chosen one of Heaven—assume the place that waits 10 you, gallant general of Teucrians and Italians both. Nay, I will give you, too, Pallas here, the hope and solace of my age; under your tutelage let him learn to endure military service and the war-god’s strenuous labours; let your actions be his pattern, and his young admiration be 15 centred on you. To him I will give two hundred Arcadian horsemen, the flower of my chivalry, and Pallas in his own name shall give you as many more.” Scarce had his words been uttered—and the twain were holding their eyes in downcast thought, Æneas 20 Anchises’ son and true Achates, brooding each with his own sad heart on many a peril, had not Cythera’s goddess sent a sign from the clear sky. For unforeseen, flashed from the heaven, comes a glare and a peal, and all around seemed crashing down at once, and the clang of the 25 Tyrrhene trumpet appeared to blare through ether. They look up: a second and a third time cracks the enormous sound. Armour enveloped in a cloud in a clear quarter of the firmament is seen to flash redly in the sunlight and to ring as clashed together. The rest were all amazement; 30 but the Trojan hero recognized the sound, and in it the promise of his goddess mother. Then he cries: “Nay, my host, nay, ask not in sooth what chance these wonders portend; it is I that have a call from on high. This was the sign that the goddess who gave me birth 35 foreshowed me that she would send, should the attack of war come, while she would bring through the air armour from Vulcan for my help. Alas! how vast the carnage ready to burst on Laurentum’s wretched sons! what vengeance, Turnus, shall be mine from thee! how many a warrior’s shield and helm and stalwart frame shalt thou toss beneath thy waters, father Tiber! Aye, clamour for battle, and break your plighted word!” 5 Thus having said, he rises from his lofty seat, and first of all quickens the altars where the Herculean fires were smouldering, and with glad heart approaches the hearth-god of yesterday, and the small household powers; duly they sacrifice chosen sheep, Evander for his part and the 10 Trojan youth for theirs. Next he moves on to the ships and revisits his crew: from whose number he chooses men to follow him to the war, eminent in valour: the rest are wafted down the stream and float lazily along with the current at their back, to bring Ascanius news of his father 15 and his fortunes. Horses are given to the Teucrians who are seeking the Tyrrhene territory, and one is led along, reserved for Æneas; a tawny lion’s hide covers it wholly, gleaming forth with talons of gold.