By tygers drawn triumphant in his car, From Nysa's top descending on the plains, With curling vines around his purple reins. And doubt we yet through dangers to pursue The paths of honour, and a crown in view? But what's the man, who from afar appears, His head with olive crowned, his hand a censer bears? His hoary beard and holy vestments bring His lost idea back: I know the Roman king. He shall to peaceful Rome new laws ordain, Called from his mean abode, a sceptre to sustain. Him Tullus next in dignity succeeds, An active prince, and prone to martial deeds. He shall his troops for fighting-fields prepare, Disused to toils, and triumphs of the war. By dint of sword his crown he shall increase, And scour his armour from the rust of peace. Whom Ancus follows, with a fawning air, But vain within, and proudly popular. Next view the Tarquin kings, the avenging sword Of Brutus, justly drawn, and Rome restored. He first renews the rods and axe severe, And gives the consuls royal robes to wear. His sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain, And long for arbitrary lords again, With ignominy scourged in open sight, He dooms to death deserved, asserting public right. Unhappy man! to break the pious laws Of nature, pleading in his children's cause! Howe'er the doubtful fact is understood, } 'Tis love of honour, and his country's good: } The consul, not the father, sheds the blood. } Behold Torquatus the same track pursue; And, next, the two devoted Decii view-- The Drusian line, Camillus loaded home With standards well redeemed, and foreign foes o'ercome. The pair you see in equal armour shine, Now, friends below, in close embraces join; But, when they leave the shady realms of night, And, clothed in bodies, breathe your upper light, With mortal hate each other shall pursue; What wars, what wounds, what slaughter shall ensue! From Alpine heights the father first descends; } His daughter's husband in the plain attends: } His daughter's husband arms his eastern friends. } Embrace again, my sons! be foes no more; Nor stain your country with her children's gore! And thou, the first, lay down thy lawless claim, Thou, of my blood, who bear'st the Julian name![111] Another comes, who shall in triumph ride, And to the Capitol his chariot guide, From conquered Corinth, rich with Grecian spoils. And yet another, famed for warlike toils, On Argos shall impose the Roman laws, And, on the Greeks, revenge the Trojan cause; Shall drag in chains their Achillean race; } Shall vindicate his ancestors' disgrace, } And Pallas, for her violated place. } Great Cato there, for gravity renowned,[112] And conquering Cossus goes with laurels crowned. Who can omit the Gracchi? who declare