Bk. IV
Lines 90-340
Lines 90-104
Quam simul ac tali persensit peste teneri 90
cara Iouis coniunx nec famam obstare furori,
talibus adgreditur Venerem Saturnia dictis:
'egregiam uero laudem et spolia ampla refertis
tuque puerque tuus (magnum et memorabile numen),
una dolo diuum si femina uicta duorum est. 95
nec me adeo fallit ueritam 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: 100
ardet amans Dido traxitque per ossa furorem.
communem hunc ergo populum paribusque regamus
auspiciis; liceat Phrygio seruire marito
dotalisque tuae Tyrios permittere dextrae.'
[referring to Dido] Whom (/this one), as soon as she felt that she was held by such a plague (/disease) and that her reputation did not stand in the way of her fury, the dear wife of Jupiter, Saturnia, approached Venus with such words: "Indeed, y'all carry back excellent praise and ample spoils, both you and your boy (a great and memorable divine spirit), if one woman is (/has been) conquered by the trick of two gods. And it does not deceive me to such an extent that you, having feared our walls, held the homes of high Carthage as suspect. but, what will be the way, or by what so great contest now? Rather, why don't we exercise eternal peace, and fixed marriage ceremonies? You have everything which you sought in your mind. Dido, loving, burns, and she has dragged her fury through her bones. Therefore, let's rule this common people with equal auspice; let it be allowed for Dido to serve a Phrygian husband, and to entrust the Tyrians to your right hand as a dowry."
Lines 105-116
Olli (sensit enim simulata mente locutam, 105
quo regnum Italiae Libycas auerteret 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 110
esse uelit Tyriis urbem Troiaque profectis,
misceriue 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 115
confieri possit, paucis (aduerte) docebo.
To her (for she sensed that she had spoken with a pretended mind, by which she might turn away the kingdom of Italy to the Libyan shores) Venus proceeded thus in return: "Who, demented, would refuse such things or would prefer to compete with you in war? If only fortune should follow the deed which you relate. But I am carried, uncertain, by the fates, if Jupiter wants (there) to be one city for Tyrians and for (those) having set out from Troy, or (if) he approves the people to be mixed or the treaties to be joined. You, his spouse, it is right for you to try his mind by asking. Go on, I will follow." Then queenly Juno began thus: "That labor will be with me. Now by what plan (/reason) that which stands, is able to happen, I will teach in a few words (heed/turn to).
Lines 117- 128
uenatum Aeneas unaque miserrima Dido
in nemus ire parant, ubi primos crastinus ortus
extulerit Titan radiisque retexerit orbem.
his ego nigrantem commixta grandine nimbum, 120
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
deuenient. adero et, tua si mihi certa uoluntas, 125
conubio iungam stabili propriamque dicabo.
hic hymenaeus erit.' non aduersata petenti
adnuit atque dolis risit Cytherea repertis.
Aeneas and most miserable Dido are preparing to go into a grove together to hunt, where the Titan of tomorrow will have carried out the first risings and will have covered the world again with its rays. [basically, i see candles and rose petals. -mckenz] For these (two) I will pour from above a black cloud with hail having been mixed together, while the wings tremble, and surround the glades with a system of nets, and I will arouse all the sky with thunder. The companions will scatter and they will be covered with dark night: Dido the leader and the Trojan will arrive at the same cave. I will be present and if your will is certain for me, I will join (them) in stable matrimony and I call it long-lasting. This will be the marriage ceremony." Cytherea [Venus], not having opposed her seeking nodded and smiled at the tricks having been found out.
Lines 129-139
Oceanum interea surgens Aurora reliquit.
it portis iubare exorto delecta iuuentus, 130
retia rara, plagae, lato uenabula ferro,
Massylique ruunt equites et odora canum uis.
reginam thalamo cunctantem ad limina primi
Poenorum exspectant, ostroque insignis et auro
stat sonipes ac frena ferox spumantia mandit. 135
tandem progreditur magna stipante caterua
Sidoniam picto chlamydem circumdata limbo;
cui pharetra ex auro, crines nodantur in aurum,
aurea purpuream subnectit fibula uestem.
