"In haste we strive to quench the flame divine, Shaking the tresses of his burning hair.
But gladly sire Anchises hails the sign, And gazing upward through the starlit air, His hands and voice together lifts in prayer: 'O Jove omnipotent, dread power benign, If aught our piety deserve, if e'er A suppliant move thee, hearken and incline This once, and aid us now and ratify thy sign.' XCIV.

"Scarce spake the sire when lo, to leftward crashed A peal of thunder, and amid the night A sky-dropt star athwart the darkness flashed, Trailing its torchfire with a stream of light.
We mark the dazzling meteor in its flight Glide o'er the roof, till, vanished from our eyes, It hides in Ida's forest, shining bright And furrowing out a pathway through the skies, And round us far and wide the sulphurous fumes arise.
XCV.

"Up rose my sire, submissive to the sign, And briefly to the Gods addressed his prayer, And bowed adoring to the star divine.
'Now, now,' he cries, 'no tarrying; wheresoe'er Ye point the path, I follow and am there.
Gods of my fathers! O preserve to-day My home, preserve my grandchild; for your care Is Troy, and yours this omen.

I obey; Lead on, my son, I yield and follow on thy way.' XCVI.

"He spake, and nearer through the city came The roar, the crackle and the fiery glow Of conflagration, rolling floods of flame.
'Quick, father, mount my shoulders; let us go.
That toil shall never tire me.