THE LOVE AND DEATH OF DIDO.
Much was Queen Dido moved by the story, and much did she marvel at him
that told it, and scarce could sleep for thinking of him. And the next
day she spake to Anna, her sister, "O my sister, I have been troubled
this night with ill dreams, and my heart is disquieted within me. What
a man is this stranger that hath come to our shores! How noble of
mien! How bold in war! Sure I am that he is of the sons of the Gods.
What fortunes have been his! Of what wars he told us! Surely were I
not steadfastly purposed that I would not yoke me again in marriage,
this were the man to whom I might yield. Only he--for I will tell thee
the truth, my sister--only he, since the day when Sichæus died by his
brother's hand, hath moved my heart. But may the earth swallow me up,
or the almighty Father strike me with lightning, ere I stoop to such
baseness. The husband of my youth hath carried with him my love, and
he shall keep it in his grave."
So she spake, with many tears. And her sister made answer, "Why wilt
thou waste thy youth in sorrow, without child or husband? Thinkest
thou that there is care or remembrance of such things in the grave? No
suitors indeed have pleased thee here or in Tyre, but wilt thou also
contend with a love that is after thine own heart? Think too of the
nations among whom thou dwellest, how fierce they are, and of thy
brother at Tyre, what he threatens against thee. Surely it was by the
will of the Gods, and of Juno chiefly, that the ships of Troy came
hither. And this city, which thou buildest, to what greatness will it
grow if only thou wilt make for thyself such alliance! How great will
be the glory of Carthage if the strength of Troy be joined unto her!
Only do thou pray to the Gods and offer sacrifices; and, for the
present, seeing that the time of sailing is now past, make excuse that
these strangers tarry with thee awhile."
Thus did Anna comfort her sister and encourage her. And first the two
offered sacrifice to the Gods, chiefly to Juno, who careth for the
bond of marriage. Also, examining the entrails of slain beasts, they
sought to learn the things that should happen thereafter. And ever
Dido would company with Æneas, leading him about the walls of the city
which she builded. And often she would begin to speak and stay in the
midst of her words. And when even was come, she would hear again and
again at the banquet the tale of Troy, and while others slept would
watch, and while he was far away would seem to see him and to hear
him. Ascanius, too, she would embrace for love of his father, if so
she might cheat her own heart. But the work of the city was stayed
meanwhile; nor did the towers rise in their places, nor the youth
practise themselves in arms.
Then Juno, seeing how it fared with the queen, spake to Venus, "Are ye
satisfied with your victory, thou and thy son, that ye have vanquished
the two of you one woman? Well I knew that thou fearedst lest this
Carthage should harm thy favourite. But why should there be war
between us? Thou hast what thou seekedst. Let us make alliance. Let
Dido obey a Phrygian husband, and bring the men of Tyre as her dowry."
But Venus knew that she spake with ill intent, to the end that the men
of Troy should not reign in the land of Italy. Nevertheless she
dissembled with her tongue, and spake, "Who would not rather have
peace with thee than war? Only I doubt whether this thing shall be to
the pleasure of Jupiter. This thou must learn, seeing that thou art
his wife, and where thou leadest I will follow."
So the two, taking counsel together, ordered things in this wise. The
next day a great hunting was prepared. For as soon as ever the sun was
risen upon the earth, the youth of the city assembled, with nets and
hunting spears and dogs that ran by scent. And the princes of Carthage
waited for the queen at the palace door, where her horse stood
champing the bit, with trappings of purple and gold. And after a while
she came forth, with many following her. And she had upon her a
Sidonian mantle, with a border wrought with divers colours; of gold
was her quiver, and of gold the knot of her hair, and of gold the
clasp to her mantle. Æneas likewise came forth, beautiful as is Apollo
when he leaveth Lydia and the stream of Xanthus, coming to Delos, and
hath about his hair a wreath of bay-leaves and a circlet of gold. So
fair was Æneas to see. And when the hunters came to the hills they
found great store of goats and stags, which they chased. And of all
the company Ascanius was the foremost, thinking scorn of such hunting,
and wishing that a wild boar or a lion out of the hills should come
forth to be his prey.
And now befell a great storm, with much thunder and hail, from which
the hunters sought shelter. But Æneas and the queen, being left of all
their company, came together to the same cave. And there they plighted
their troth one to another. Nor did the queen after that make secret
of her love, but called Æneas her husband.
Straightway went Rumour and told these things through the cities of
Libya. Now Rumour, men say, is the youngest daughter of Earth, a
marvellous creature, moving very swiftly with feet and wings, and
having many feathers upon her, and under every feather an eye and a
tongue and a mouth and an ear. In the night she flies between heaven
and earth, and sleepeth not; and in the day she sits on some house-top
or lofty tower, or spreads fear over mighty cities; and she loveth
that which is false even as she loveth that which is true. So now she
went telling through Libya how Æneas of Troy was come, and Dido was
wedded to him, and how they lived careless and at ease, and thinking
not of the work to which they were called.
And first of all she went to Prince Iarbas, who himself had sought
Dido in marriage. And Iarbas was very wroth when he heard it, and,
coming to the temple of Jupiter, spread his grief before the god, how
that he had given a place on his coasts to this Dido, and would have
taken her to wife, but that she had married a stranger from Phrygia,
another Paris, whose dress and adornments were of a woman rather than
of a man.
And Jupiter saw that this was so, and he said to Mercury, who was his
messenger, "Go speak to Æneas these words: 'Thus saith the King of
Gods and men. Is this what thy mother promised of thee, twice saving
thee from the spear of the Greeks? Art thou he that shall rule Italy
and its mighty men of war, and spread thy dominion to the ends of the
world? If thou thyself forgettest these things, dost thou grudge to
thy son the citadels of Rome? What doest thou here? Why lookest thou
not to Italy? Depart and tarry not.'"
