“Wants a new hat!” quoth Consul And Lictor and Tribune. “That must be stopped, or females, Will rule our country soon, It’s written in the Tables, And all the laws of Rome, That when a woman’s hat is old She ought to stay at home. “And if she nags her husband Just when he’s dreadful short, And howls for a new bonnet, Why that’s in law a tort: And for all torts the laws provide A punishment complete: For such a heinous crime as hers That she should die is meet.” The Romans stood no nonsense In those good days of old. They quickly crushed a woman Whene’er she grew too bold. They fired such without ado Off the Tarpeian height; And that happed to Volumnia, And served that female right. ANONYMOUS. [Illustration] THE BATTLE OF THE LAKE REGILLUS. _A Lay sung at the Feast of Castor and Pollux._ Ho, trumpets, sound a war note! Ho, lictors, clear the way! The Knights will ride, in all their pride, Along the streets to day. To-day the doors and windows Are hung with garlands all, From Castor in the Forum, To Mars without the wall. Each Knight is robed in purple, With olive each is crowned; A gallant war-horse under each Paws haughtily the ground. While flows the Yellow River, While stands the Sacred Hill, The proud Ides of Quintilis Shall have such honour still. Gay are the Martian Kalends; December’s Nones are gay: But the proud Ides, when the squadron rides, Shall be Rome’s whitest day. Unto the Great Twin Brethren We keep this solemn feast. Swift, swift, the Great Twin Brethren Came spurring from the East. To where, by Lake Regillus, Under the Porcian height, All in the lands of Tusculum, Was fought the glorious fight. * * * * * And Sergius the High Pontiff Alone found voice to speak: “The gods who live for ever Have fought for Rome to day! These be the Great Twin Brethren To whom the Dorians pray. 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; And let the doors and windows Be hung with garlands all, And let the Knights be summoned To Mars without the wall: Thence let them ride in purple With joyous trumpet sound, Each mounted on his war-horse, And each with olive crowned; And pass in solemn order Before the sacred dome, Where dwell the Great Twin Brethren Who fought so well for Rome!” T. B. MACAULAY. [Illustration] THE CHISWICK FLOWER FETE. For 1846.