________________________________________________
_ [
The storm. Enter AEneas and Dido in the Cave at severall times.]
DIDO.
AEneas.
AENEAS.
Dido!
DIDO.
Tell me dear love, how found you out this cave?
AENEAS.
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, oh would I were.
AENEAS.
Why, what is it that Dido may desire
And not obtain, be it in humaine power?
DIDO.
The thing that I will die before I ask,
And yet desire to have before I die.
AENEAS.
It is not ought Aeneas may achieve?
DIDO.
Aeneas no, although his eyes do pearce.
AENEAS.
What, hath Iarbus angred her in ought?
And will she be avenged on his life?
DIDO.
Not angred me, except in angring thee.
AENEAS.
Who then of all so cruel may he be,
That should detaine thy eye in his defects?
DIDO.
The man that I do eye where ere I am,
Whose amorous face like Pean sparkles fire,
When as he buts his beams on Floras bed,
_Prometheus_ hath put on Cupids shape,
And I must perish in his burning arms:
Aeneas, O Aeneas, quench these flames.
AENEAS.
What ailes my Queen, is she falne sicke of late?
DIDO.
Not sicke my love, but sicke, I must conceal
The torment, that it bootes me not reveal;
And yet I'll speak, and yet I'll hold my peace,
do shame her worst, I will disclose my grief:
Aeneas, thou art he, what did I say?
Something it was that now I have forgot.
AENEAS.
What means fair Dido by this doubtfull speech?
DIDO.
Nay, nothing, but Aeneas loves me not.
AENEAS.
Aeneas thoughts dare not ascend so high
As Dido's heart, which Monarkes might not scale.
DIDO.
It was because I saw no King like thee,
Whose golden Crown might ballance my content:
But now that I have found what to effect,
I follow one that loveth fame for me,
And rather had seeme fair Sirens eyes,
Then to the Carthage Queen that dies for him.
AENEAS.
If that your majesty can Look so low,
As my despised 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 brothers bow,
By Paphos, Capys, and the purple Sea,
From whence my radiant mother did descend,
And by this Sword that saved me from the Greeks,
Never to leave these newe upreared walls,
Whiles Dido lives and rules in Juno's town,
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 curteous storm,
As made disdaine to fly to fancies lap:
Stoute love in mine arms make thy Italy,
Whose Crown and kingdom rests at thy command.
Sicheus, not Aeneas be thou calde:
The King of Carthage, not Anchises son:
Hold, take these Iewels at thy Lovers hand,
These golden bracelets, and this wedding ring,
Wherewith my husband woo'd me yet a maid,
And be thou king of Libia, by my guift.
[Exeunt to the Cave.] _
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