Maddened, as might be surmised, by so insidious and unaccustomed a form of attack, the Man of Brass "tears up whole hills to crush his foes"; then fleeing in sudden panic, he is overcome by the stupor of the enchantment and taken captive by Castor and Pollux. He had in his body only one vein, and that plugged on the crown of his head with a nail. Medea drew out the stopper. At a later period when Theseus and his friend Pirithoüs had carried off Helen from Sparta, the youthful heroes, Castor and Pollux, with their followers hasted to the rescue. Theseus being absent from Attica, the brothers recovered their sister. Later still, we find Castor and Pollux engaged in a combat with Idas and Lynceus of Messene, some say over the daughters of Leucippus, others, over a herd of oxen. Castor was slain; but Pollux, inconsolable for the loss of his brother, besought Jupiter to be permitted to give his own life as a ransom for him. Jupiter so far consented as to allow the two brothers to enjoy the boon of life alternately, each spending one day under the earth and the next in the heavenly abodes. According to another version, Jupiter rewarded the attachment of the brothers by placing them among the stars as Gemini, the Twins. They received heroic honors as the _Tyndaridæ_ (sons of Tyndareus); divine honors they received under the name of _Dioscuri_ (sons of Jove).[254] =171. The Twin Brethren among the Romans.= In Rome they were honored with a temple in the Forum and made the patrons of knighthood because of the assistance they rendered in the battle of Lake Regillus. In the moment of dire distress they had appeared, a princely pair: So like they were, no mortal Might one from other know; White as snow their armor was, Their steeds were white as snow. Never on earthly anvil Did such rare armor gleam, And never did such gallant steeds Drink of an earthly stream. And all who saw them trembled, And pale grew every cheek; And Aulus the Dictator Scarce gathered voice to speak: "Say by what name men call you? What city is your home? And wherefore ride ye in such guise Before the ranks of Rome?" [Illustration: FIG. 136. CASTOR AND POLLUX CAPTURING THE GIANT TALUS (Left portion)] "By many names," they answered,-- "By many names men call us; In many lands we dwell: Well Samothracia knows us; Cyrene knows us well; Our house in gay Tarentum Is hung each morn with flowers; High o'er the masts of Syracuse Our marble portal towers; But by the brave Eurotas Is our dear native home; And for the right we come to fight Before the ranks of Rome." After the battle was won they were the first to bear the tidings to the city. With joy the people acclaimed them,--