XXII

  “Now hearken, Caius Cossus: 
    Spring on thy horse’s back;
  Ride as the wolves of Apennine
    Were all upon thy track; 440
  Haste to our southward battle: 
    And never draw thy rein
  Until thou find Herminius,
    And bid him come amain.”

  XXIII

  So Aulus spake, and turned him 445
    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, 450
  And many a curdling pool of blood
    Splashed him from heel to head. 
  So came he far to southward,
    Where fought the Roman host,
  Against the banners of the marsh 455
    And banners of the coast. 
  Like corn before the sickle
    The stout Lavinians fell,
  Beneath the edge of the true sword
    That kept the bridge so well. 460

  XXIV

  “Herminius:  Aulus greets thee;
    He bids thee come with speed,
  To help our central battle: 
    For sore is there our need. 
  There wars the youngest Tarquin, 465
    And there the Crest of Flame,[51]
  The Tusculan Mamilius,
    Prince of the Latian name. 
  Valerius hath fallen fighting
    In front of our array:  470
  And Aulus of the seventy fields
    Alone upholds the day.”

  XXV

  Herminius beat his bosom: 
    But never a word he spake. 
  He clapped his hand on Auster’s mane, 475
    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.[52] 480

  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 485
    Rose with a mighty swell;
  “Herminius comes, Herminius,
    Who kept the bridge so well!”

  XXVII

  Mamilius spied Herminius,
    And dashed across the way. 490
  “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, 495
    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 grey. 500
  Herminius smote Mamilius
    Through breast-plate and through breast,
  And fast flowed out the purple blood
    Over the purple vest.