[161] Sed mihi vel tellus, optem, prius ima dehiscat, Vel Pater omnipotens adigat me fulmine ad umbras, Pallentes umbras Erebi, noctemque profundam; Ante, Pudor, quam te violem, aut tua jura resolvam:
But may the yawning Earth devour me quick, Or Jove with Thunder strike me to the Shades, Pale Shades of Erebus, and Night profound; E'er, Modesty, I break thro' thy Restraints, Or violate thy Laws.
She then complains of Æneas's concealing his Departure; she expostulates with him of the Injury he intended her; and full, at the same Time, of Fear and Grief, she thus endeavours to work upon his Compassion:
[162] Dissimulare etiam sperasti, perfide, tantum Posse nefas? tacitusque mea decedere terra? Nec te noster amor, nec te data dextera quondam, Nec moritura tenet crudeli funere Dido? &c.
And could'st thou hope, Perfidious, to conceal So black a Crime? and silent leave my Coasts? Cannot my Love, nor thy once plighted Faith, Nor Dido's cruel, and untimely Death, Detain thee?
But as soon as she hears Æneas openly declare his firm Resolution, from Tears and Intreaties she bursts out into Passion, Rage, and Phrenzy:
[163] Talia dicentem jamdudum aversa tuetur, Huc illuc volvens oculos, totumque pererrat Luminibus tacitis, & sic accensa profatur. Nec tibi Diva parens, generis nec Dardanus auctor, Perfide; sed duris genuit te cautibus horrens Caucasus, Hyrcanæque admorunt ubera tigres.
Thus, while he spoke, she silently intent, Ey'd him averse, and roll'd her glaring Balls Around; from Head to Foot survey'd him o'er, Speechless a while; and thus her Rage reply'd: Nor art thou of a Goddess-mother born; Nor is thy Birth from Dardanus deriv'd, Perfidious Wretch: But Caucasus, with Rocks Horrid disclos'd thee from its flinty Sides, And fierce Hyrcanian Tygers gave thee Suck.
Throughout the whole Speech (every Line of which is beautiful beyond all Comparison) she exclaims, interrogates, calls Gods and Men to witness, loads her Lover with Threats and Curses; in short, the Tempest of her Soul runs so high, as if it never more would know a Calm. What, then, says Dido, when she appears next?
[164] Improbe Amor, quid non mortalia pectora cogis? Ire iterum in lacrimas, iterum tentare precando, Cogitur, & supplex animos submittere amori.