[Aulus prepares to mount black Auster, when he spies two strange horsemen by his side.  These are Castor and Pollux, who charge at the head of the Roman army.]

  XXXI

  And Aulus the Dictator
    Stroked Auster’s raven mane,
  With heed he looked unto the girths, 575
    With heed unto the rein. 
  “Now bear me well, black Auster,
    Into yon thick array;
  And thou and I will have revenge
    For thy good lord this day.” 580

  XXXII

  So spake he; and was buckling
    Tighter black Auster’s band,
  When he was aware of a princely pair
    That rode at his right hand. 
  So like they were, no mortal 585
    Might one from other know: 
  White as snow their armour was;
    Their steeds were white as snow. 
  Never on earthly anvil
    Did such rare armour gleam; 590
  And never did such gallant steeds
    Drink of an earthly stream.

  XXXIII

  And all who saw them trembled,
    And pale grew every cheek,
  And Aulus the Dictator 595
    Scarce gathered voice to speak. 
  “Say by what name men call you? 
    What city is your home? 
  And wherefore ride ye in such guise
    Before the ranks of Rome?” 600

  XXXIV

  “By many names men call us;
    In many lands we dwell;
  Well Samothracia[55] knows us,
    Cyrene knows us well. 
  Our house in gay Tarentum[56] 605
    Is hung each morn with flowers: 
  High o’er the masts of Syracuse[57]
    Our marble portal towers;
  But by the proud Eurotas[58]
    Is our dear native home; 610
  And for the right we come to fight
    Before the ranks of Rome.”

  XXXV

  So answered those strange horsemen,
    And each couched low his spear;
  And forthwith all the ranks of Rome 615
    Were bold, and of good cheer;
  And on the thirty armies
    Came wonder and affright,
  And Ardea wavered on the left,
    And Cora on the right. 620
  “Rome to the charge!” cried Aulus;
    “The foe begins to yield! 
  Charge for the hearth of Vesta![59]
    Charge for the Golden Shield![60]
  Let no man stop to plunder, 625
    But slay, and slay, and slay: 
  The Gods who live forever
    Are on our side to-day.”

[The Latins turn and flee.  Many of their chiefs are slain, and above all false Sextus, who dies a coward’s death.]

  XXXVI