Page:Lyra heroica.djvu/207

 And with a mighty following

To join the muster came The Tusculan Mamilius,

Prince of the Latian name.

THE TROUBLE IN ROME

But by the yellow Tiber

Was tumult and affright : From all the spacious champaign

To Rome men took their flight. A mile around the city

The throng stopped up the ways; A fearful sight it was to see

Through two long nights and days.

For aged folk on crutches,

And women great with child, And mothers sobbing over babes

That clung to them and smiled, And sick men borne in litters

High on the necks of slaves, And troops of sun-burned husbandmen

With reaping-hooks and staves,

And droves of mules and asses

Laden with skins of wine, And endless flocks of goats and sheep,

And endless herds of kine, And endless trains of waggons

That creaked beneath the weight Of corn-sacks and of household goods,

Choked every roaring gate.

�� �