Dido. To rid thee of that doubt, aboard again: I charge thee put to sea, and stay not here.
Ach. Then let Æneas go aboard with us.
Dido. Get you aboard; Æneas means to stay.
Æn. The sea is rough, the winds blow to the shore.
Dido. O false Æneas! now the sea is rough; But, when you were aboard, 'twas calm enough: Thou and Achates meant to sail away.
Æn. Hath not the Carthage queen mine only son? Thinks Dido I will go and leave him here?30
Dido. Æneas, pardon me; for I forgot That young Ascanius lay with me this night; Love made me jealous: but, to make amends, Wear the imperial crown of Libya, [Giving him her crown and sceptre. Sway thou the Punic sceptre in my stead, And punish me, Æneas, for this crime.
Æn. This kiss shall be fair Dido's punishment.
Dido. O, how a crown becomes Æneas' head! Stay here, Æneas, and command as king.
Æn. How vain am I to wear this diadem,40 And bear this golden sceptre in my hand! A burgonet of steel, and not a crown, A sword, and not a sceptre, fits Æneas.