Lays of Ancient Rome with Ivry and the Armarda (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ...Did in our Forum stand; And there he did his office, A sceptre in his hand. 6. "Hear, Senators and people Of the good town of Rome: The Thirty Cities charge you To bring the Tarquins home: And if ye still be stubborn To work the Tarquins wrong, The Thirty Cities warn you, Look that your walls be strong. 7. Then spake the Consul Aulus, He spake a bitter jest: "Once the jays sent a message Unto the eagle's nest: --Now yield thou up thine eyrie Unto the carrion-kite, Or come forth valiantly, and face The jays in deadly fight.--Forth looked in wrath the eagle; And carrion-kite and jay, Soon as they saw his beak and claw, Fled screaming far away." 8. The Herald of the Latines Hath hied him back in state: The Fathers of the City Are met in high debate. Then spake the elder Consul, An ancient man and wise: "Now hearken, Conscript Fathers, To that which I advise. In seasons of great peril 'Tis good that one bear sway, Then choose we a Dictator, Whom all men shall obey. Camerium knows how deeply The sword of Aulus bites; And all our city calls him The man of seventy fights. Then let him be Dictator For six months and no more, And have a Master of the Knights, And axes twenty-four." 9. So Aulus was Dictator, The man of seventy fights; He made jEbutius Elva His Master of the Knights. On the third morn thereafter, At dawning of the day, Did Aulus and jEbutius Set forth with their array. Sempronius Atratinus Was left in charge at home With boys and with grey-headed To keep the walls of Rome. Hard by the Lake Regillus Our camp was pitched at night Eastward a mile the Latines lay, Under the Porcian height. Far over hill and valley Their mighty host was spread; And with their thousand watch-fires The midnight sky was red. 10. Up rose the golden morning Over the...