lays of ancient rome(古罗马方位)-第11章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Caius Cossus mounted； And rode for death and life。 Loud clanged
beneath his horse…hoofs The helmets of the dead； And many a
curdling pool of blood Splashed him heel to head。 So came he far to
southward； Where fought the Roman host； Against the banners of
the marsh And banners of the coast。 Like corn before the sickle
The stout Laninians fell； Beneath the edge of the true sword That
kept the bridge so well。
XXIV
‘‘Herminius！ Aulus greets thee； He bids thee come with speed；
To help our central bettle； For sore is there our need； There wars the
youngest Tarquin； And there the Crest of Flame； The Tusculan
Mamilius； Prince of the Latian name。 Valerius hath fallen fighting
In front of our array； And Aulus of the seventy fields Alone upholds
the day。''
47
… Page 48…
Lays of Ancient Rome
XXV
Herminius beat his bosom： But never a word he spake。 He
clapped his hand on Auster's mane； 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。
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 Rose with a mighty swell； ‘‘Herminius
comes； Herminius； Who kept the bridge so well！''
XXVII
Mamilius spied Herminius； And dashed across the way。
‘‘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； 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 gray。 Herminius
smote Mamilius Through breast…plate and through breast； And fast
flowed out the purple blood Over the purple vest。 Mamilius smote
Herminius Through head…piece and through head； And side by side
those chiefs of pride； Together fell down dead。 Down fell they dead
together In a great lake of gore； And still stood all who saw them
fall While men might count a score。
48
… Page 49…
Lays of Ancient Rome
XXIX
Fast； fast； with heels wild spurning； The dark…gray charger fled：
He burst through ranks of fighting men； He sprang o'er heaps of
dead。 His bridle far out…streming； His flanks all blood and foam； He
sought the southern mountains； The mountains of his home。 The
pass was steep and rugged； The wolves they howled and whined；
But he ran like a whirlwind up the pass； And he left the wolves
behind。 Through many a startled hamlet Thundered his flying feet；
He rushed through the gate of Tusculum； He rushed up the long
white street； He rushed by tower and temple； And paused not from
his race Till he stood before his master's door In the stately market…
place。 And straightway round him gathered A pale and trembling
crowd； And when they knew him； cries of rage Brake forth； and
wailing loud： And women rent their tresses For their great prince's
fall； And old men girt on their old swords； And went to man the
wall。
XXX
But； like a graven image； Black Auster kept his place； And ever
wistfully he looked Into his master's face。 The raven…mane that
daily； With pats and fond caresses； The young Herminia washed
and combed； And twined in even tresses； And decked with colored
ribbons From her own gay attire； Hung sadly o'er her father's corpse
In carnage and in mire。 Forth with a shout sprang Titus； And seized
black Auster's rein。 Then Aulus sware a fearful oath； And ran at him
amain。 ‘‘The furies of thy brother With me and mine abide； If one
of your accursed house Upon black Auster ride！'' As on a Alpine
watch…tower From heaven comes down the flame； Full on the neck
of Titus The blade of Aulus came： And out the red blood spouted；
In a wide arch and tall； As spouts a fountain in the court Of some
rich Capuan's hall。 The knees of all the Latines Were loosened with
dismay； When dead； on dead Herminius； The bravest Tarquin lay。
49
… Page 50…
Lays of Ancient Rome
XXXI
And Aulus the Dictator Stroked Auster's raven mane； With heed
he looked unto the girths； 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。''
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 Might one from other know： White as
snow their armor was： Their steeds were white as snow。 Never on
earthly anvil Did such rare armor gleam； 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 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？''
XXXIV
‘‘By many names men call us； In many lands we dwell： Well
Samothracia knows us； Cyrene knows us well。 Our house in gay
Tarentum Is hung each morn with flowers： High o'er the masts of
Syracuse Our marble portal towers； But by the proud Eurotas
Is our dear native home； And for the right we come to fight Before
the ranks of Rome。''
50
… Page 51…
Lays of Ancient Rome
XXV
So answered those strange horsemen； And each couched low his
spear； And forthwith all the ranks of Rome 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。 ‘‘Rome to the
charge！'' cried Aulus； ‘‘The foe begins to yield！ Charge for the
hearth of Vesta！ Charge for the Golden Shield！ Let no man stop to
plunder； But slay； and slay； and slay； The gods who live forever
Are on our side to…day。''
XXXVI
Then the fierce trumpet…flourish From earth to heaven arose；
The kites know well the long stern swell That bids the Romans
close。 Then the good sword of Aulus Was lifted up to slay； Then；
like a crag down Apennine； Rushed Auster through the fray。 But
under those strange horsemen Still thicker lay the slain； And after
those strange horses Black Auster toiled in vain。 Behind them
Rome's long battle Came rolling on the foe； Ensigns dancing wild
above； Blades all in line below。 So comes the Po in flood…time
Upon the Celtic plain； So comes the squall； blacker than night；
Upon the Adrian main。 Now； by our Sire Quirinus； It was a goodly
sight To see the thirty standards Swept down the tide of flight。 So
flies the spray of Adria When the black squall doth blow So corn…
sheaves in the flood…time Spin down the whirling Po。 False Sextus
to the mountains Turned first his horse's head； And fast fled
Ferentinum； And fast Lanuvium fled。 The horsemen of Nomentus
Spurred hard out of the fray； The footmen of Velitr* Threw shield
and spear away。 And underfoot was trampled； Amidst the mud and
gore； The banner of proud Tusculum； That never stooped before：
And down went Flavius Faustus； Who led his stately ranks From
where the apple blossoms wave On Anio's echoing banks； And
Tullus of Arpinum； Chief of the Volscian aids； And Metius with the
51
… Page 52…
Lays of Ancient Rome
long fair curls； The love of Anxur's maids； And the white head of
Vulso； The great Arician seer； And Nepos of Laurentum The
hunter of the deer； And in the back false Sextus Felt the good
Roman steel； And wriggling in the dust he died； Like a worm
beneath the wheel： And fliers and pursuers Were mingled in a mass；
And far away the battle Went roaring through the pass。
XXXVII
Semponius Atratinus Sat in the Eastern Gate； Beside him were
three Fathers； Each in
