Book IV, Elegy 10

Now will I begin to show forth the origins of Feretrian Jupiter and to tell of the triple spoils of armour won from three several chiefs. Great are the heights I must scale, but glory lends me strength; crowns plucked from easy summits please me not.

Thou, Romulus, first didst win this prize and camest home laden with the spoil of thy foe, what time thou didst vanquish Caeninian Acron, as he sought the gates of Rome, and with thy spear didst hurl him dead upon his fallen steed. Acron, the chieftain from Caenina's citadel, sprung from the seed of Hercules, was once the terror of thy lands, O Rome.

He dared to hope for spoil from Quirinus' shoulders, but himself gave up his own, spoil dripping with his own life-blood. Him Romulus espied, as he poised his javelin against the hollow towers, and forestalled him with a vow that heaven approved: "Jupiter, behold thy victim; to-day shall Acron fall in thine honour." The vow was made, and Acron fell to be the spoil of Jupiter. Thus was he wont to conquer, the father of Rome and the Virtues, who from homes of thrift led forth an unluxurious host. The knight was ready alike to guide the war-horse or the plough; his helm was of wolf-skin decked with shaggy plume, his shield shone not with gaudy inlay of golden bronze, and his tough belt was but the hide of slaughtered kine. Not yet was the sound of war heard beyond Tiber's bank, and Nomentum and the three acres of captured Cora were Rome's furthest prey.

Cossus comes next with the slaughter of Tolumnius, Veii's lord, in the days when even to have power for Veii's conquest was a mighty task. Alas! Veii, thou ancient city, thou too wert then a kingdom and the throne of gold was set in thy market-place: now, within thy walls is heard the horn of the idle shepherd, and they reap the cornfields amid thy people's bones. It chanced that Veii's chief stood on the tower above the gate and parleyed without fear from his own city: and while the ram shook the walls with brazen horn, where the long mantlet shielded the siege-works' line, Cossus cried: "Twere better for the brave to meet in open field." No tarrying then, but both stood forth on the level plain. The gods aided the Latin's hands, and Tolumnius' severed neck bathed Roman steeds with blood.

Claudius beat back the foe that had crossed from the banks of Rhone, when the Belgic shield of the giant chief Virdomarus was brought back to Rome. He boasted to be sprung from Rhine himself, and nimble was he to hurl the Gallic spear from unswerving chariot. Even as in striped breeches he went forth before his host, the bent torque fell from his severed throat.

These triple spoils are stored in the temple. Hence comes Feretrius' name, because with heaven's sure favour chief smote chief with the sword: or else the proud altar of Feretrian Jupiter hath won its name because the victor bore the armour of the vanquished on his shoulders.