Meanwhile, Aurora, rising, left the Ocean. The youth having been chosen goes from the gates with the ray having risen, (there are) wide-meshed nets, snares, spears of wide iron, and Massylian knights rush, and the keen-scented strength of dogs. The first of the Pheonicians await the queen, lingering in the bed chamber, at the thresholds, and her horse of resounding-foot stands distinguished in purple and gold, and fierce, it chewing at the foaming reins. At last she steps forward with a great crowd crowding (/thronging), having been given around (/surrounded) with respect to her Sidonian cloak, with a embroidered border; for this one there is a quiver of gold, her hair is knotted into gold, a gold brooch fastens under her purple clothing.
Lines 140-150
nec non et Phrygii comites et laetus Iulus 140
incedunt. ipse ante alios pulcherrimus omnis
infert se socium Aeneas atque agmina iungit.
qualis ubi hibernam Lyciam Xanthique fluenta
deserit ac Delum maternam inuisit Apollo
instauratque choros, mixtique altaria circum 145
Cretesque Dryopesque fremunt pictique Agathyrsi;
ipse iugis Cynthi graditur mollique fluentem
fronde premit crinem fingens atque implicat auro,
tela sonant umeris: haud illo segnior ibat
Aeneas, tantum egregio decus enitet ore. 150
Likewise, both the Phrygian comrades and happy Iulus proceed. Aeneas himself, most beautiful, before all others, carries himself in as a friend, and he joins the battle lines. Just as when Apollo deserts the wintry Lycia and the flowings of Xanthus and visits maternal Delos, and he renews the choirs, and the Creteans and the Dryopes and the painted Agathyrsi having been mixed, roar around the altars; he himself steps on the ridges of Cynthus and he presses his flowing hair with soft foliage, fastening it, and he wraps it with gold, spears sound from his shoulders: hardly more slow than that one, Aeneas was going, as much honor (/glory/dignity) shines out from his excellent face.
Lines 151-159
postquam altos uentum in montis atque inuia lustra,
ecce ferae saxi deiectae uertice caprae
decurrere iugis; alia de parte patentis
transmittunt cursu campos atque agmina cerui
puluerulenta fuga glomerant montisque relinquunt. 155
at puer Ascanius mediis in uallibus acri
gaudet equo iamque hos cursu, iam praeterit illos,
spumantemque dari pecora inter inertia uotis
optat aprum, aut fuluum descendere monte leonem.
After it was come into the high mountains and the pathless marshes, look, wild she-goats having been thrown down from the summit of the rock, ran down from the ridges; down from another part, deer send across (/cross) the wide-open fields in their course, and they fill dusty battle lines in their flight, and they leave the mountains. But the boy Ascanius, in the middle of the valleys, rejoices in his keen horse, and now he goes beyond these on his course, now he passes those, and he wants for a foaming boar to be given among the sluggish herds to his prayers, or a tawny lion to descend from the mountain.
Lines 160-172
Interea magno misceri murmure caelum 160
incipit, insequitur commixta grandine nimbus,
et Tyrii comites passim et Troiana iuuentus
Dardaniusque nepos Veneris diuersa per agros
tecta metu petiere; ruunt de montibus amnes.
speluncam Dido dux et Troianus eandem 165
deueniunt. prima et Tellus et pronuba Iuno
dant signum; fulsere ignes et conscius aether
conubiis summoque ulularunt uertice Nymphae.
ille dies primus leti primusque malorum
causa fuit; neque enim specie famaue mouetur 170
nec iam furtiuum Dido meditatur amorem:
coniugium uocat, hoc praetexit nomine culpam.
Meanwhile the sky begins to be mixed up with a great murmur, a storm-cloud follows with hail having been mixed in, both the Tyrian comrades everywhere and the Trojan youth and the Dardanian grandson of Venus sought different coverings through the field in their fear; the rivers rush down from the mountains. Dido the leader and the Trojan arrive at the same cave. And first Earth and Juno as the attendant give the signal; the fires shone and the sky (was) witness to the marriage, and the Nymphs howled from the highest peak. That day was the first cause of death, and the first cause of bad things; for Dido is not moved by her appearance or by her reputation, nor does she think over her furtive love now: she calls it marriage, with this name she covers her fault (/crime).
