the foremost of the exiles, he set spurs to his horse
and made at him with his spear. Nor did the young Tarquin abide his
coming, but turned his back, hiding himself in the company of the
exiles; and as Valerius pursued him and rode, taking no thought of what
he did, into the very ranks of the enemy, one smote him upon the side so
that he fell from his horse dying. And when the Dictator saw that so
brave a champion was dead, and that the exiles were pressing on more
fiercely and that the Romans gave place in great fear, he cried to the
company that followed him, "See that ye deal with any Roman that ye see
fleeing as with an enemy." Then they that fled, seeing this peril behind
them, stayed their steps and addressed themselves again to the battle.
But when Mamilius saw that the company of exiles was well nigh
surrounded by the Dictator and his men (for these were fresh and
vigorous), he brought up sundry companies from the reserve, and would
have assailed them. But Herminius, the same that kept the bridge over
Tiber along with Horatius against the army of King Porsenna, espied him
coming, and knew him for the Chief by his garments. He made at him with
all his might, and with one blow smote him through the side and slew
him. But while he stripped the body of its armour one of the Latins
thrust at him with a spear, and hurt him that he fell to the earth. Men
carried him back to the camp, but when they would have tended his wound
he died. Then the Dictator cried to the horsemen that followed him, "See
now how the foot soldiers are wearied out. Leap down therefore from off
your horses, and fight on foot." And when the foot soldiers saw them
leap down, they took courage again, and made forward against the Latins;
and these, after a while, turned their backs and fled. Then the Dictator
bade them bring again their horses for the horsemen, that they might the
more conveniently pursue the enemy. Also, that no help either from god
or man might be wanting, he made a vow to the Twin Brethren that he
would build them a temple, and he proclaimed that he would give rewards,
one to him who should be first in the camp of the enemy, and another to
him who should be second. So great, indeed, was the courage of the
soldiers that they took the camp of the Latins that very same hour. Thus
did the men of Rome put the Latins to flight at the Lake Regillus, and
the Dictator with the Master of the Horse returned in great triumph to
Rome.