When lo! the burning fire, that shone so bright, Flew off all sudden, with extinguished light, And left one altar dark a little space, Which turned self-kindled, and renewed the blaze; That[162] other victor-flame a moment stood, Then fell, and lifeless left the extinguished wood; For ever lost, the irrevocable light Forsook the black'ning coals, and sunk to night: At either end it whistled as it flew, } And as the brands were green, so dropped the dew; } Infected as it fell with sweat of sanguine hue. } The maid from that ill omen turned her eyes, And with loud shrieks and clamours rent the skies; Nor knew what signified the boding sign, But found the powers displeased, and feared the wrath divine. Then shook the sacred shrine, and sudden light Sprung through the vaulted roof, and made the temple bright. The Power, behold! the Power in glory shone, By her bent bow and her keen arrows known; The rest, a huntress issuing from the wood, Reclining on her cornel spear she stood. Then gracious thus began:--Dismiss thy fear, And heaven's unchanged decrees attentive hear: More powerful gods have torn thee from my side, Unwilling to resign, and doomed a bride: The two contending knights are weighed above; One Mars protects, and one the Queen of love: But which the man, is in the Thunderer's breast; This he pronounced, 'tis he who loves thee best. The fire, that, once extinct, revived again, Foreshews the love allotted to remain. Farewell!--she said, and vanished from the place; The sheaf of arrows shook, and rattled in the case. Aghast at this, the royal virgin stood, Disclaimed, and now no more a sister of the wood: But to the parting Goddess thus she prayed; } Propitious still, be present to my aid, } Nor quite abandon your once-favoured maid.-- } Then sighing she returned; but smiled betwixt, With hopes, and fears, and joys with sorrows mixt. The next returning planetary hour Of Mars, who shared the heptarchy of power, His steps bold Arcite to the temple bent, To adore with pagan rites the power armipotent: Then prostrate low before his altar lay, And raised his manly voice, and thus began to pray:-- Strong God of Arms, whose iron sceptre sways The freezing North, and Hyperborean seas, And Scythian colds, and Thracia's wintry coast, Where stand thy steeds, and thou art honoured most: There most; but every where thy power is known, The fortune of the fight is all thy own: Terror is thine, and wild amazement, flung From out thy chariot, withers even the strong; And disarray and shameful rout ensue, And force is added to the fainting crew-- Acknowledged as thou art, accept my prayer! If aught I have achieved deserve thy care; If to my utmost power with sword and shield } I dared the death, unknowing how to yield, } And falling in my rank, still kept the field, }