Now felt the Queen the sharp, slow-gathering pangsof love; and out of every pulsing veinnourished the wound and fed its viewless fire.Her hero's virtues and his lordly linekeep calling to her soul; his words, his glance,cling to her heart like lingering, barbed steel,and rest and peace from her vexed body fly.A new day's dawn with Phoebus' lamp divinelit up all lands, and from the vaulted heavenAurora had dispelled the dark and dew;when thus unto the ever-answering heartof her dear sister spoke the stricken Queen:“Anna, my sister, what disturbing dreamsperplex me and alarm? What guest is thisnew-welcomed to our house? How proud his mien!What dauntless courage and exploits of war!Sooth, I receive it for no idle talethat of the gods he sprang. 'T is cowardicebetrays the base-born soul. Ah me! How fatehas smitten him with storms! What dire extremesof war and horror in his tale he told!O, were it not immutably resolvedin my fixed heart, that to no shape of manI would be wed again (since my first loveleft me by death abandoned and betrayed);loathed I not so the marriage torch and train,I could—who knows?—to this one weakness yield.Anna, I hide it not! But since the doomof my ill-starred Sichaeus, when our shrineswere by a brother's murder dabbled o'er,this man alone has moved me; he alonehas shaken my weak will. I seem to feelthe motions of love's lost, familiar fire.But may the earth gape open where I tread,and may almighty Jove with thunder-scourgehurl me to Erebus' abysmal shade,to pallid ghosts and midnight fathomless,before, O Chastity! I shall offendthy holy power, or cast thy bonds away!He who first mingled his dear life with minetook with him all my heart. 'T is his alone —o, let it rest beside him in the grave!”She spoke: the bursting tears her breast o'erflowed.
At regina gravi iamdudum saucia curavolnus alit venis, et caeco carpitur igni.Multa viri virtus animo, multusque recursatgentis honos: haerent infixi pectore voltusverbaque, nec placidam membris dat cura quietem.Postera Phoebea lustrabat lampade terras,umentemque Aurora polo dimoverat umbram,cum sic unanimam adloquitur male sana sororem:“Anna soror, quae me suspensam insomnia terrent!”“Quis novus hic nostris successit sedibus hospes,”“quem sese ore ferens, quam forti pectore et armis!”“Credo equidem, nec vana fides, genus esse deorum.”“Degeneres animos timor arguit: heu, quibus ille”“iactatus fatis! Quae bella exhausta canebat!”“Si mihi non animo fixum immotumque sederet,”“ne cui me vinclo vellem sociare iugali,”“postquam primus amor deceptam morte fefellit;”“si non pertaesum thalami taedaeque fuisset,”“huic uni forsan potui succumbere culpae.”“Anna, fatebor enim, miseri post fata Sychaei”“coniugis et sparsos fraterna caede Penatis,”“solus hic inflexit sensus, animumque labantem”“impulit: adgnosco veteris vestigia flammae.”“Sed mihi vel tellus optem prius ima dehiscat,”“vel Pater omnipotens adigat me fulmine ad umbras,”“pallentis umbras Erebi noctemque profundam,”“ante, Pudor, quam te violo, aut tua iura resolvo.”“Ille meos, primus qui me sibi iunxit, amores”“abstulit; ille habeat secum servetque sepulchro.”Sic effata sinum lacrimis implevit obortis.
“O dearer to thy sister than her life,”Anna replied, “wouldst thou in sorrow's weedwaste thy long youth alone, nor ever knowsweet babes at thine own breast, nor gifts of love?Will dust and ashes, or a buried ghostreck what we do? 'T is true thy grieving heartwas cold to earlier wooers, Libya's now,and long ago in Tyre. Iarbas knewthy scorn, and many a prince and captain bredin Afric's land of glory. Why resista love that makes thee glad? Hast thou no carewhat alien lands are these where thou dost reign?Here are Gaetulia's cities and her tribesunconquered ever; on thy borders roveNumidia's uncurbed cavalry; here toolies Syrtis' cruel shore, and regions wideof thirsty desert, menaced everywhereby the wild hordes of Barca. Shall I tellof Tyre's hostilities, the threats and rageof our own brother? Friendly gods, I bow,wafted the Teucrian ships, with Juno's aid,to these our shores. O sister, what a throne,and what imperial city shall be thine,if thus espoused! With Trojan arms alliedhow far may not our Punic fame extendin deeds of power? Call therefore on the godsto favor thee; and, after omens fair,give queenly welcome, and contrive excuseto make him tarry, while yon wintry seasare loud beneath Orion's stormful star,and on his battered ships the season frowns.”
