, and Antheus, and
bid them make ready the ships in silence, and gather together the people,
but dissemble the cause, and he himself would watch a fitting time to
speak and unfold the matter to the queen.

Yet was not Dido deceived, for love is keen of sight. Rumor also told her
that they made ready the ships for sailing. Then, flying through the city,
even as one on whom has come the frenzy of Bacchus flies by night over
Mount Cithaeron, she came upon AEneas, and spake: "Thoughtest thou to hide
thy crime, and to depart in silence from this land? Carest thou not for
her whom thou leavest to die? And hast thou no fear of winter storms that
vex the sea? By all that I have done for thee and given thee, if there be
yet any place for repentance, repent thee of this purpose. For thy sake I
suffer the wrath of the princes of Libya and of my own people; and if thou
leavest me, for what should I live?--till my brother overthrow my city, or
Iarbas carry me away captive? If but I had a little AEneas to play in my
halls I should not seem so altogether desolate."

But AEneas, fearing the words of Jupiter, stood with eyes that relented
not. At the last he spake: "I deny not, O Queen, the benefits that thou
hast done unto me, nor ever, while I live, shall I forget Dido. I sought
not to fly by stealth; yet did I never promise that I would abide in this
place. Could I have chosen according to my will I had built again the city
of Troy where it stood; but the Gods command that I should seek Italy.
Thou hast thy Carthage; why dost thou grudge Italy to us? Nor may I tarry.
Night after night have I seen my father Anchises warning me in dreams.
Also even now the messenger of Jupiter came to me--with these ears I heard
him--and bade me depart."

Then, in great wrath, with eyes askance, did Dido break forth upon him:
"Surely no goddess was thy mother, nor art thou come of the race of
Dardanus. The rocks of Caucasus brought thee forth, and an Hyrcanian
tigress gave thee suck. For why should I dissemble? Was he moved at all my
tears? Did he pity my love? Nay, the very Gods are against me. This man I
took to myself when he was shipwrecked and ready to perish. I brought back
his ships, his companions from destruction. And now forsooth comes the
messenger of Jupiter with dreadful commands from the Gods. As for thee, I
keep thee not. Go, seek thy Italy across the seas: only, if there is any
vengeance in heaven, thou wilt pay the penalty for this wr