From where the Witch’s Fortress[29]
    O’erhangs the dark-blue seas; 170
  From the still glassy lake that sleeps
    Beneath Aricia’s trees—­
  Those trees in whose dim shadow
    The ghastly priest[30] doth reign,
  The priest who slew the slayer, 175
    And shall himself be slain;
  From the drear banks of Ufens,[31]
    Where nights of marsh-fowl play,
  And buffaloes lie wallowing
    Through the hot summer’s day, 180
  From the gigantic watch-towers,
    No work of earthly men,
  Whence Cora’s sentinels o’erlook
    The never-ending fen;
  From the Laurentian[32] jungle, 185
    The wild hog’s reedy home;
  From the green steeps whence Anio leaps
    In floods of snow-white foam.

  XI

  Aricia, Cora, Norba,
    Velitrae, with the might; 190
  Of Setia and of Tusculum,
    Were marshalled on the right: 
  The leader was Mamilius,
    Prince of the Latian name,
  Upon his head a helmet 195
    Of red gold shone like flame: 
  High on a gallant charger
    Of dark-grey hue he rode: 
  Over his gilded armour
    A vest of purple flowed, 200
  Woven in the land of sunrise
    By Syria’s dark-browed daughters,
  And by the sails of Carthage[33] brought
    Far o’er the southern waters.

  XII

  Lavinium and Laurentum 205
    Had on the left their post,
  With all the banners of the marsh,
    And banners of the coast. 
  Their leader was false Sextus,
    That wrought the deed of shame:  210
  With restless pace and haggard face
    To his last field he came. 
  Men said he saw strange visions
    Which none beside might see,
  And that strange sounds were in his ears 215
    Which none might hear but he. 
  A woman[34] fair and stately,
    But pale as are the dead,
  Oft through the watches of the night
    Sat spinning by his bed. 220
  And as she plied the distaff,
    In a sweet voice and low,
  She sang of great old houses,
    And fights fought long ago. 
  So spun she, and so sang she, 225
    Until the east was grey,
  Then pointed to her bleeding breast,
    And shrieked, and fled away.

  XIII

  But in the centre thickest
    Were ranged the shields of foes, 230
  And from the centre loudest
    The cry of battle rose. 
  There Tibur[35] marched and Pedum
    Beneath proud Tarquin’s rule,
  And Ferentinum of the rock, 235
    And Gabii of the pool. 
  There rode the Volscian succours: