軍がアウリスにいたとき、アポロンへの犠牲を捧げたのち、祭壇のわきの鈴懸の木へ蛇が躍り出た。木には巣があり、蛇は巣の中の雀八羽と、九羽目にあたる母鳥とを呑み込み、そして石に変わった。カルカスは、これはゼウスの意志によって与えられた徴だと言い、起きたことから、トロイアは十年の歳月ののちに落ちる定めだと読み取った。こうして一同はトロイアへ船出する支度をした。
英文
When the armament was in Aulis, after a sacrifice to Apollo, a serpent darted from the altar beside the neighboring plane-tree, in which there was a nest; and having consumed the eight sparrows in the nest, together with the mother bird, which made the ninth, it was turned to stone. Calchas said that this sign was given them by the will of Zeus, and he inferred from what had happened that Troy was destined to be taken in a period of ten years. And they made ready to sail against Troy.