Foremost in fight, from shores Etrurian came Mezentius, scornful rebel against Heaven, his people all in arms; and at his side Lausus his heir (no fairer youth than he, save Turnus of Laurentum), Lausus, skilled o break proud horses and wild beasts to quell; who from Agylla's citadel in vain led forth his thousand warriors: worthy he to serve a nobler sire, and happier far he had ne'er been born Mezentius' son. Next after these, conspicuous o'er the plain, with palm-crowned chariot and victorious steeds, rode forth well-moulded Aventinus, sprung from shapely Hercules; upon the shield his blazon was a hundred snakes, and showed his father's hydra-cincture serpentine; him deep in Aventine 's most secret grove the priestess Rhea bore—a mortal maid clasped in a god's embrace the wondrous day when, flushed with conquest of huge Geryon, the lord of Tiryns to Laurentum drove, and washed in Tiber 's wave th' Iberian kine. His followers brandished pointed pikes and staves, or smooth Sabellian bodkin tipped with steel; but he, afoot, swung round him as he strode a monstrous lion-skin, its bristling mane and white teeth crowning his ferocious brow: for garbed as Hercules he sought his King. Then came twin brethren, leaving Tibur 's keep (named from Tiburtus, brother of them twain) Catillus and impetuous Coras, youth of Argive seed, who foremost in the van pressed ever where the foemen densest throng: as when two centaurs, children of the cloud, from mountain-tops descend in swift career, the snows of Homole and Othrys leaving, while crashing thickets in their pathway fall. Nor was Praeneste 's founder absent there, by Vulcan sired, among the herds and hinds, and on a hearth-stone found (so runs the tale each pious age repeats) King Caeculus with rustic legions gathered from afar: from steep Praeneste and the Gabian vale to Juno dear, from Anio's cold stream, from upland Hernic rocks and foaming rills, from rich Anagnia 's pastures, and the plain whence Amasenus pours his worshipped wave. Not all of armor boast, and seldom sound the chariot and shield; but out of slings they hurl blue balls of lead, or in one hand a brace of javelins bear; pulled o'er their brows are hoods of tawny wolf-skin; as they march the left foot leaves a barefoot track behind, a rawhide sandal on the right they wear. Messapus came, steed-tamer, Neptune's son, by sword and fire invincible: this day, though mild his people and unschooled in war, he calls them to embattled lines, and draws no lingering sword. Fescennia musters there, Aequi Falisci, and what clans possess Soracte's heights, Flavinia's fruitful farms, Ciminian lake and mountain, and the groves about Capena . Rank on rank they move, loud singing of their chieftain's praise: as when a flock of snowy swans through clouded air return from feeding, and make tuneful cry from their long throats, while Asia 's rivers hear, and lone Cayster's startled moorland rings: for hardly could the listening ear discern the war-cry of a mail-clad host; the sound was like shrill-calling birds, when home from sea their soaring flock moves shoreward like a cloud.