A Lay Sung at the Feast (12)

    Lavinium and Laurentum Had on the left their post, With all the banners of the marsh¹, And banners of the coast. Their leader was false Sextus, That wrought² the deed of shame： With restless pace and haggard face To his last field he came. Men said he saw strange visions Which none beside might see； And that strange sounds were in his ears Which none might hear but he. A woman fair and stately, But pale as are the dead, Oft through the watches of the night Sat spinning by his bed. And as she plied³ the distaff, In a sweet voice and low, She sang of great old houses, And fights fought long ago. So spun⁴ she, and so sang she, Until the east was gray. Then pointed⁵ to her bleeding breast, And shrieked⁶, and fled away.