A corpse was Julius laid;
  And Titus groaned with rage and grief,
    And at Valerius made. 
  Valerius struck at Titus,
    And lopped off half his crest; 370
  But Titus stabbed Valerius
    A span deep in the breast. 
  Like a mast snapped by the tempest,
    Valerius reeled and fell. 
  Ah! woe is me for the good house 375
    That loves the people well! 
  Then shouted loud the Latines;
    And with one rush they bore
  The struggling Romans backward
    Three lances’ length and more:  380
  And up they took proud Tarquin,
   And laid him on a shield,
  And four strong yeoman bare him,
    Still senseless from the field.

  XVIII

  But fiercer grew the fighting 385
    Around Valerius dead;
  For Titus dragged him by the foot,
    And Aulus by the head. 
  “On, Latines, on!” quoth Titus,
    “See how the rebels fly!” 390
  “Romans, stand firm!” quoth Aulus,
    “And win this fight or die! 
  They must not give Valerius
    To raven and to kite;
  For aye Valerius loathed the wrong, 395
    And aye upheld the right: 
  And for your wives and babies
    In the front rank he fell. 
  Now play the men for the good house
    That loves the people well!” 400

  XIX

  Then tenfold round the body
    The roar of battle rose,
  Like the roar of a burning forest,
    “When a strong north wind blows. 
  Now backward, and now forward, 405
    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, 410
  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 415
    A Consular of Rome.

[Mamilius is seen coming to the aid of the Latins.  Cossus gallops off to summon Herminus, who comes at once.  Mamilius flings himself athwart his course, and both champions are slain.]

  XX

  But north looked the Dictator;
    North looked he long and hard;
  And spake to Caius Cossus,
    The Captain of his Guard:  420
  “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 425
    “I see an evil sight;
  The banner of proud Tusculum
    Comes from the Latian right: 
  I see the plumed horsemen;
    And far before the rest 430
  I see the dark-grey charger,
    I see the purple vest,
  I see the golden helmet
    That shines far off like flame;
  So ever rides Mamilius, 435
    Prince of the Latian name.”