Volume II Part 70 (2/2)

I would have given Achates store of gold, And Ilioneus gum and Libyan spice; The common soldiers rich embroider'd coats, And silver whistles to control the winds, 10 Which Circe[525] sent Sichaeus when he lived: Unworthy are they of a queen's reward.

See where they come: how might I do to chide?

_Re-enter_ ANNA, _with_ aeNEAS, ACHATES, CLOANTHUS, ILIONEUS, SERGESTUS, _and_ Carthaginian Lords.

_Anna._ 'Twas time to run; aeneas had been gone; The sails were hoising up, and he aboard.

_Dido._ Is this thy love to me?

_aen._ O princely Dido, give me leave to speak!

I went to take my farewell of Achates.

_Dido._ How haps Achates bid me not farewell?

_Ach._ Because I feared your grace would keep me here. 20

_Dido._ To rid thee of that doubt, aboard again: I charge thee put to sea, and stay not here.

_Ach._ Then let aeneas go aboard with us.

_Dido._ Get you aboard; aeneas means to stay.

_aen._ The sea is rough, the winds blow to the sh.o.r.e.

_Dido._ O false aeneas! now the sea is rough; But, when you were aboard, 'twas calm enough: Thou and Achates meant to sail away.

_aen._ Hath not the Carthage queen mine only son?

Thinks Dido I will go and leave him here? 30

_Dido._ aeneas, pardon me; for I forgot That young Ascanius lay with me this night; Love made me jealous: but, to make amends, Wear the imperial crown of Libya, [_Giving him her crown and sceptre._ Sway thou the Punic sceptre in my stead, And punish me, aeneas, for this crime.

_aen._ This kiss shall be fair Dido's punishment.

_Dido._ O, how a crown becomes aeneas' head!

Stay here, aeneas, and command as king.

_aen._ How vain am I to wear this diadem, 40 And bear this golden sceptre in my hand!

A burgonet of steel, and not a crown, A sword, and not a sceptre, fits aeneas.

_Dido._ O, keep them still, and let me gaze my fill!

Now looks aeneas like immortal Jove: O, where is Ganymede, to hold his cup, And Mercury, to fly for what he calls?

Ten thousand Cupids hover in the air, And fan it in aeneas' lovely face!

O, that the clouds were here wherein thou fled'st,[526] 50 That thou and I unseen might sport ourselves!

Heaven,[527] envious of our joys, is waxen pale; And when we whisper, then the stars fall down, To be partakers of our honey talk.

_aen._ O Dido, patroness of all our lives, When I leave thee, death be my punishment!

Swell, raging seas! frown, wayward Destinies!

Blow, winds! threaten, ye rocks and sandy shelves!

This is the harbour that aeneas seeks: Let's see what tempests can annoy me now. 60

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