Lines 173-183
Extemplo Libyae magnas it Fama per urbes,
Fama, malum qua non aliud uelocius ullum:
mobilitate uiget uirisque adquirit eundo, 175
parua 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 sororem
progenuit pedibus celerem et pernicibus alis, 180
monstrum horrendum, ingens, cui quot sunt corpore plumae,
tot uigiles oculi subter (mirabile dictu),
tot linguae, totidem ora sonant, tot subrigit auris.
At once, Rumor goes through the great cities of Libya, Rumor, than which not any other bad thing is more swift, she thrives with movement, and she acquires strength by going, first small because of fear, soon she raises herself into the breezes and steps on the ground, and she establishes her head among the clouds. Mother Earth, bearing her last, having been provoked by anger of the gods, as they say, brought forth a sister for Coeus and Enceladus, quick in feet, and in swift wings, a horrible monster, huge, for whom there are as many feathers on her body, so many watchful eyes below (wonderful to say), so many tongues, so many mouths resound, she raises so many ears.
Lines 184-197
nocte uolat caeli medio terraeque per umbram
stridens, nec dulci declinat lumina somno; 185
luce sedet custos aut summi culmine tecti
turribus aut altis, et magnas territat urbes,
tam ficti prauique tenax quam nuntia ueri.
haec tum multiplici populos sermone replebat
gaudens, et pariter facta atque infecta canebat: 190
uenisse Aenean Troiano sanguine cretum,
cui se pulchra uiro dignetur iungere Dido;
nunc hiemem inter se luxu, quam longa, fouere
regnorum immemores turpique cupidine captos.
haec passim dea foeda uirum diffundit in ora. 195
protinus ad regem cursus detorquet Iarban
incenditque animum dictis atque aggerat iras.
She flies at night, in the middle of the sky and of the land, shrieking through the shadow, and she does not lay turn down her lights [eyes] in sweet sleep; she sits in the light as a guardian, or on the tip of the highest roof, or in high towers, and she terrifies great cities, as tenacious (/stubborn) a messenger of the false and wicked as of the truth. This one, rejoicing, then filled up the peoples with a manifold conversation, and she was singing equally things have been been done and not having been done: that Aeneas had come, made from Trojan blood, to whom beautiful Dido deemed herself worthy to join as a man; that now (Aeneas and Dido) canoodle (/cherish) among themselves in luxury for the winter, however long, unmindful of their kingdoms and having been captured by the wicked desire. These things, the foul goddess pours into the mouths of men everywhere. Right away, she turns away her course to King Iarbas, and she sets his soul on fire, and she heaps up his angers with her words.
Lines 198-210
Hic Hammone satus rapta Garamantide nympha
templa Ioui centum latis immania regnis,
centum aras posuit uigilemque sacrauerat ignem, 200
excubias diuum aeternas, pecudumque cruore
pingue solum et uariis florentia limina sertis.
isque amens animi et rumore accensus amaro
dicitur ante aras media inter numina diuum
multa Iouem manibus supplex orasse supinis: 205
'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? 210
This one, having been born from Hammon, with a Garamantian Nymph having been raped, placed a hundred giant temples of Jupiter in his wide kingdoms, a hundred altars, and he had made sacred the vigilant fire, the eternal sentries of the gods, and (made sacred) with the blood of the herds the fat ground, and the thresholds flowering with various garlands. And he, crazed of mind, and having been inflamed by bitter rumor, is said to have prayed, before the altars among the middle of the divine spirits of the gods, many things of Jupiter, as a suppliant, with his hands raised up: "Omnipotent Jupiter, to whom now the Maurusian race, having dined on painted couches, pours out the Lenaeum honor, do you see this? Or, father, do we tremble at you in vain, when you twist your lightning bolts, or do blind fires in the clouds terrify our souls, and mix up empty murmurs?
Lines 211-221
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 semiuiro comitatu, 215
Maeonia mentum mitra crinemque madentem
subnexus, rapto potitur: nos munera templis
quippe tuis ferimus famamque fouemus inanem.'
Talibus orantem dictis arasque tenentem
audiit Omnipotens, oculosque ad moenia torsit 220
regia et oblitos famae melioris amantis.
