Part 9 (1/2)

Wast thou not wrackt vpon this _Libian_ sh.o.a.re, And cam'st to _Dido_ like a Fisherswaine?

Repairde not I thy s.h.i.+ps, made thee a King, And all thy needie followers n.o.blemen?

O Serpent that came creeping from the sh.o.a.re, And I for pitie harbord in my bosome, Wilt thou now slay me with thy venomed sting, And hisse at _Dido_ for preseruing thee?

Goe goe and spare not, seeke out _Italy_, I hope that that which loue forbids me doe, The Rockes and Sea-gulfes will performe at large, And thou shalt perish in the billowes waies, To whom poore _Dido_ doth bequeath reuenge, I traytor, and the waues shall cast thee vp, Where thou and false _Achates_ first set foote: Which if it chaunce, Ile giue ye buriall, And weepe vpon your liueles carcases, Though thou nor he will pitie me a whit.

Why star'st thou in my face? if thou wilt stay, Leape in mine armes, mine armes are open wide: If not, turne from me, and Ile turne from thee; For though thou hast the heart to say farewell, I haue not power to stay thee: is he gone?

I but heele come againe, he cannot goe, He loues me to too well to serue me so: Yet he that in my sight would not relent, Will, being absent, be abdurate still.

By this is he got to the water side, And, see the Sailers take him by the hand, But he shrinkes backe, and now remembring me, Returnes amaine: welcome, welcome my loue: But wheres _aeneas_? ah hees gone hees gone!

_Anna._ What meanes my sister thus to raue and crye?

_Dido._ O _Anna_, my _aeneas_ is abourd, And leauing me will saile to _Italy_.

Once didst thou goe, and he came backe againe, Now bring him backe, and thou shalt be a Queene, And I will liue a priuate life with him.

_Anna._ Wicked _aeneas_.

_Dido._ Call him not wicked, sister speake him faire, And looke vpon him with a Mermaides eye, Tell him, I neuer vow'd at _Aulis_ gulfe The desolation of his natiue _Troy_, Nor sent a thousand s.h.i.+ps vnto the walles, Nor euer violated faith to him: Request him gently (_Anna_) to returne, I craue but this, he stay a tide or two, That I may learne to beare it patiently, If he depart thus suddenly, I dye: Run _Anna_, run, stay not to answere me.

_Anna._ I goe faire sister, heauens graunt good successe.

_Exit Anna._

_Enter the Nurse._

_Nurse._ O _Dido_, your little sonne _Ascanius_ Is gone! he lay with me last night, And in the morning he was stolne from me, I thinke some Fairies haue beguiled me.

_Dido._ O cursed hagge and false dissembling wretch!

That slayest me with thy harsh and h.e.l.lish tale, Thou for some pettie guift hast let him goe, And I am thus deluded of my boy: Away with her to prison presently, Traytoresse too keend and cursed Sorceresse.

_Nurse._ I know not what you meane by treason, I, I am as true as any one of yours. _Exeunt the Nurse._

_Dido._ Away with her, suffer her not to speake.

My sister comes, I like not her sad lookes.

_Enter Anna._

_Anna._ Before I came, _aeneas_ was abourd, And spying me, hoyst vp the sailes amaine: But I cride out, _aeneas_, false _aeneas_ stay.

Then gan he wagge his hand, which yet held vp, Made me suppose he would haue heard me speake: Then gan they driue into the Ocean, Which when I viewd, I cride, _aeneas_ stay, _Dido_, faire _Dido_ wils _aeneas_ stay: Yet he whose heart of adamant or flint, My teares nor plaints could mollifie a whit: Then carelesly I rent my haire for griefe, Which seene to all, though he beheld me not, They gan to moue him to redresse my ruth, And stay a while to heare what I could say, But he clapt vnder hatches saild away.

_Dido._ O _Anna_, _Anna_, I will follow him.

_Anna._ How can ye goe when he hath all your fleete?