The goodly Aventinus next, glorious with palm of prize, Along the grass his chariot shows and steeds of victories, Sprung from the goodly Hercules, marked by his father's shield, Where Hydra girded hundred-fold with adders fills the field: Him Rhea the priestess on a day gave to the sun-lit earth, On wooded bent of Aventine, in secret stolen birth; 660 The woman mingled with a God, what time that, Geryon slain, The conquering man of Tiryns touched the fair Laurentian plain, And washed amidst the Tuscan stream the bulls Iberia bred. These bear in war the bitter glaive and darts with pilèd head: With slender sword and Sabine staff the battle they abide; But he afoot and swinging round a monstrous lion's hide, Whose bristly brow and terrible with sharp white teeth a-row Hooded his head, beneath the roof where dwelt the king did go All shaggy rough, his shoulders clad with Herculean cloak. Then next twin brethren wend away from Tibur's town and folk, 670 Whose brother-born, Tiburtus, erst had named that citied place; Catillus, eager Coras they, men of the Argive race; In forefront of the battle-wood, mid thick of sleet they fare, Like as two centaurs cloud-begot, that down the mountains bear, Leaving the high-piled Homole, and Othrys of the snow With hurrying hoofs: the mighty wood yields to them as they go; The tangle of the thicket-place before them gives aback. Nor did Præneste's raiser-up from field of battle lack, That Cæculus, whom king of men mid cattle of the mead, All ages of the world have trowed was Vulcan's very seed 680 Found on the hearth: from wide away gathered his rustic band: Those housed upon Præneste's steep; they of the Juno land Of Gabii: abiders near cool Anio, they that dwell On Hernic rocks, the stream-bedewed: they whom thou feedest well, Anagnia rich; the foster-sons of Amasenus' coast. Not all had arms, or clash of shield, or war-wain; but the most Cast the grey plummets forth, and some, the dart in hand they bear, And on the head the fallow fell of woodland wolf they wear For helming: now with all of them the left foot goes aground, Naked and bare; but with the hide untanned the left is bound. 690