The woman, who, wandering in our limits, placed a small city at a price, to whom we gave a shore, to be plowed, and to whom we gave laws of the place, she has driven away our marriage, and she has received Aeneas into her kingdom as a master. And now that Paris, with his half-man entourage, having fastened under his chin and his dripping hair with a Maeonian cap, obtains her having been snatched: indeed, we carry gifts to your temples, and we cherish empty reputation." The Omnipotent One heard him begging with such words and holding the altars, and he twisted his eyes to the queenly walls, and to the lovers having forgotten their better reputations.
Lines 222-231
tum sic Mercurium adloquitur ac talia mandat:
'uade age, nate, uoca Zephyros et labere pennis
Dardaniumque ducem, Tyria Karthagine qui nunc
exspectat fatisque datas non respicit urbes, 225
adloquere et celeris defer mea dicta per auras.
non illum nobis genetrix pulcherrima talem
promisit Graiumque ideo bis uindicat armis;
sed fore qui grauidam imperiis belloque frementem
Italiam regeret, genus alto a sanguine Teucri 230
proderet, ac totum sub leges mitteret orbem.
Then he addresses Mercury thus, and demands such things: "Come on now, son, call the west winds, slip on your wings, address the Dardanian leader, who now waits in Tyrian Carthage and does not look back on the cities having been given by the fates, and carry down my words through the quick breezes. His most beautiful mother [Venus] did not promise to us that he (would be) such, and did not rescue (him) twice from the arms (/weapons) of the Greeks; but (she promised) that he would be (a man) who might rule Italy, heavy with empires, and teeming with war, (who) might bring forth the race from the high blood of Teucer, and (who) might send the whole world under his laws.
Lines 232-244
si nulla accendit tantarum gloria rerum
nec super ipse sua molitur laude laborem,
Ascanione pater Romanas inuidet arces?
quid struit? aut qua spe inimica in gente moratur 235
nec prolem Ausoniam et Lauinia respicit arua?
nauiget! haec summa est, hic nostri nuntius esto.'
Dixerat. ille patris magni parere parabat
imperio; et primum pedibus talaria nectit
aurea, quae sublimem alis siue aequora supra 240
seu terram rapido pariter cum flamine portant.
tum uirgam capit: hac animas ille euocat Orco
pallentis, alias sub Tartara tristia mittit,
dat somnos adimitque, et lumina morte resignat.
If no glory of such things inflames him, and he himself does not accomplish the work beyond for his own praise, does the father begrudge the Roman citadels to Ascanius? What is he building? Or by which hope does he delay in an enemy race, and he does not look back at the Ausonian offspring and the Lavinian fields? Let him sail! This is the highest thing, let this be our message." He had spoken. He prepared to carry out the order of his great father; and first he fastens his golden sandals on his feet, which carry him lofty on wings, either above the waters or the land equally with a rapid flame. Then he seizes his staff: with this he calls out the pales souls from Hades, he sends others under sad Tartarus, he gives sleep and he takes it away, and seals their eyes with death.
Lines 245-255
illa fretus agit uentos et turbida tranat 245
nubila. iamque uolans apicem et latera ardua cernit
Atlantis duri caelum qui uertice fulcit,
Atlantis, cinctum adsidue cui nubibus atris
piniferum caput et uento pulsatur et imbri,
nix umeros infusa tegit, tum flumina mento 250
praecipitant senis, et glacie riget horrida barba.
hic primum paribus nitens Cyllenius alis
constitit; hinc toto praeceps se corpore ad undas
misit aui similis, quae circum litora, circum
piscosos scopulos humilis uolat aequora iuxta. 255
[Mercury] Relying on it, he drives the winds, and he goes across the stormy clouds. And now, flying, he sees the summit and the harsh sides of tough Atlas, who supports the sky on his head, Atlas, for whom his pine-bearing head is girded continually with black clouds, and is beaten by the wind and the rain, snow, having been poured on, covers his shoulders, then rivers rush down from the chin of the old man, and his horrible beard freezes with ice. Here, first, the shining Cyllenian One [Mercury] stopped with equal wings; hence (/from here), he sent himself headlong, with his whole body to the waves, just as a bird which, low-lying, flies around the shores, around the fish-haunted rocks, next to the waters.
