As when on mountain-tops you see the loggers Hacking an ash-tree down, and it always threatens To topple, nodding a little, and the leaves Trembling when no wind stirs, and dies of its wounds With one long loud last groan, and dirt from the ridges Heaves up as it goes down with roots in air. Divinity my guide, I leave the roof-top, I pass unharmed through enemies and blazing, Weapons give place to me, and flames retire. At last I reached the house, I found my father, The first one that I looked for. I meant to take him To the safety of the hills, but he was stubborn, Refusing longer life or barren exile, Since Troy was dead. ‘You have the strength,’ he told me, ‘You are young enough, take flight. For me, had heaven Wanted to save my life, they would have spared This home for me. We have seen enough destruction, More than enough, survived a captured city. Speak to me as a corpse laid out for burial, A quick farewell, and go. Death I shall find With my own hand; the enemy will pity, Or look for spoil. The loss of burial Is nothing at all. I have been living too long Hated by gods and useless, since the time Jove blasted me with lightning wind and fire.’ He would not move, however we wept, Creusa, Ascanius, all the house, insistent, pleading That he should not bring all to ruin with him. He would not move, he would not listen. Again I rush to arms, I pray for death; what else Was left to me? ‘Dear father, were you thinking I could abandon you, and go? what son Could bear a thought so monstrous? If the gods Want nothing to be left of so great a city, If you are bound, or pleased, to add us all To the wreck of Troy, the way is open for it-- Pyrrhus will soon be here; from the blood of Priam He comes; he slays the son before the father, The sire at the altar-stone; O my dear mother, Was it for this you saved me, brought me through The fire and sword, to see our enemies Here in the very house, and wife and son And father murdered in each other’s blood? Bring me my arms; the last light calls the conquered. Let me go back to the Greeks, renew the battle, We shall not all of us die unavenged.’