Act 3 — SCENE IV.

The storm. Enter Æneas and Dido in the cave, at several times. Dido. Æneas! Æn. Dido! Dido. Tell me, dear love, how found you out this cave? Æn. By chance, sweet queen, as Mars and Venus met. Dido. Why, that was in a net, where we are loose; And yet I am not free,—O, would I were! Æn. Why, what is it that Dido may desire And not obtain, be it in human power? Dido. The thing that I will die before I ask, And yet desire to have before I die.10 Æn. It is not aught Æneas may achieve? Dido. Æneas! no; although his eyes do pierce. Æn. What, hath Iarbas anger'd her in aught? And will she be avengèd on his life? Dido. Not anger'd me, except in angering thee. Æn. Who, then, of all so cruel may he be That should detain thy eye in his defects? Dido. The man that I do eye where'er I am; Whose amorous face, like Pæan, sparkles fire, Whenas he butts his beams on Flora's bed.20 Prometheus hath put on Cupid's shape, And I must perish in his burning arms: Æneas, O Æneas, quench these flames! Æn. What ails my queen? is she faln sick of late? Dido. Not sick, my love; but sick I must conceal The torment that it boots me not reveal: And yet I'll speak,—and yet I'll hold my peace. Do shame her worst, I will disclose my grief: Æneas, thou art he—what did I say? Something it was that now I have forgot.30 Æn. What means fair Dido by this doubtful speech? Dido. Nay, nothing; but Æneas loves me not. Æn. Æneas' thoughts dare not ascend so high As Dido's heart, which monarchs might not scale. Dido. It was because I saw no king like thee, Whose golden crown might balance my content; But now that I have found what to affect, I follow one that loveth fame 'fore [507] me, And rather had seem fair [in] Sirens' eyes, Than to the Carthage queen that dies for him.40 Æn. If that your majesty can look so low As my despisèd worths that shun all praise, With this my hand I give to you my heart, And vow, by all the gods of hospitality, By heaven and earth, and my fair brother's bow, By Paphos, Capys, [508] and the purple sea From whence my radiant mother did ascend, [509] And by this sword that sav'd me from the Greeks, Never to leave these new-uprearèd walls, Whiles Dido lives and rules in Juno's town,—50 Never to like or love any but her! Dido. What more than Delian music do I hear, That calls my soul from forth his living seat To move unto the measures of delight? Kind clouds, that sent forth such a courteous storm As made disdain to fly to fancy's lap! Stout love, in mine arms make thy Italy, Whose crown and kingdom rests at thy command: Sichæus, not Æneas, be thou call'd; The king of Carthage, not Anchises' son.60 Hold, take these jewels at thy lover's hand, [Giving jewels, &c. These golden bracelets, and this wedding-ring, Wherewith my husband woo'd me yet a maid, And be thou king of Libya by my gift. [Exeunt to the cave.