Lines 256-267
haud aliter terras inter caelumque uolabat
litus harenosum ad Libyae, uentosque secabat
materno ueniens ab auo Cyllenia proles.
ut primum alatis tetigit magalia plantis,
Aenean fundantem arces ac tecta nouantem 260
conspicit. atque illi stellatus iaspide fulua
ensis erat Tyrioque ardebat murice laena
demissa ex umeris, diues quae munera Dido
fecerat, et tenui telas discreuerat auro.
continuo inuadit: 'tu nunc Karthaginis altae 265
fundamenta locas pulchramque uxorius urbem
exstruis? heu, regni rerumque oblite tuarum!
Hardly otherwise, he was flying between the lands and the sky, to the sandy shore of Libya, and the Cyllenian offspring was cutting the winds, coming from his maternal grandfather. As first he touched the hovels with his the winged heels, he catches sight of Aeneas building the citadels and making new roofs. And for him there was a sword, studded with yellow jasper, and a cloak, having been sent down from his shoulders, was burning with Tyrian purple, gifts which rich dido had made, and she had separated the threads with thin gold. Immediately he [Mercury] attacked: "You now place the foundations of high Carthage, and, uxorious (/hen-pecked/wife-ruled), you build a beautiful city? Alas, (you) having forgotten your kingdom and your things (/affairs)!
Lines 268-278
ipse deum tibi me claro demittit Olympo
regnator, caelum et terras qui numine torquet,
ipse haec ferre iubet celeris mandata per auras: 270
quid struis? aut qua spe Libycis teris otia terris?
si te nulla mouet tantarum gloria rerum
[nec super ipse tua moliris laude laborem,]
Ascanium surgentem et spes heredis Iuli
respice, cui regnum Italiae Romanaque tellus 275
debetur.' tali Cyllenius ore locutus
mortalis uisus medio sermone reliquit
et procul in tenuem ex oculis euanuit auram.
The ruler himself of the gods, who twists the heaven and the lands with his divine spirit, sends me from clear Olympus, he himself orders (me) to carry these commands through the swift breezes: what do you build? Or by what hope do you waste your leisure in the land of Libya? If no glory of such things moves you, and you yourself do not accomplish the labor beyond for your own praise, look back at rising Ascanius, and the hope of the heir of Iulus, to whom the kingdom of Italy and the Roman land is owed." The Cyllenian One, having spoken with such a mouth, left mortal sights in the middle of the speech, and he vanished far off from his eyes into the thin air.
Lines 279-295
At uero Aeneas aspectu obmutuit amens,
arrectaeque horrore comae et uox faucibus haesit. 280
ardet abire fuga dulcisque relinquere terras,
attonitus tanto monitu imperioque deorum.
heu quid agat? quo nunc reginam ambire furentem
audeat adfatu? quae prima exordia sumat?
atque animum nunc huc celerem nunc diuidit illuc 285
in partisque rapit uarias perque omnia uersat.
haec alternanti potior sententia uisa est:
Mnesthea Sergestumque uocat fortemque Serestum,
classem aptent taciti sociosque ad litora cogant,
arma parent et quae rebus sit causa nouandis 290
dissimulent; sese interea, quando optima Dido
nesciat et tantos rumpi non speret amores,
temptaturum aditus et quae mollissima fandi
tempora, quis rebus dexter modus. ocius omnes
imperio laeti parent et iussa facessunt. 295
But truly Aeneas, away from his mind, stood silent at the sight, his hair stood up in horror, and his voice clung to his jaws. He burns to go away in flight, and to leave the sweet lands, astonished by such a warning and by the order of the gods. Alas, what should he do? By what speech should he now dare to go around (/win over) the raging queen? What first beginnings should he take? And he divides his quick mind, now here, now there, and he snatches it into different parts, and he turns it through all things. To him deciding, this idea seemed preferable: he calls Mnestheus and Sergestus and brave Serestus to fit the fleet silently, and to gather their comrades at the shores, to prepare the arms, and to pretend what the cause is for making new things; (and he says) that he, meanwhile, because best Dido doesn't know and she doesn't hope for such great loves to be broken, will try the approaches, and which times are softest of speaking, which is the right way for things. All happily obey his order more quickly, and and they carry out his orders.
