veteran skill and the force of his twanging bow. And now
their eyes are met by a sudden portent, drawing a mighty 15
augury in its train. In after days the vast issue told the
tale, and terror-striking seers shrieked their omens too late.
For as it flew in the clouds of heaven, the reed took fire,
and marked its way with a trail of flame, and wasted and
vanished wholly into unsubstantial air; even as stars unfastened 20
from the firmament oft sweep across and drag
their blazing hair as they fly. Fixed aghast to the spot,
in prayer to Heaven, hung the stout sons of Trinacria and