sister, that shall bring him back to me or set me free from him. Near the
shore of the Great Sea, where the AEthiopians dwell, is a priestess, who
guards the temple of the daughters of Hesperus, being wont to feed the
dragons that kept the apples of gold. She is able by her charms to loose
the heart from care or to bind it, and to stay rivers also, and to turn
the courses of the stars, and to call up the spirits of the dead. Do thou,
therefore--for this is what the priestess commands--build a pile in the
open court, and put thereon the sword which he left hanging in our
chamber, and the garments he wore, and the couch on which he lay, even all
that was his, so that they may perish together."

And when these things were done--for Anna knew not of her purpose--and
also an image of AEneas was laid upon the pile, the priestess, with her
hair unbound, called upon all the gods that dwell below, sprinkling
thereon water that was drawn, she said, from the lake of Avernus, and
scattering evil herbs that had been cut at the full moon with a sickle of
bronze. Dido also, with one foot bare and her garments loosened, threw
meal upon the fire and called upon the gods, if haply there be any, that
look upon those that love and suffer wrong.

In the mean time AEneas lay asleep in the hind part of his ship, when there
appeared to him in a dream the god Mercury, even as he had seen him when
he brought the commandment of Jupiter. And Mercury spake, saying, "Son of
Venus, canst thou sleep? seest thou not what perils surround thee, nor
hearest how the favorable west wind calls? The queen purposes evil against
thee. If thou lingerest till the morning come thou wilt see the shore
covered with them that wish thee harm. Fly, then, and tarry not; for a
woman is ever of many minds."

Then did AEneas in great fear start from his sleep, and call his
companions, saying, "Wake, and sit on the benches, and loose the sails.
'Tis a god thus bids us fly." And even as he spake he cut the cable with
his sword. And all hasted to follow him, and sped over the sea.

And now it was morning, and Queen Dido, from her watch-tower, saw the
ships upon the sea. Then she smote upon her breast and tore her hair, and
cried, "Shall this stranger mock us thus? Hasten to follow him. Bring down
the ships from the docks, make ready sword and fire. And this was the man
who bare upon his shoulders his aged father. Why did I not tear him to
pieces, and slay his companions wi