Lines 296-306
At regina dolos (quis fallere possit amantem?)
praesensit, motusque excepit prima futuros
omnia tuta timens. eadem impia Fama furenti
detulit armari classem cursumque parari.
saeuit inops animi totamque incensa per urbem 300
bacchatur, qualis commotis excita sacris
Thyias, ubi audito stimulant trieterica Baccho
orgia nocturnusque uocat clamore Cithaeron.
tandem his Aenean compellat uocibus ultro:
'dissimulare etiam sperasti, perfide, tantum 305
posse nefas tacitusque mea decedere terra?
But the queen sensed the tricks (who would be able to trick a lover?), she first caught the future movements, fearing all things, even while safe. That same impious (/unholy) Rumor carried down to her raging that the fleet was being armed and the course was being prepared. She, lacking in mind, rages, and she, having been inflamed, rushes wildly through the whole city, just as a Bacchante having been excited by the holy things having been moved, when they spur on the triennial orgies with Bacchus having been heard, and nocturnal Cithaeron calls with a clamor. At last she accosts Aeneas of her own accord with these voices: "Did you even hope, treacherous one, to be able to conceal such a crime (=fail) and to silently leave from my land?
Lines 307-319
nec te noster amor nec te data dextera quondam
nec moritura tenet crudeli funere Dido?
quin etiam hiberno moliri sidere classem
et mediis properas Aquilonibus ire per altum, 310
crudelis? quid, si non arua aliena domosque
ignotas peteres, et 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), 315
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.
Does neither our love, nor our right hands having been given once, nor Dido about to die with a cruel funeral hold you? In fact, you even hurry to prepare the fleet under the winter star, and to go through the deep in the middle of the South Wind, cruel one? What, if you were not to seek foreign fields and unknown homes, and ancient Troy were to remain, would Troy be sought by your fleets through the wavy sea? Do you flee me? Through these tears, and through your right hand (because I myself have left nothing else to miserable me now), through our marriage, through the marriage ceremonies having been begun, if I well deserve something from you, or if there was anything sweet of me for you, I beg you, pity my slipping house, and if there is any place still for prayers, take off that mind of yours. [meaning "change your mind"]
Lines 320-330
te propter Libycae gentes Nomadumque tyranni 320
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 325
destruat aut captam ducat Gaetulus Iarbas?
saltem si qua mihi de te suscepta fuisset
ante fugam suboles, si quis mihi paruulus aula
luderet Aeneas, qui te tamen ore referret,
non equidem omnino capta ac deserta uiderer.' 330
On account of you, the races of Libya and the tyrants of the nomads hate (me), the Tyrians are hostile; on account of the same you, my honor has been extinguished, and former reputation, by which alone I was going to the stars. For what do you, as a guest, desert me about to die (since this name alone stands from my spouse)? Why do I delay? Or until my brother Pygmalion may destroy the city walls, or (until) Gaetulian Iarbas may lead me having been seized? At least if some offspring had been taken up for me from you before your flight, if some tiny little Aeneas were to play for me in my courtyard, who still were to bring you back in his face, indeed I would not seem completely seized and deserted."
Lines 331-339
Dixerat. ille Iouis monitis immota tenebat
lumina et obnixus curam sub corde premebat.
tandem pauca refert: 'ego te, quae plurima fando
enumerare uales, numquam, regina, negabo
promeritam, nec me meminisse pigebit Elissae 335
dum memor ipse mei, dum spiritus hos regit artus.
pro re pauca loquar. neque ego hanc abscondere furto
speraui (ne finge) fugam, nec coniugis umquam
praetendi taedas aut haec in foedera ueni.
She had spoken. He held his lights unmoved because of the warnings of Jove, and having struggled, he pressed his care beneath his heart. At last he carries back a few words: "I never will deny, queen, that you deserved very many (things) which you are able to count by saying, nor will it displease me to remember Elissa [Dido], while I myself am remembering me, while my spirit rules these limbs. I will speak a few things on behalf of this matter. I did not hope to get away with this flight with secrecy (don't think it), nor did I ever hold forward the marriage torches of the spouse or did I come into these treaties.