rising over the cave behind, high as the eye can reach, a 5
fitting home for the nests of unclean and hateful birds.
This, as sloping down it inclined towards the river on the
left, pushing it full on the right he upheaved and tore it
loose from its seat, then suddenly sent it down, with a
shock at which high heaven thunders, the banks start 10
apart, and the river runs back in terror. Then the cave
and the vast halls of Cacus were seen unroofed, and the
dark recesses lay open to their depths—even as if earth,
by some mighty force laid open to her depths, should