Figure descriptions
The citizens of Rome gather around an immense gulf at the center of the Roman forum.
At the center of the illustration, a man,
identified in the poem text as the warrior Marcus Curtius, rides his horse directly
into the gulf. He is dressed in armour and
raises both hands in the air. The crowds of people all watch Marcus Curtius; many
of them also raise both hands in the air. At the
right side of the illustration, one figure embraces another as they watch the scene.
Large jagged rocks surround the gulf. Roman
buildings with classical columns and arches surround the gulf and continue up a hill
into the distance. The scene is dark but
lightning bolts break through dark clouds and illuminate the sky. Full page.