Anna refert: “O luce magis dilecta sorori,”“solane perpetua maerens carpere iuventa,”“nec dulcis natos, Veneris nec praemia noris?”“Id cinerem aut Manis credis curare sepultos?”“Esto: aegram nulli quondam flexere mariti,”“non Libyae, non ante Tyro; despectus Iarbas”“ductoresque alii, quos Africa terra triumphis”“dives alit: placitone etiam pugnabis amori?”“Nec venit in mentem, quorum consederis arvis?”“Hinc Gaetulae urbes, genus insuperabile bello,”“et Numidae infreni cingunt et inhospita Syrtis;”“hinc deserta siti regio, lateque furentes”“Barcaei. Quid bella Tyro surgentia dicam,”“germanique minas?”“Dis equidem auspicibus reor et Iunone secunda”“hunc cursum Iliacas vento tenuisse carinas.”“Quam tu urbem, soror, hanc cernes, quae surgere regna”“coniugio tali! Teucrum comitantibus armis”“Punica se quantis attollet gloria rebus!”“Tu modo posce deos veniam, sacrisque litatis”“indulge hospitio, causasque innecte morandi,”“dum pelago desaevit hiemps et aquosus Orion,”“quassataeque rates, dum non tractabile caelum.”
So saying, she stirred a passion-burning breastto Iove more madly still; her words infuseda doubting mind with hope, and bade the blushof shame begone. First to the shrines they wentand sued for grace; performing sacrifice,choosing an offering of unblemished ewes,to law-bestowing Ceres, to the godof light, to sire Lyeus, Iord of wine;but chiefly unto Juno, patronessof nuptial vows. There Dido, beauteous Queenheld forth in her right hand the sacred bowland poured it full between the lifted hornsof the white heifer; or on temple floorsshe strode among the richly laden shrines,the eyes of gods upon her, worshippingwith many a votive gift; or, peering deepinto the victims' cloven sides, she readthe fate-revealing tokens trembling there.How blind the hearts of prophets be! Alas!Of what avail be temples and fond prayersto change a frenzied mind? Devouring ever,love's fire burns inward to her bones; she feelsquick in her breast the viewless, voiceless wound.Ill-fated Dido ranges up and downthe spaces of her city, desperateher life one flame—like arrow-stricken doethrough Cretan forest rashly wandering,pierced by a far-off shepherd, who pursueswith shafts, and leaves behind his light-winged steed,not knowing; while she scours the dark ravinesof Dicte and its woodlands; at her heartthe mortal barb irrevocably clings.around her city's battlements she guidesaeneas, to make show of Sidon's gold,and what her realm can boast; full oft her voiceessays to speak and frembling dies away:or, when the daylight fades, she spreads anewa royal banquet, and once more will pleadmad that she is, to hear the Trojan sorrow;and with oblivious ravishment once morehangs on his lips who tells; or when her guestsare scattered, and the wan moon's fading hornbedims its ray, while many a sinking starinvites to slumber, there she weeps alonein the deserted hall, and casts her downon the cold couch he pressed. Her love from farbeholds her vanished hero and receiveshis voice upon her ears; or to her breast,moved by a father's image in his child,she clasps Ascanius, seeking to deceiveher unblest passion so. Her enterpriseof tower and rampart stops: her martial hostno Ionger she reviews, nor fashions nowdefensive haven and defiant wall;but idly all her half-built bastions frown,and enginery of sieges, high as heaven.
His dictis incensum animum inflammavit amore,spemque dedit dubiae menti, solvitque pudorem.Principio delubra adeunt, pacemque per arasexquirunt; mactant lectas de more bidentislegiferae Cereri Phoeboque patrique Lyaeo,Iunoni ante omnis, cui vincla iugalia curae.Ipsa, tenens dextra pateram, pulcherrima Didocandentis vaccae media inter cornua fundit,aut ante ora deum pinguis spatiatur ad aras,instauratque diem donis, pecudumque reclusispectoribus inhians spirantia consulit exta.Heu vatum ignarae mentes! quid vota furentem,quid delubra iuvant? Est mollis flamma medullasinterea, et tacitum vivit sub pectore volnus.Uritur infelix Dido, totaque vagatururbe furens, qualis coniecta cerva sagitta,quam procul incautam nemora inter Cresia fixitpastor agens telis, liquitque volatile ferrumnescius; illa fuga silvas saltusque peragratDictaeos; haeret lateri letalis arundo.Nunc media Aenean secum per moenia ducit,Sidoniasque ostentat opes urbemque paratam;incipit effari, mediaque in voce resistit;nunc eadem labente die convivia quaerit,Iliacosque iterum demens audire laboresexposcit, pendetque iterum narrantis ab ore.Post, ubi digressi, lumenque obscura vicissimluna premit suadentque cadentia sidera somnos,sola domo maeret vacua, stratisque relictisincubat, illum absens absentem auditque videtque;aut gremio Ascanium, genitoris imagine capta,detinet, infandum si fallere possit amorem.Non coeptae adsurgunt turres, non arma iuventusexercet, portusve aut propugnacula bellotuta parant; pendent opera interrupta, minaequemurorum ingentes aequataque machina caelo.
