t was upon them. Then was AEneas
minded to go back to the battle and die. For what hope was left?
"Thoughtest thou, my father," he cried, "that I should flee and leave thee
behind? What evil word is this that has fallen from thy lips? If the Gods
will have it that nought of Troy should be left, and thou be minded that
thou and thine should perish with the city, be it so. The way is easy;
soon will Pyrrhus be here: Pyrrhus, red with Priam's blood; Pyrrhus, who
slays the son before the face of the father, and the father at the altar.
Was it for this, kind Mother Venus, that thou broughtest me safe through
fire and sword, to see the enemy in my home, and my father and my wife and
my son lying slaughtered together? Comrades, give me my arms, and take me
back to the battle. At the least I will die avenged."

But as he girded on his arms and would have departed from the house, his
wife Creusa caught his feet upon the threshold, staying him, and held out
the little Ascanius, saying, "If thou goest to thy death, take wife and
child with thee; but if thou hopest aught from arms, guard first the house
where thou hast father and wife and child."

And lo! as she spake there befell a mighty marvel, for before the face of
father and mother there was seen to shine a light on the head of the boy
Ascanius, and to play upon his waving hair and glitter on his temples. And
when they feared to see this thing, and would have stifled the flame or
quenched it with water, the old man Anchises in great joy raised his eyes
to heaven, and cried aloud, "O Father Jupiter, if prayer move thee at all,
give thine aid and make this omen sure." And even as he spake the thunder
rolled on his left hand, and a star shot through the skies, leaving a long
trail of light behind, and passed over the house-tops till it was hidden
in the woods of Ida. Then the old man lifted himself up and did obeisance
to the star, and said, "I delay no more: whithersoever ye lead I will
follow. Gods of my country, save my house and my grandson. This omen is of
you. And now, my son, I refuse not to go."

Then said AEneas, and as he spake the fire came nearer, and the light was
clearer to see, and the heat more fierce, "Climb, dear father, on my
shoulders; I will bear thee, nor grow weary with the weight. We will be
saved or perish together. The little Ascanius shall go with me, and my
wife follow behind, not over near. And ye, servants of my house, hearken
to me; ye mind how th