eas, and
much at the false Ascanius. Dido also could not satisfy herself with
looking on him, nor knew what trouble he was preparing for her in the time
to come. And he, having first embraced the father who was not his father,
and clung about his neck, addressed himself to Queen Dido, and she ever
followed him with her eyes, and sometimes would hold him on her lap. And
still he worked upon her that she should forget the dead Sichaeus and
conceive a new love in her heart.

But when they first paused from the feast, lo! men set great bowls upon
the table and filled them to the brim with wine. Then did the queen call
for a great vessel of gold, with many jewels upon it, from which Belus,
and all the kings from Belus, had drunk, and called for wine, and having
filled it she cried, "O Jupiter, whom they call the god of hosts and
guests, cause that this be a day of joy for the men of Troy and for them
of Tyre, and that our children remember it forever. Also Bacchus, giver of
joy, be present, and kindly Juno." And when she had touched the wine with
her lips, she handed the great cup to Prince Bitias, who drank thereout a
mighty draught, and the other princes after him. Then the minstrel Iopas,
whom Atlas himself had taught, sang to the harp, of the moon, how she goes
on her way, and of the sun, how his light is darkened. He sang also of
men, and of the beasts of the field, whence they come; and of the stars,
Arcturus, and the Greater Bear and the Less, and the Hyades; and of the
winter sun, why he hastens to dip himself in the ocean; and of the winter
nights, why they tarry so long. The queen also talked much of the story of
Troy, of Priam, and of Hector, asking many things, as of the arms of
Memnon, and of the horses of Diomed, and of Achilles, how great he was.
And at last she said to AEneas, "Tell us now thy story, how Troy was taken,
and thy wanderings over land and sea." And AEneas made answer, "Nay, O
Queen, but thou biddest me renew a sorrow unspeakable. Yet, if thou art
minded to hear these things, hearken." And he told her all that had
befallen him, even to the day when his father Anchises died.

Much was Queen Dido moved by the story, and much did she marvel at him
that told it, and scarce could sleep for thinking of him. And the next day
she spake to Anna, her sister, "O my sister, I have been troubled this
night with ill dreams, and my heart is disquieted within me. What a man is
this stranger that hath come to our