But soon the chosen spouse of Jove perceivedthe Queen's infection; and because the voiceof honor to such frenzy spoke not, she,daughter of Saturn, unto Venus turnedand counselled thus: “How noble is the praise,how glorious the spoils of victory,for thee and for thy boy! Your names should bein lasting, vast renown—that by the snareof two great gods in league one woman fell!it 'scapes me not that my protected realmshave ever been thy fear, and the proud hallsof Carthage thy vexation and annoy.Why further go? Prithee, what useful endhas our long war? Why not from this day forthperpetual peace and nuptial amity?Hast thou not worked thy will? Behold and seehow Iove-sick Dido burns, and all her flesh'The madness feels! So let our common gracesmile on a mingled people! Let her servea Phrygian husband, while thy hands receiveher Tyrian subjects for the bridal dower!”
Quam simul ac tali persensit peste tenericara Iovis coniunx, nec famam obstare furori,talibus adgreditur Venerem Saturnia dictis:“Egregiam vero laudem et spolia ampla refertis”“tuque puerque tuus, magnum et memorabile numen,”“una dolo divom si femina victa duorum est!”“Nec me adeo fallit veritam te moenia nostra”“suspectas habuisse domos Karthaginis altae.”“Sed quis erit modus, aut quo nunc certamine tanto?”“Quin potius pacem aeternam pactosque hymenaeos”“exercemus? Habes, tota quod mente petisti:”“ardet amans Dido, traxitque per ossa furorem.”“Communem hunc ergo populum paribusque regamus”“auspiciis; liceat Phrygio servire marito,”“dotalisque tuae Tyrios permittere dextrae.”
In answer (reading the dissembler's mindwhich unto Libyan shores were fain to shiftitalia's future throne) thus Venus spoke:“'T were mad to spurn such favor, or by choicebe numbered with thy foes. But can it bethat fortune on thy noble counsel smiles?To me Fate shows but dimly whether Joveunto the Trojan wanderers ordainsa common city with the sons of Tyre,with mingling blood and sworn, perpetual peace.His wife thou art; it is thy rightful dueto plead to know his mind. Go, ask him, then!For humbly I obey!” With instant wordJuno the Queen replied: “Leave that to me!But in what wise our urgent task and gravemay soon be sped, I will in brief unfoldto thine attending ear. A royal huntin sylvan shades unhappy Dido givesfor her Aeneas, when to-morrow's dawnuplifts its earliest ray and Titan's beamshall first unveil the world. But I will pourblack storm-clouds with a burst of heavy hailalong their way; and as the huntsmen speedto hem the wood with snares, I will arouseall heaven with thunder. The attending trainshall scatter and be veiled in blinding dark,while Dido and her hero out of Troyto the same cavern fly. My auspicesI will declare—if thou alike wilt bless;and yield her in true wedlock for his bride.Such shall their spousal be!” To Juno's willCythera's Queen inclined assenting brow,and laughed such guile to see.
Olli—sensit enim simulata mente locutam,quo regnum Italiae Libycas averteret oras—sic contra est ingressa Venus: “Quis talia demens”“abnuat, aut tecum malit contendere bello,”“si modo, quod memoras, factum fortuna sequatur.”“Sed fatis incerta feror, si Iuppiter unam”“esse velit Tyriis urbem Troiaque profectis,”“miscerive probet populos, aut foedera iungi.”“Tu coniunx tibi fas animum temptare precando.”“Perge; sequar”. Tum sic excepit regia Iuno:“Mecum erit iste labor: nunc qua ratione, quod instat”“confieri possit, paucis, adverte, docebo.”“Venatum Aeneas unaque miserrima Dido”“in nemus ire parant, ubi primos crastinus ortus”“extulerit Titan, radiisque retexerit orbem.”“His ego nigrantem commixta grandine nimbum,”“dum trepidant alae, saltusque indagine cingunt,”“desuper infundam, et tonitru caelum omne ciebo.”“Diffugient comites et nocte tegentur opaca:”“speluncam Dido dux et Troianus eandem”“devenient; adero, et, tua si mihi certa voluntas,”“[conubio iungam stabili propriamque dicabo,]”“hic hymenaeus erit.”—Non adversata petentiadnuit, atque dolis risit Cytherea repertis.
Aurora rose,and left the ocean's rim. The city's gatespour forth to greet the morn a gallant trainof huntsmen, bearing many a woven snareand steel-tipped javelin; while to and frorun the keen-scented dogs and Libyan squires.The Queen still keeps her chamber; at her doorsthe Punic lords await; her palfrey, bravein gold and purple housing, paws the groundand fiercely champs the foam-flecked bridle-rein.At last, with numerous escort, forth she shines:her Tyrian pall is bordered in bright hues,her quiver, gold; her tresses are confinedonly with gold; her robes of purple raremeet in a golden clasp. To greet her comethe noble Phrygian guests; among them smilesthe boy Iulus; and in fair arrayAeneas, goodliest of all his train.In such a guise Apollo (when he leavescold Lycian hills and Xanthus' frosty streamto visit Delos to Latona dear)ordains the song, while round his altars crythe choirs of many islands, with the pied,fantastic Agathyrsi; soon the godmoves o'er the Cynthian steep; his flowing hairhe binds with laurel garland and bright gold;upon his shining shoulder as he goesthe arrows ring:—not less uplifted mienaeneas wore; from his illustrious browsuch beauty shone. Soon to the mountains tallthe cavalcade comes nigh, to pathless hauntsof woodland creatures; the wild goats are seen,from pointed crag descending leap by leapdown the steep ridges; in the vales beloware routed deer, that scour the spreading plain,and mass their dust-blown squadrons in wild flight,far from the mountain's bound. Ascaniusflushed with the sport, spurs on a mettled steedfrom vale to vale, and many a flying herdhis chase outspeeds; but in his heart he praysamong these tame things suddenly to seea tusky boar, or, leaping from the hills,a growling mountain-lion, golden-maned.
Oceanum interea surgens Aurora reliquit.It portis iubare exorto delecta iuventus;retia rara, plagae, lato venabula ferro,Massylique ruunt equites et odora canum vis.Reginam thalamo cunctantem ad limina primiPoenorum exspectant, ostroque insignis et aurostat sonipes, ac frena ferox spumantia mandit.Tandem progreditur, magna stipante caterva,Sidoniam picto chlamydem circumdata limbo.Cui pharetra ex auro, crines nodantur in aurum,aurea purpuream subnectit fibula vestem.Nec non et Phrygii comites et laetus Iulusincedunt. Ipse ante alios pulcherrimus omnisinfert se socium Aeneas atque agmina iungit.Qualis ubi hibernam Lyciam Xanthique fluentadeserit ac Delum maternam invisit Apollo,instauratque choros, mixtique altaria circumCretesque Dryopesque fremunt pictique Agathyrsi;ipse iugis Cynthi graditur, mollique fluentemfronde premit crinem fingens atque implicat auro;tela sonant umeris: haud illo segnior ibatAeneas; tantum egregio decus enitet ore.Postquam altos ventum in montis atque invia lustra,ecce ferae, saxi deiectae vertice, capraedecurrere iugis; alia de parte patentistransmittunt cursu campos atque agmina cervipulverulenta fuga glomerant montisque relinquunt.At puer Ascanius mediis in vallibus acrigaudet equo, iamque hos cursu, iam praeterit illos,spumantemque dari pecora inter inertia votisoptat aprum, aut fulvum descendere monte leonem.
Meanwhile low thunders in the distant skymutter confusedly; soon bursts in fullthe storm-cloud and the hail. The Tyrian troopis scattered wide; the chivalry of Troy,with the young heir of Dardan's kingly line,of Venus sprung, seek shelter where they may,with sudden terror; down the deep ravinesthe swollen torrents roar. In that same hourQueen Dido and her hero out of Troyto the same cavern fly. Old Mother-Earthand wedlock-keeping Juno gave the sign;the flash of lightnings on the conscious airwere torches to the bridal; from the hillsthe wailing wood-nymphs sobbed a wedding song.Such was that day of death, the source and springof many a woe. For Dido took no heedof honor and good-name; nor did she meanher loves to hide; but called the lawlessnessa marriage, and with phrases veiled her shame.
Interea magno misceri murmure caelumincipit; insequitur commixta grandine nimbus;et Tyrii comites passim et Troiana iuventusDardaniusque nepos Veneris diversa per agrostecta metu petiere; ruunt de montibus amnes.Speluncam Dido dux et Troianus eandemdeveniunt: prima et Tellus et pronuba Iunodant signum; fulsere ignes et conscius aetherconubiis, summoque ulularunt vertice nymphae.Ille dies primus leti primusque malorumcausa fuit; neque enim specie famave movetur,nec iam furtivum Dido meditatur amorem:coniugium vocat; hoc praetexit nomine culpam.
Swift through the Libyan cities Rumor sped.Rumor! What evil can surpass her speed?In movement she grows mighty, and achievesstrength and dominion as she swifter flies.small first, because afraid, she soon exaltsher stature skyward, stalking through the landsand mantling in the clouds her baleful brow.The womb of Earth, in anger at high Heaven,bore her, they say, last of the Titan spawn,sister to Coeus and Enceladus.Feet swift to run and pinions like the windthe dreadful monster wears; her carcase hugeis feathered, and at root of every plumea peering eye abides; and, strange to tell,an equal number of vociferous tongues,foul, whispering lips, and ears, that catch at all.At night she spreads midway 'twixt earth and heavenher pinions in the darkness, hissing loud,nor e'er to happy slumber gives her eyes:but with the morn she takes her watchful thronehigh on the housetops or on lofty towers,to terrify the nations. She can clingto vile invention and malignant wrong,or mingle with her word some tidings true.She now with changeful story filled men's ears,exultant, whether false or true she sung:how, Trojan-born Aeneas having come,Dido, the lovely widow, Iooked his way,deigning to wed; how all the winter longthey passed in revel and voluptuous ease,to dalliance given o'er; naught heeding nowof crown or kingdom—shameless! lust-enslaved!Such tidings broadcast on the lips of menthe filthy goddess spread; and soon she hiedto King Iarbas, where her hateful songto newly-swollen wrath his heart inflamed.
