A Lay Sung at the Feast (15)

    False Sextus rode out foremost, His look was high and bold； His corslet was of bison's hide, Plated with steel and gold. As glares the famished¹ eagle From the Digentian rock On a choice lamb that bounds alone Before Bandusia's flock, Herminius glared on Sextus, And came with eagle speed, Herminius on black Auster, Brave champion on brave steed； In his right hand the broadsword That kept the bridge so well, And on his helm the crown he won When proud Fiden* fell. Woe² to the maid whose lover Shall cross his path to-day！ False Sextus saw, and trembled, And turned, and fled away. As turns, as flies, the woodman In the Calabrian brake, When through the reeds gleams the round eye Of that fell speckled snake； So turned, so fled, false Sextus, And hid him in the rear, Behind the dark Lavinian ranks, Bristling³ with crest⁴ and spear.