city of Agylla, where of old the Lydian nation,
renowned in war, took its seat on Etruscan mountains. 10
This city, after long and prosperous years, was held by
king Mezentius, by stress of tyrant rule and the terror of
the sword. Why should I recount the despot’s dreadful
murders and all his savage crimes? may the gods preserve 15
them in mind, and bring them on his own head and
his family’s! Nay, he would even link together the dead
and the living, coupling hand with hand and face with
face—so inventive is the lust of torture—and in the