LXXXVI. Next, Manlius guards the Capitol; see here The straw-thatched palace. Silvered in the gold, The fluttering goose proclaims the Gauls are near. They, screened by darkness, thread the woods, and hold With arms the slumbering citadel. Behold Their beards all golden, and their golden hair, Their white necks gleaming with the twisted gold, Their chequered plaids. Each hand an Alpine spear Waves, and an oblong shield their stalwart arms upbear. LXXXVII. There danced the Salians, the Luperci reeled Half-naked. See them sculptured in array, With caps wool-tufted, and the sky-dropt shield. Chaste dames, in cushioned chariots, lead the way Through the glad city. Elsewhere, far away, Loom Dis and Tartarus, where the guilty pine, And Catiline, upon a rock for aye Hangs, shuddering at the Furies. Distant shine The just, where Cato stands, dealing the law divine. LXXXVIII. The swelling ocean in the midst is seen, All golden, but the billow's hoary spray Foams o'er the blue. Dolphins of silvery sheen Lash the white eddies with their tails in play, Cleaving the surges. In the centre lay The brazen fleets, all panoplied for war, 'Tis Actium's fight; Leucate's headland grey Boils with the tumult of the distant jar, And golden glow the waves, effulgent from afar. LXXXIX. Augustus his Italians leads from home, High on the stern. The Senators stand round, The people, and the guardian gods of Rome. With double flame his joyous brows are crowned; The constellation of his sire renowned Beams o'er his head. There too, his ships in line, With winds and gods to prosper him, is found Agrippa. Radiant on his head doth shine The crown of golden beaks, the battle's glorious sign. XC. Here, late from Parthia and the Red-sea coast, With motley legions and barbaric pride, Comes Anthony. From Egypt swarms his host, From India and far Bactra. At his side Stands--shame to tell it--an Egyptian bride. See now the fight; prows churn and oar-blades lash The foam. 'Twould seem the Cyclads swim the tide, Torn from his moorings, or the mountains clash, So huge the tower-crowned ships, so terrible the crash. XCI. Winged darts are hurled, and flaming tow; the leas Of Neptune redden. There the queen stands by, And sounds the timbrel for the fray, nor sees The asps behind. All monsters of the sky With Neptune, Venus, and Minerva vie. In vain Anubis barks; Mars raves among The combatants; the Furies frown on high. With mantle rent, glad Discord joins the throng; Behind, with bloody scourge, Bellona stalks along.