Now on the place of slaughter
    Are cots and sheepfolds seen,
  And rows of vines, and fields of wheat,
    And apple-orchards green; 40
  And swine crush the big acorns
    That fall from Corne’s[18] oaks. 
  Upon the turf by the Fair Fount[19]
    The reaper’s pottage smokes. 
  The fisher baits his angle; 45
    The hunter twangs his bow;
  Little they think on those strong limbs
    That moulder deep below. 
  Little they think how sternly
    That day the trumpets pealed; 50
  How in the slippery swamp of blood
    Warrior and war-horse reeled;
  How wolves came with fierce gallop,
    And crows on eager wings,
  To tear the flesh of captains, 55
    And peck the eyes of kings;
  How thick the dead lay scattered
    Under the Porcian height: 
  How through the gates of Tusculum
    Raved the wild stream of night; 60
  And how the Lake Regillus
    Bubbled with crimson foam,
  What time the Thirty Cities[20]
    Came forth to war with Rome.

  IV

  But, Roman, when thou standest 65
    Upon that holy ground,
  Look thou with heed on the dark rock. 
    That girds the dark lake round,
  So shall thou see a hoof-mark[21]
    Stamped deep into the flint:  70
  It was no hoof of mortal steed
    That made so strange a dint;
  There to the Great Twin Brethren
    Vow thou thy vows, and pray
  That they, in tempest and in fight, 75
    Will keep thy head alway.

[The Latins send a message calling on the Romans to restore the Tarquins.  The consul proudly refuses, and a dictator is appointed.  The Roman army encamps hard by Lake Regillus.]

  Since last the Great Twin Brethren
    Of mortal eyes were seen,
  Have years gone by an hundred
    And fourscore and thirteen. 80
  That summer a Virginius[22]
    Was Consul first in place;[23]
  The second was stout Aulus,
    Of the Posthumian race. 
  The Herald of the Latines 85
    From Gabii[24] came in state: 
  The Herald of the Latines
    Passed through Rome’s Eastern Gate
  The herald of the Latines
    Did in our Forum stand; 90
  And there he did his office,
    A sceptre in his hand.

  VI

  “Hear, Senators and people
    Of the good town of Rome,
  The Thirty Cities charge you 95
    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.” 100

  VII