As they gazed Doubtfully at the ships, with sullen eyes, Distracted, torn between a sickly yearning For present land and rest, and the kingdoms calling Them fatefully over the sea, the goddess, cleaving The air on her bright pinions, rose to heaven. They were shaken then, amazed, and frenzy-driven; They cried aloud; tore fire from the hearths and altars; Made tinder of the altar-decorations, The garlandry and wreaths. And the fire, let loose, Rioted over thwarts and oars and rigging. To theatre and tomb Eumelus brought Word of the ships on fire; and the men could see The black ash billowing in the smoky cloud, And first Ascanius, as full of spirit As when he led the games, rushed to the trouble As fast as he could ride; no troubled masters Could hold him back. “Poor things, what are you doing? What craziness is this? what are you up to? It is no Greek camp, no enemy you’re burning But your own hopes! Look at me! Here I am, Your own Ascanius!” And before their feet He flung the helmet he had worn when leading The little war-game. And Aeneas hurried With others to the troubled camp. The women Scattered and fled along the shore, in terror And guilt, wherever they could, to hiding-places In woods or caves in the rock; they are ashamed Of daylight and their deed; Juno is shaken Out of their hearts, and they recognize their own. That does not stop the fire; it burns in fury Under wet oak, tow smoulders, and the stubborn Steam eats the keels away, destruction seizing On deck and hull, and water can not quench it, Nor any strength of men. Tearing his garment Loose from his shoulders, Aeneas prays to heaven:-- “Almighty Jove, if the Trojans are not hateful To the last man, if any record of goodness Alleviates human trouble, let our fleet Escape this flame, O father; save from doom This little Trojan remnant; or with lightning, If I deserve it, strike us down forever!” He had scarcely spoken, when a cloudburst fell Full force, with darkness and black tempest streaming, And thunder rumbling over plain and hillock, The whole sky pouring rain; the ships were drowned With water from above, the half-burnt timbers Were soaked, and the hiss of steam died out; four vessels Were gone, the others rescued from disaster.