Extemplo Libyae magnas it Fama per urbes—Fama, malum qua non aliud velocius ullum;mobilitate viget, viresque adquirit eundo,parva metu primo, mox sese attollit in auras,ingrediturque solo, et caput inter nubila condit.Illam Terra parens, ira inritata deorum,extremam (ut perhibent) Coeo Enceladoque sororemprogenuit, pedibus celerem et pernicibus alis,monstrum horrendum, ingens, cui, quot sunt corpore plumaetot vigiles oculi subter, mirabile dictu,tot linguae, totidem ora sonant, tot subrigit aures.Nocte volat caeli medio terraeque per umbram,stridens, nec dulci declinat lumina somno;luce sedet custos aut summi culmine tecti,turribus aut altis, et magnas territat urbes;tam ficti pravique tenax, quam nuntia veri.Haec tum multiplici populos sermone replebatgaudens, et pariter facta atque infecta canebat:venisse Aenean, Troiano sanguine cretum,cui se pulchra viro dignetur iungere Dido;nunc hiemem inter se luxu, quam longa, fovereregnorum immemores turpique cupidine captos.Haec passim dea foeda virum diffundit in ora.Protinus ad regem cursus detorquet Iarban,incenditque animum dictis atque aggerat iras.
Him the god Ammon got by forced embraceupon a Libyan nymph; his kingdoms widepossessed a hundred ample shrines to Jove,a hundred altars whence ascended everthe fires of sacrifice, perpetual seatsfor a great god's abode, where flowing bloodenriched the ground, and on the portals hunggarlands of every flower. The angered King,half-maddened by malignant Rumor's voice,unto his favored altars came, and there,surrounded by the effluence divine,upraised in prayer to Jove his suppliant hands.“Almighty Jupiter, to whom each day,at banquet on the painted couch reclined,Numidia pours libation! Do thine eyesbehold us? Or when out of yonder heaven,o sire, thou launchest the swift thunderbolt,is it for naught we fear thee? Do the cloudsshoot forth blind fire to terrify the soulwith wild, unmeaning roar? O, Iook uponthat woman, who was homeless in our realm,and bargained where to build her paltry town,receiving fertile coastland for her farms,by hospitable grant! She dares disdainour proffered nuptial vow. She has proclaimedAeneas partner of her bed and throne.And now that Paris, with his eunuch crew,beneath his chin and fragrant, oozy hairties the soft Lydian bonnet, boasting wellhis stolen prize. But we to all these fanes,though they be thine, a fruitless offering bring,and feed on empty tales our trust in thee.”
Hic Hammone satus, rapta Garamantide Nympha,templa Iovi centum latis immania regnis,centum aras posuit, vigilemque sacraverat ignem,excubias divom aeternas, pecudumque cruorepingue solum et variis florentia limina sertis.Isque amens animi et rumore accensus amarodicitur ante aras media inter numina divommulta Iovem manibus supplex orasse supinis:“Iuppiter omnipotens, cui nunc Maurusia pictis”“gens epulata toris Lenaeum libat honorem,”“aspicis haec, an te, genitor, cum fulmina torques,”“nequiquam horremus, caecique in nubibus ignes”“terrificant animos et inania murmura miscent?”“Femina, quae nostris errans in finibus urbem”“exiguam pretio posuit, cui litus arandum”“cuique loci leges dedimus, conubia nostra”“reppulit, ac dominum Aenean in regna recepit.”“Et nunc ille Paris cum semiviro comitatu,”“Maeonia mentum mitra crinemque madentem”“subnexus, rapto potitur: nos munera templis”“quippe tuis ferimus, famamque fovemus inanem.”
As thus he prayed and to the altars clung,th' Omnipotent gave ear, and turned his gazeupon the royal dwelling, where for lovethe amorous pair forgot their place and name.Then thus to Mercury he gave command:“Haste thee, my son, upon the Zephyrs call,and take thy winged way! My mandate bearunto that prince of Troy who tarries nowin Tyrian Carthage, heedless utterlyof empire Heaven-bestowed. On winged windshasten with my decrees. Not such the manhis beauteous mother promised; not for thistwice did she shield him from the Greeks in arms:but that he might rule Italy, a landpregnant with thrones and echoing with war;that he of Teucer's seed a race should sire,and bring beneath its law the whole wide world.If such a glory and event supremeenkindle not his bosom; if such taskto his own honor speak not; can the sirebegrudge Ascanius the heritageof the proud name of Rome? What plans he now?What mad hope bids him linger in the lapof enemies, considering no morethe land Lavinian and Ausonia's sons.Let him to sea! Be this our final word:this message let our herald faithful bear.”
