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.