“Mezentius first from Tyrrhene coast, Who mocks at heaven, arrays his host, And braves the battle’s storm; His son, young Lausus, at his side, Excelled by none in beauty’s pride, Save Turnus’ comely form: Lausus, the tamer of the steed, The conqueror of the silvan breed, Leads from Agylla’s towers in vain A thousand youths, a valiant train: Ah happy, had the son been blest In hearkening to his sire’s behest, Or had the sire from whom he came Had other nature, other name!” In the description of the next leader we have some notice of early heraldry:-- “Next drives along the grassy meads His palm-crowned car and conquering steeds Fair Aventinus, princely heir Of Hercules the brave and fair, And for his proud escutcheon takes His father’s Hydra and her snakes. ’Twas he that priestess Rhea bare, A stealthy birth, to upper air, ’Mid shades of woody Aventine Mingling her own with heavenly blood, When triumph-flushed from Geryon slain Alcides touched the Latian plain, And bathed Iberia’s distant kine In Tuscan Tiber’s flood. Long pikes and poles his bands uprear, The shapely blade, the Sabine spear. Himself on foot, with lion’s skin, Whose long white teeth with ghastly grin Clasp like a helmet brow and chin, Joins the proud chiefs in rude attire, And flaunts the emblem of his sire.” Coras and Catillus, twin-brothers from the old town of Tibur; Cæculus, from the neighbouring Præneste--reputed son of Vulcan, because said to have been found as an infant lying amidst the forge embers--whose following take the field with slings and javelins, each man with his left foot bare to give him firmer stepping-hold; Clausus the Sabine, from whom sprang the great house of the Claudii--some of whom assuredly were listening to the poet’s recitation; Halæsus, of the seed of Agamemnon, sworn foe to all who bear the hated name of Trojan; and a host of chiefs of lesser name and inferior powers, join the march. Messapus, the “horse-tamer,” brings with him a powerful band of retainers from many a city, who chant the deeds of their leaders as they go-- “Like snow-white swans in liquid air, When homeward from their food they fare, And far and wide melodious notes Come rippling from their slender throats, While the broad stream and Asia’s fen Reverberate to the sound again. Sure none had thought that countless crowd A mail-clad company; It rather seemed a dusky cloud Of migrant fowl, that, hoarse and loud, Press landward from the sea. * * * * *