And the bright goddess through the clouds of heaven Came bringing gifts, seeing her son alone By the cold river in the quiet valley, And spoke to him:--“Behold, the gifts made ready By Vulcan’s promised skill. Fear not, my son, To face the wars with Turnus and the Latins!” After the word, the embrace. She placed the armor, All shining in his sight, against an oak-tree; Rejoicing in the gift, the honor, he turned His eyes to these, over and over again, Could not be satisfied, took in his hands The helmet with the terrible plumes and flame, The fatal sword, the breastplate, made of bronze, Fire-colored, huge, shining the way a cloud, Dark-blue, turns crimson under the slanting sun, The greaves of gold refined and smooth electrum, The spear, the final masterpiece, the shield. Hereon the great prophetic Lord of Fire Had carved the story out, the stock to come, The wars, each one in order, all the tale Of Italy and Roman triumph. Here In Mars’ green cave the she-wolf gives her udders To the twin boys, turning half round to lick them, And neither is afraid, and both are playing. Another scene presents the Circus-games, When Romans took their Sabine brides, and war Broke out between old Tatius and the sons Of Romulus, and was ended, monarchs pledging Peace at the altars over sacrifice. Mettus, the false, by the wild horses drawn And quartered, sheds his life-blood over the brambles; Porsena, the besieger, rings the city For Tarquin’s sake, exile and tyrant; Romans Rush on the steel for freedom; Clelia breaks Her bonds to swim the river; and Horatius Breaks down the bridge. The guardian Manlius Holds the high capitol and that crude palace Fresh with the straw of Romulus; the goose Flutters in silver through the colonnades Shrieking alarm; the Gauls are near in darkness, Golden their hair, their clothing, and their necks Gleam white in collars of gold, and each one carries Two Alpine javelins; they have long shields. Near them, the Fire-god sets the priests with caps Of wool, the miracle of the shields from heaven, The Salii dancing, the Luperci naked, And the chaste matrons riding through the city In cushioned chariots. Far off, he adds The seats of Hell, the lofty gates of Pluto, Penance for sin: Catiline, with the Furies Making him cower; farther off, the good, With Cato giving laws. And all this scene Bound with the likeness of the swelling ocean, Blue water and whitecap, where the dolphins playing Leap with a curve of silver. In the center Actium, the ships of bronze, Leucate burning Hot with the glow of war, and waves on fire With molten gold. Augustus Caesar stands High on the lofty stern; his temples flame With double fire, and over his head there dawns His father’s star. Agrippa leads a column