But when he was come to his house he bethought him first of the old man his father; but when he would have carried him to the hills, Anchises would not, being loath to live in some strange country when Troy had perished.  “Nay,” said he, “fly ye who are strong and in the flower of your days.  But as for me, if the Gods had willed that I should live, they had saved this dwelling for me.  Enough it is, yea, and more than enough, that once I have seen this city taken, and lived.  Bid me, then, farewell as though I were dead.  Death will I find for myself.  And truly I have long lingered here a useless stock and hated of the Gods, since Jupiter smote me with the blast of his thunder.”

Nor could the old man be moved from his purpose, though his son and his son’s wife, and even the child Ascanius, besought him with many tears that he should not make yet heavier the doom that was upon them.  Then was AEneas minded to go back to the battle and die.  For what hope was left?  “Thoughtest thou, my father,” he cried, “that I should flee and leave thee behind?  What evil word is this that has fallen from thy lips?  If the Gods will have it that nought of Troy should be left, and thou be minded that thou and thine should perish with the city, be it so.  The way is easy; soon will Pyrrhus be here:  Pyrrhus, red with Priam’s blood; Pyrrhus, who slays the son before the face of the father, and the father at the altar.  Was it for this, kind Mother Venus, that thou broughtest me safe through fire and sword, to see the enemy in my home, and my father and my wife and my son lying slaughtered together?  Comrades, give me my arms, and take me back to the battle.  At the least I will die avenged.”

But as he girded on his arms and would have departed from the house, his wife Creusa caught his feet upon the threshold, staying him, and held out the little Ascanius, saying, “If thou goest to thy death, take wife and child with thee; but if thou hopest aught from arms, guard first the house where thou hast father and wife and child.”

And lo! as she spake there befell a mighty marvel, for before the face of father and mother there was seen to shine a light on the head of the boy Ascanius, and to play upon his waving hair and glitter on his temples.  And when they feared to see this thing, and would have stifled the flame or quenched it with water, the old man Anchises in great joy raised his eyes to heaven, and cried aloud, “O Father Jupiter, if prayer move thee at all, give thine aid and make this omen sure.”  And even as he spake the thunder rolled on his left hand, and a star shot through the skies, leaving a long trail of light behind, and passed over the house-tops till it was hidden in the woods of Ida.  Then the old man lifted himself up and did obeisance to the star, and said, “I delay no more:  whithersoever ye lead I will follow.  Gods of my country, save my house and my grandson.  This omen is of you.  And now, my son, I refuse not to go.”