Methodius Buslaev. Third Horseman Of Gloom

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In Norse mythology, a host of female figures called valkyries is sometimes connected to swans. These valkyries are responsible for choosing who should be slain in battle.

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Famous verses by Punlius Vergilius Maro (70-19BC), usually called Virgil, one of the greatest Roman poets during the reign of Caesar Augustus (63 BC -14 AD), the first emperor of the Roman Empire.

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The quote is from Ode 1.3 – To Virgil, Setting Out for Greece – by Horace, Quintus Haratius Flasccus (65 BC – 8 BC), the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus, Illi robur et aes triplex circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci commisit pelago ratem primus – there was both oak and a triple layer of bronze around the heart of he who first launched a frail craft on the savage open sea.