Talibus orantem dictis arasque tenentemaudiit omnipotens, oculosque ad moenia torsitregia et oblitos famae melioris amantes.Tum sic Mercurium adloquitur ac talia mandat:“Vade age, nate, voca Zephyros et labere pennis,”“Dardaniumque ducem, Tyria Karthagine qui nunc”“exspectat, fatisque datas non respicit urbes,”“adloquere, et celeris defer mea dicta per auras.”“Non illum nobis genetrix pulcherrima talem”“promisit, Graiumque ideo bis vindicat armis;”“sed fore, qui gravidam imperiis belloque frementem”“Italiam regeret, genus alto a sanguine Teucri”“proderet, ac totum sub leges mitteret orbem.”“Si nulla accendit tantarum gloria rerum,”“nec super ipse sua molitur laude laborem,”“Ascanione pater Romanas invidet arces?”“Quid struit, aut qua spe inimica in gente moratur,”“nec prolem Ausoniam et Lavinia respicit arva?”“Naviget: haec summa est; hic nostri nuntius esto.”
He spoke. The god a prompt obedience gaveto his great sire's command. He fastened firstthose sandals of bright gold, which carry himaloft o'er land or sea, with airy wingsthat race the fleeting wind; then lifted hehis wand, wherewith he summons from the gravepale-featured ghosts, or, if he will, consignsto doleful Tartarus; or by its powergives slumber or dispels; or quite unsealsthe eyelids of the dead: on this relying,he routs the winds or cleaves th' obscurityof stormful clouds. Soon from his flight he spiedthe summit and the sides precipitousof stubborn Atlas, whose star-pointing peakprops heaven; of Atlas, whose pine-wreathed browis girdled evermore with misty gloomand lashed of wind and rain; a cloak of snowmelts on his shoulder; from his aged chindrop rivers, and ensheathed in stiffening iceglitters his great grim beard. Here first was stayedthe speed of Mercury's well-poising wing;here making pause, from hence he headlong flunghis body to the sea; in motion likesome sea-bird's, which along the levelled shoreor round tall crags where rove the swarming fish,flies Iow along the waves: o'er-hovering sobetween the earth and skies, Cyllene's godflew downward from his mother's mountain-sire,parted the winds and skimmed the sandy mergeof Libya. When first his winged feetcame nigh the clay-built Punic huts, he sawAeneas building at a citadel,and founding walls and towers; at his sidewas girt a blade with yellow jaspers starred,his mantle with the stain of Tyrian shellflowed purple from his shoulder, broidered fairby opulent Dido with fine threads of gold,her gift of love; straightway the god began:“Dost thou for lofty Carthage toil, to buildfoundations strong? Dost thou, a wife's weak thrall,build her proud city? Hast thou, shameful loss!Forgot thy kingdom and thy task sublime?From bright Olympus, I. He who commandsall gods, and by his sovran deitymoves earth and heaven—he it was who bademe bear on winged winds his high decree.What plan is thine? By what mad hope dost thoulinger so Iong in lap of Libyan land?If the proud reward of thy destined waymove not thy heart, if all the arduous toilto thine own honor speak not, Iook uponIulus in his bloom, thy hope and heirAscanius. It is his rightful duein Italy o'er Roman lands to reign.”After such word Cyllene's winged godvanished, and e'er his accents died away,dissolved in air before the mortal's eyes.
Dixerat. Ille patris magni parere parabatimperio; et primum pedibus talaria nectitaurea, quae sublimem alis sive aequora supraseu terram rapido pariter cum flamine portant;tum virgam capit: hac animas ille evocat Orcopallentis, alias sub Tartara tristia mittit,dat somnos adimitque, et lumina morte resignat.Illa fretus agit ventos, et turbida tranatnubila; iamque volans apicem et latera ardua cernitAtlantis duri, caelum qui vertice fulcit,Atlantis, cinctum adsidue cui nubibus atrispiniferum caput et vento pulsatur et imbri;nix umeros infusa tegit; tum flumina mentopraecipitant senis, et glacie riget horrida barba.Hic primum paribus nitens Cyllenius alisconstitit; hinc toto praeceps se corpore ad undasmisit, avi similis, quae circum litora, circumpiscosos scopulos humilis volat aequora iuxta.Haud aliter terras inter caelumque volabat,litus harenosum Libyae ventosque secabatmaterno veniens ab avo Cyllenia proles.Ut primum alatis tetigit magalia plantis,Aenean fundantem arces ac tecta novantemconspicit; atque illi stellatus iaspide fulvaensis erat, Tyrioque ardebat murice laenademissa ex umeris, dives quae munera Didofecerat, et tenui telas discreverat auro.Continuo invadit: “Tu nunc Karthaginis altae”“fundamenta locas, pulchramque uxorius urbem”“exstruis, heu regni rerumque oblite tuarum?”“Ipse deum tibi me claro demittit Olympo”“regnator, caelum ac terras qui numine torquet;”“ipse haec ferre iubet celeris mandata per auras:”“quid struis, aut qua spe Libycis teris otia terris?”“Si te nulla movet tantarum gloria rerum,”“[nec super ipse tua moliris laude laborem,]”“Ascanium surgentem et spes heredis Iuli”“respice, cui regnum Italiae Romanaque tellus”“debentur.” Tali Cyllenius ore locutusmortalis visus medio sermone reliquit,et procul in tenuem ex oculis evanuit auram.
