520Scarcely had he spoken, and Aeneas, son of Anchises, and faithful Achates kept their eyes fixed on the ground, and were pondering many hard things in their sad hearts, had not the Cytherean given a sign from the open sky. 524For unexpectedly a flash, darting from the heavens, came with a crash, and suddenly everything seemed to tumble, and the blare of a Tyrrhenian trumpet to bellow through the sky. 527They look up; again and again a huge crash resounds: they see arms in a cloud in a clear region of the sky, glowing red through the bright air and thundering as they clash. 530The others were struck with amazement, but the Trojan hero recognised the sound and the promises of his divine mother.
532Then he says: 'Do not, my host, do not indeed ask what fortune these portents bring: it is I who am called by Olympus. 534My divine mother foretold that she would send this sign if war should assail us, and would bring Vulcan's arms through the air to help. 537Alas, what slaughter awaits the wretched Laurentines; 538what a penalty you will pay me, Turnus; 538how many shields of men and helmets and brave bodies you will roll beneath your waves, father Tiber! 540Let them demand battle and break their treaties.'