best of all pools the
fowler loves The great Volsinian mere。
VII
But now no stroke of woodman Is heard by Auser's rill； No
hunter tracks the stag's green path Up the Ciminian hill； Unwatched
along Clitumnus Grazes the milk…white steer； Unharmed the water
fowl may dip In the Volsminian mere。
VIII
The harvests of Arretium； This year； old men shall reap； This
year； young boys in Umbro Shall plunge the struggling sheep； And
in the vats of Luna； This year； the must shall foam Round the white
feet of laughing girls Whose sires have marched to Rome。
IX
There be thirty chosen prophets； The wisest of the land； Who
alway by Lars Porsena Both morn and evening stand： Evening and
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morn the Thirty Have turned the verses o'er； Traced from the right
on linen white By mighty seers of yore。
X
And with one voice the Thirty Have their glad answer given：
‘‘Go forth； go forth； Lars Porsena； Go forth； beloved of Heaven； Go；
and return in glory To Clusium's royal dome； And hang round
Nurscia's altars The golden shields of Rome。''
XI
And now hath every city Sent up her tale of men； The foot are
fourscore thousand； The horse are thousands ten。 Before the gates
of Sutrium Is met the great array。 A proud man was Lars Porsena
Upon the trysting day。
XII
For all the Etruscan armies Were ranged beneath his eye； And
many a banished Roman； And many a stout ally； And with a mighty
following To join the muster came The Tusculan Mamilius；
Prince of the Latian name。
XIII
But by the yellow Tiber Was tumult and affright： From all the
spacious champaign To Rome men took their flight。 A mile around
the city； The throng stopped up the ways； A fearful sight it was to
see Through two long nights and days。
XIV
For aged folks on crutches； And women great with child； And
mothers sobbing over babes That clung to them and smiled； And
sick men borne in litters High on the necks of slaves； And troops of
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sun…burned husbandmen With reaping…hooks and staves；
XV
And droves of mules and asses Laden with skins of wine； And
endless flocks of goats and sheep； And endless herds of kine； And
endless trains of wagons That creaked beneath the weight Of corn…
sacks and of household goods； Choked every roaring gate。
XVI
Now； from the rock Tarpeian； Could the wan burghers spy The
line of blazing villages Red in the midnight sky。 The Fathers of the
City； They sat all night and day； For every hour some horseman
come With tidings of dismay。
XVII
To eastward and to westward Have spread the Tuscan bands；
Nor house； nor fence； nor dovecote In Crustumerium stands。
Verbenna down to Ostia Hath wasted all the plain； Astur hath
stormed Janiculum； And the stout guards are slain。
XVIII
I wis； in all the Senate； There was no heart so bold； But sore it
ached； and fast it beat； When that ill news was told。 Forthwith up
rose the Consul； Up rose the Fathers all； In haste they girded up
their gowns； And hied them to the wall。
XIX
They held a council standing； Before the River…Gate； Short time
was there； ye well may guess； For musing or debate。 Out spake the
Consul roundly： ‘‘The bridge must straight go down； For； since
Janiculum is lost； Nought else can save the town。''
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XX
Just then a scout came flying； All wild with haste and fear： ‘‘To
arms！ to arms！ Sir Consul： Lars Porsena is here。'' On the low hills to
westward The Consol fixed his eye； And saw the swarthy storm of
dust Rise fast along the sky。
XXI
And nearer fast and nearer Doth the red whirlwind come； And
louder still and still more loud； From underneath that rolling cloud； Is
heard the trumpet's war…note proud； The trampling； and the hum。
And plainly and more plainly Now through the gloom appears； Far
to left and far to right； In broken gleams of dark…blue light； The long array
of helmets bright； The long array of spears。
XXII
And plainly and more plainly； Above that glimmering line； Now
might ye see the banners Of twelve fair cities shine； But the banner
of proud Clusium Was highest of them all； The terror of the
Umbrian； The terror of the Gaul。
XXIII
And plainly and more plainly Now might the burghers know；
By port and vest； by horse and crest； Each warlike Lucumo。 There
Cilnius of Arretium On his fleet roan was seen； And Astur of the
four…fold shield； Girt with the brand none else may wield； Tolumnius with
the belt of gold； And dark Verbenna from the hold By reedy
Thrasymene。
XXIV
Fast by the royal standard； O'erlooking all the war； Lars Porsena
of Clusium Sat in his ivory car。 By the right wheel rode Mamilius；
Prince of the Latian name； And by the left false Sextus； That
wrought the deed of shame。
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XXV
But when the face of Sextus Was seen among the foes； A yell
that rent the firmament From all the town arose。 On the house…tops
was no woman But spat towards him and hissed； No child but
screamed out curses； And shook its little fist。
XXVI
But the Consul's brow was sad； And the Consul's speech was
low； And darkly looked he at the wall； And darkly at the foe。
‘‘Their van will be upon us Before the bridge goes down； And if
they once may win the bridge； What hope to save the town？''
XXVII
Then out spake brave Horatius； The Captain of the Gate： ‘‘To
every man upon this earth