There, in a dark stern ring,
  The Roman exiles gathered close,
    Around the ancient king. 240
  Though white as Mount Soracte,[36]
    When winter nights are long,
  His beard flowed down o’er mail and belt,
    His heart and hand were strong: 
  Under his hoary eyebrows 245
    Still flashed forth quenchless rage,
  And, if the lance shook in his gripe,
    ’Twas more with hate than age. 
  Close at his side was Titus
    On an Apulian[37] steed, 250
  Titus, the youngest Tarquin,
    Too good for such a breed.

[The battle begins.  False Sextus flees from Herminius, one of the defenders of the bridge.  Aebutius slays Tubero, but is severely wounded by Mamilius of Tusculum, and retires from the fight.]

  XIV

  Now on each side the leaders
    Gave signal for the charge;
  And on each side the footmen 255
    Strode on with lance and targe;[38]
  And on each side the horsemen
    Struck their spurs deep in gore;
  And front to front, the armies
    Met with a mighty roar:  260
  And under that great battle
    The earth with blood was red;
  And, like the Pomptine[39] fog at morn,
    The dust hung overhead;
  And louder still and louder 265
    Rose from the darkened field
  The braying of the war-horns,
    The clang of sword and shield,
  The rush of squadrons sweeping
    Like whirlwinds o’er the plain,
  The shouting of the slayers, 270
    And screeching of the slain.

  XV

  False Sextus rode out foremost: 
    His look was high and bold;
  His corslet was of bison’s hide, 275
    Plated with steel and gold. 
  As glares the famished eagle
    From the Digentian rock[40]
  On a choice lamb that bounds alone
    Before Bandusia’s[41] flock, 280
  Herminius glared on Sextus,
    And came with eagle speed,
  Herminius on black Auster,[42]
    Brave champion on brave steed;
  In his right hand the broadsword 285
    That kept the bridge so well,
  And on his helm the crown[43] he won
    When proud Fidenae fell. 
  Woe to the maid whose lover
    Shall cross his path to-day! 290
  False Sextus saw, and trembled,
    And turned, and fled away. 
  As turns, as flies, the woodman
    In the Calabrian[44] brake,
  When through the reeds gleams the round eye 295
    Of that fell speckled snake;
  So turned, so fled, false Sextus,
    And hid him in the rear,
  Behind the dark Lavinian ranks,
    Bristling with crest and spear. 300