Enter Dido and Æneas.
Dido. I feare I sawe Æneas little sonne,
Led by Achates to the Troian fleete:
If it be so, his father meanes to flye:
But here he is, now Dido trie thy wit.
Æneas, wherefore goe thy men abourd?,
Why are thy ships new rigd? or to what end
Launcht from the hauen, lye they in the Rhode?
Pardon me though I aske, loue makes me aske.
Æn. O pardon me, if I resolue thee why: Æneas will not faine with his deare loue, I must from hence: this day swift Mercury When I was laying a platforme for these walles, Sent from his father Ioue, appeard to me, And in his name rebukt me bitterly, For lingering here, neglecting Italy.
Dido. But yet Æneas will not leaue his loue.
Æn. I am commaunded by immortal Ioue, To leaue this towne and passe to Italy, And therefore must of force.
Dido. These words proceed not from Æneas heart.
Æn. Not from my heart, for I can hardly goe, And yet I may not stay, Dido farewell.
Dido. Farewell: is this the mends for Didos loue?
Doe Troians vse to quit their Louers thus?
Fare well may Dido, so Æneas stay,
I dye, if my Æneas say farewell.
Æn. Then let me goe and neuer say farewell, Let me goe, farewell, I must from hence.
Dido. These words are poyson to poore Didos soule,
O speake like my Æneas, like my loue:
Why look'st thou toward the sea? the time hath been
When Didos beautie chaungd thine eyes to her;
Am I lesse faire then when thou sawest me first?
O then Æneas, tis for griefe of thee:
Say thou wilt stay in Carthage with my Queene,
And Didos beautie will returne againe:
Æneas, say, how canst thou take thy leaue?
Wilt thou kisse Dido? O thy lips haue sworne
To stay with Dido: canst thou take her hand?
Thy Hand and mine haue plighted mutuall faith,
Therefore vnkinde Æneas, must thou say,
Then let me goe, and neuer say farewell.