Aeneas at the sight stood terror-dumbwith choking voice and horror-rising hair.He fain would fly at once and get him gonefrom that voluptuous land, much wonderingat Heaven's wrathful word. Alas! how stir?What cunning argument can plead his causebefore th' infuriate Queen? How break such news?Flashing this way and that, his startled mindmakes many a project and surveys them all.But, pondering well, his final counsel stoppedat this resolve: he summoned to his sideMnestheus, Sergestus, and Serestus bold,and bade them fit the fleet, all silentlygathering the sailors and collecting gear,but carefully dissembling what emprisesuch novel stir intends: himself the while(Since high-born Dido dreamed not love so fondcould have an end) would seek an audience,at some indulgent time, and try what shiftsuch matters may require. With joy they heard,and wrought, assiduous, at their prince's plan.
At vero Aeneas aspectu obmutuit amens,arrectaeque horrore comae, et vox faucibus haesit.Ardet abire fuga dulcisque relinquere terras,attonitus tanto monitu imperioque deorum.Heu quid agat? Quo nunc reginam ambire furentemaudeat adfatu? Quae prima exordia sumat?Atque animum nunc huc celerem, nunc dividit illuc,in partisque rapit varias perque omnia versat.Haec alternanti potior sententia visa est:Mnesthea Sergestumque vocat fortemque Serestum,classem aptent taciti sociosque ad litora cogant,arma parent, et quae rebus sit causa novandisdissimulent; sese interea, quando optuma Didonesciat et tantos rumpi non speret amores,temptaturum aditus, et quae mollissima fanditempora, quis rebus dexter modus. Ocius omnesimperio laeti parent ac iussa facessunt.
But what can cheat true love? The Queen foreknewhis stratagem, and all the coming changeperceived ere it began. Her jealous fearcounted no hour secure. That unclean tongueof Rumor told her fevered heart the fleetwas fitting forth, and hastening to be gone.Distractedly she raved, and passion-tossedroamed through her city, like a Maenad rousedby the wild rout of Bacchus, when are heardthe third year's orgies, and the midnight screamto cold Cithaeron calls the frenzied crew.Finding Aeneas, thus her plaint she poured:“Didst hope to hide it, false one, that such crimewas in thy heart,—to steal without farewellout of my kingdom? Did our mutual joynot move thee; nor thine own true promise givenonce on a time? Nor Dido, who will diea death of sorrow? Why compel thy shipsto brave the winter stars? Why off to seaso fast through stormy skies? O, cruelty!If Troy still stood, and if thou wert not boundfor alien shore unknown, wouldst steer for Troythrough yonder waste of waves? Is it from methou takest flight? O, by these flowing tears,by thine own plighted word (for nothing moremy weakness left to miserable me),by our poor marriage of imperfect vow,if aught to me thou owest, if aught in meever have pleased thee—O, be mercifulto my low-fallen fortunes! I implore,if place be left for prayer, thy purpose change!Because of thee yon Libyan savagesand nomad chiefs are grown implacable,and my own Tyrians hate me. Yes, for theemy chastity was slain and honor fair,by which alone to glory I aspired,in former days. To whom dost thou in deathabandon me? my guest!—since but this nameis left me of a husband! Shall I waittill fell Pygmalion, my brother, razemy city walls? Or the Gaetulian king,Iarbas, chain me captive to his car?.O, if, ere thou hadst fled, I might but bearsome pledge of love to thee, and in these hallswatch some sweet babe Aeneas at his play,whose face should be the memory of thine own —I were not so forsaken, Iost, undone!”
