And all around the portal,

And high above the wall, Stood a great throng of people, But sad and silent all; Young lads, and stooping elders

That might not bear the mail, Matrons with lips that quivered, And maids with faces pale. Since the first gleam of daylight, Sempronius had not ceased

To listen for the rushing

Of horse-hoofs from the east.

The mist of eve was rising,

The sun was hastening down, When he was aware of a princely pair Fast pricking towards the town. So like they were, man never

Saw twins so like before;

Red with gore their armour was,
Their steeds were red with gore.

XXXVIII.

"Hail to the great Asylum!

Hail to the hill-tops seven!

To-morrow your Dictator

Shall bring in triumph home

The spoils of thirty cities

To deck the shrines of Rome!"

XXXIX.

Then burst from that great concourse
A shout that shook the towers,

And some ran north and some ran south,
Crying, "The day is ours!"

But on rode those strange horsemen,
With slow and lordly pace;
And none who saw their bearing

Durst ask their name or race.
On rode they to the Forum,

While laurel-boughs and flowers, From house-tops and from windows, Fell on their crests in showers. When they drew nigh to Vesta, They vaulted down amain,

And washed their horses in the well

That springs by Vesta's fane. And straight again they mounted, And rode to Vesta's door;

Back comes the chief in triumph,

Who, in the hour of fight,

Hath seen the Great Twin Brethren

In harness on his right.

Safe comes the ship to haven,

Through billows and through gales, If once the Great Twin Brethren

Sit shining on the sails.

Wherefore they washed their horses

In Vesta's holy well,

Wherefore they rode to Vesta's door,
I know, but may not tell.
Here, hard by Vesta's temple,
Build we a stately dome
Unto the Great Twin Brethren

Who fought so well for Rome.
And when the months returning
Bring back this day of fight.
The proud Ides of Quintilis,

Marked evermore with white,
Unto the Great Twin Brethren
Let all the people throng,
With chaplets and with offerings,

With music and with song;