The clusters
hung purple. The grain stood golden. And then--aye, then came
Rome--Rome the scourge! Rome the curse! Rome the wolf! With fire,
sword, rapine, murder--came Rome! When the invading army crossed the
bounds we took refuge in a walled city. Soon we were surrounded by a
forest of glittering spears. I was an archer on the wall, and we
showered the brutes that hid under the bristling steel. But their
shields made a phalanx which did toss back our arrows as a bull tosses
stubble. Against the wall did they hurl mighty stones which did come
with fierce fury, and with a great beam did they batter our walls as a
ram doth batter a thin hedge. For days did we withstand. I fought
with mad fierceness, for she whom I loved cheered me from beneath the
wall.

"Then did the enemy without the city throw balls of burning pitch. Our
men did fight the fire until their hands were blistered, yet came those
balls of fire. And when flames were consuming us, the gates of the
city were broken and the hand of Rome did have us in its power. With
many of my fellows was I taken away and made fast to a great tree near
by the tent where a Roman chieftain did collect spoil. Of the lithe of
limb who were taken captive, some were to be made gladiators, but the
fierce screams of others of my countrymen, mingled with Roman curses,
told of a more ignominious fate than the arena. For this was I marked.
Fierce was the passion of my bosom that my heritage of the gods should
be sacrificed on the bloody edge of a Roman knife. While yet I stood
chained did my eye catch a sight that did freeze my boiling blood fast
in my veins, steep my breath in curses and turn my vision to mad
blackness, for into the tent of the Roman chief I saw her carried whom
I loved--she who was mine.

"I tore at the chain until blood did ooze from my flesh. Aye, and the
gods did see my plight. My weapons had the hand of Rome taken save a
knife hid in my tunic. Shortly was I to be taken to the chief to be
robbed of my armlets. Then did all the gods show me favor, for as I
went into the tent the chief was called out. Save for the time an eye
doth twinkle was he called out. Yet I rushed behind the curtains which
did hide the maiden. Swift were my words as the falcon flies and
gleaming was my blade in my hand ere the words did pass my lips. And
swift as light falls, bared she her bosom, and here, on the spot where
we had dreamed a little head would lie wh