At regina dolos—quis fallere possit amantem?praesensit, motusque excepit prima futuros,omnia tuta timens. Eadem impia Fama furentidetulit armari classem cursumque parari.Saevit inops animi, totamque incensa per urbembacchatur, qualis commotis excita sacrisThyias, ubi audito stimulant trieterica Bacchoorgia, nocturnusque vocat clamore Cithaeron.Tandem his Aenean compellat vocibus ultro:“Dissimulare etiam sperasti, perfide, tantum”“posse nefas, tacitusque mea decedere terra?”“Nec te noster amor, nec te data dextera quondam,”“nec moritura tenet crudeli funere Dido?”“Quin etiam hiberno moliris sidere classem,”“et mediis properas aquilonibus ire per altum,”“crudelis? Quid, si non arva aliena domosque”“ignotas peteres, sed Troia antiqua maneret,”“Troia per undosum peteretur classibus aequor”“Mene fugis? Per ego has lacrimas dextramque tuam te”“(quando aliud mihi iam miserae nihil ipsa reliqui)”“per conubia nostra, per inceptos hymenaeos,”“si bene quid de te merui, fuit aut tibi quicquam”“dulce meum, miserere domus labentis, et istam—”“oro, si quis adhuc precibus locus—exue mentem.”“Te propter Libycae gentes Nomadumque tyranni”“odere, infensi Tyrii; te propter eundem”“exstinctus pudor, et, qua sola sidera adibam,”“fama prior. Cui me moribundam deseris, hospes?”“Hoc solum nomen quoniam de coniuge restat.”“Quid moror? An mea Pygmalion dum moenia frater”“destruat, aut captam ducat Gaetulus Iarbas?”“Saltem si qua mihi de te suscepta fuisset”“ante fugam suboles, si quis mihi parvulus aula”“luderet Aeneas, qui te tamen ore referret,”“non equidem omnino capta ac deserta viderer.”
She said. But he, obeying Jove's decree,gazed steadfastly away; and in his heartwith strong repression crushed his cruel pain;then thus the silence broke: “O Queen, not oneof my unnumbered debts so strongly urgedwould I gainsay. Elissa's memorywill be my treasure Iong as memory holds,or breath of life is mine. Hear my brief plea!'T was not my hope to hide this flight I take,as thou hast dreamed. Nay, I did never lighta bridegroom's torch, nor gave I thee the vowof marriage. Had my destiny decreed,that I should shape life to my heart's desire,and at my own will put away the weightof foil and pain, my place would now be foundin Troy, among the cherished sepulchresof my own kin, and Priam's mansion proudwere standing still; or these my loyal handshad rebuilt Ilium for her vanquished sons.But now to Italy Apollo's powercommands me forth; his Lycian oraclesare loud for Italy. My heart is there,and there my fatherland. If now the towersof Carthage and thy Libyan colonydelight thy Tyrian eyes; wilt thou refuseto Trojan exiles their Ausonian shore?I too by Fate was driven, not less than thou,to wander far a foreign throne to find.Oft when in dewy dark night hides the world,and flaming stars arise, Anchises' shadelooks on me in my dreams with angered brow.I think of my Ascanius, and the wrongto that dear heart, from whom I steal awayHesperia, his destined home and throne.But now the winged messenger of Heaven,sent down by Jove (I swear by thee and me!),has brought on winged winds his sire's command.My own eyes with unclouded vision sawthe god within these walls; I have receivedwith my own ears his word. No more inflamewith lamentation fond thy heart and mine.'T is not my own free act seeks Italy.”
Dixerat. Ille Iovis monitis immota tenebatlumina, et obnixus curam sub corde premebat.Tandem pauca refert: “Ego te, quae plurima fando”“enumerare vales, numquam, regina, negabo”“promeritam; nec me meminisse pigebit Elissae,”“dum memor ipse mei, dum spiritus hos regit artus.”“Pro re pauca loquar. Neque ego hanc abscondere furto”“speravi—ne finge—fugam, nec coniugis umquam”“praetendi taedas, aut haec in foedera veni.”“Me si fata meis paterentur ducere vitam”“auspiciis et sponte mea componere curas,”“urbem Troianam primum dulcisque meorum”“reliquias colerem, Priami tecta alta manerent,”“et recidiva manu posuissem Pergama victis.”“Sed nunc Italiam magnam Gryneus Apollo,”“Italiam Lyciae iussere capessere sortes:”“hic amor, haec patria est. Si te Karthaginis arces,”“Phoenissam, Libycaeque aspectus detinet urbis,”“quae tandem, Ausonia Teucros considere terra,”“invidia est? Et nos fas extera quaerere regna.”“Me patris Anchisae, quotiens umentibus umbris”“nox operit terras, quotiens astra ignea surgunt,”“admonet in somnis et turbida terret imago;”“me puer Ascanius capitisque iniuria cari,”“quem regno Hesperiae fraudo et fatalibus arvis.”“Nunc etiam interpres divom, Iove missus ab ipso—”“testor utrumque caput—celeris mandata per auras”“detulit; ipse deum manifesto in lumine vidi”“intrantem muros, vocemque his auribus hausi.”“Desine meque tuis incendere teque querelis:”“Italiam non sponte sequor.”