Then Mercury fitted the winged sandals to his feet, and took the wand
with which he driveth the spirits of the dead, and came right soon to
Mount Atlas, which standeth bearing the heaven on his head, and having
always clouds about his top, and snow upon his shoulders, and a beard
that is stiff with ice. There Mercury stood awhile; then, as a bird
which seeks its prey in the sea, shot headlong down, and came to Æneas
where he stood, with a yellow jasper in his sword-hilt, and a cloak of
purple shot with gold about his shoulders, and spake: "Buildest thou
Carthage, forgetting thine own work? The almighty Father saith to
thee, 'What meanest thou? Why tarriest thou here? If thou carest not
for thyself, yet think of thy son, and that the Fates have given to
him Italy and Rome.'"
And Æneas saw him no more. And he stood stricken with fear and doubt.
Fain would he obey the voice, and go as the Gods commanded. But how
should he tell this purpose to the queen? But at the last it seemed
good to him to call certain of the chiefs, as Mnestheus, and
Sergestus, and Antheus, and bid them make ready the ships in silence,
and gather together the people, but dissemble the cause, and he
himself would watch a fitting time to speak and unfold the matter to
the queen.
Yet was not Dido deceived, for love is keen of sight. Rumour also told
her that they made ready the ships for sailing. Then, flying through
the city, even as one on whom has come the frenzy of Bacchus flies by
night over Mount Cithæron, she came upon Æneas, and spake: "Thoughtest
thou to hide thy crime, and to depart in silence from this land?
Carest thou not for her whom thou leavest to die? And hast thou no
fear of winter storms that vex the sea? By all that I have done for
thee and given thee, if there be yet any place for repentance, repent
thee of this purpose. For thy sake I suffer the wrath of the princes
of Libya and of my own people; and if thou leavest me, for what should
I live?--till my brother overthrow my city, or Iarbas carry me away
captive? If but I had a little Æneas to play in my halls I should not
seem so altogether desolate."
But Æneas, fearing the words of Jupiter, stood with eyes that relented
not. At the last he spake: "I deny not, O Queen, the benefits that
thou hast done unto me, nor ever, while I live, shall I forget Dido. I
sought not to fly by stealth; yet did I never promise that I would
abide in this place. Could I have chosen according to my will I had
built again the city of Troy where it stood; but the Gods command that
I should seek Italy. Thou hast thy Carthage: why dost thou grudge
Italy to us? Nor may I tarry. Night after night have I seen my father
Anchises warning me in dreams. Also even now the messenger of Jupiter
came to me--with these ears I heard him--and bade me depart."
Then, in great wrath, with eyes askance, did Dido break forth upon
him: "Surely no goddess was thy mother, nor art thou come of the race
of Dardanus. The rocks of Caucasus brought thee forth, and an
Hyrcanian tigress gave thee suck. For why should I dissemble? Was he
moved at all by tears? Did he pity my love? Nay, the very Gods are
against me. This man I took to myself when he was shipwrecked and
ready to perish. I brought back his ships, his companions from
destruction. And now forsooth comes the messenger of Jupiter with
dreadful commands from the Gods. As for thee, I keep thee not. Go,
seek thy Italy across the seas: only, if there is any vengeance in
heaven, thou wilt pay the penalty for this wrong, being wrecked on
some rock in their midst. Then wilt thou call on Dido in vain. Aye,
and wherever thou shalt go I will haunt thee, and rejoice in the
dwellings below to hear thy doom."
Then she turned, and hasted to go into the house. But her spirit left
her, so that her maidens bare her to her chamber and laid her on her
bed.
Then Æneas, though indeed he was much troubled in heart, and would
fain have comforted the queen, was obedient to the heavenly word, and
departed to his ships. And the men of Troy busied themselves in making
them ready for the voyage. Even as the ants spoil a great heap of corn
and store it in their dwellings against winter, moving in a black line
across the field, and some carry the great grains, and some chide
those that linger, even so did the Trojans swarm along the ways and
labour at the work.
But when Dido saw it she called to Anna, her sister, and said, "Seest
thou how they hasten the work along the shore? Even now the sails are
ready for the winds, and the sailors have wreathed the ships with
garlands, as if for departure. Go thou--the deceiver always trusted
thee, and thou knowest how best to move him--go and entreat him. I
harmed not him nor his people; let him then grant me this only. Let
him wait for a fairer time for his journey. I ask not that he give up
his purpose; only that he grant me a short breathing space, till I may
learn how to bear this sorrow."
And Anna hearkened to her sister, and took the message to Æneas, yet
profited nothing, for the Gods shut his ears that he should not hear.
Even as an oak stands firm when the north wind would root it up from
the earth--its leaves are scattered all around, yet doth it remain
firm, for its roots go down to the regions below, even as far as its
branches reach to heaven--so stood Æneas firm, and, though he wept
many tears, changed not his purpose.
Then did Dido grow weary of her life. For when she did sacrifice the
pure water would grow black and the wine be changed into blood. Also
from the shrine of her husband, which was in the midst of her palace,
was heard a voice calling her, and the owl cried aloud from her
house-top. And in her dreams the cruel Æneas seemed to drive her
before him; or she seemed to be going a long way with none to bear her
company, and be seeking her own people in a land that was desert.
Therefore, hiding the thing that was in her heart, she spake to her
sister, saying, "I have found a way, my sister, that shall bring him
back to me or set me free from him. Near the shore of the Great Sea,
where the Æthiopians dwell, is a priestess, who guards the temple of
the daughters of Hesperus, being wont to feed the dragons that kept
the apples of gold. She is able by her charms to loose the heart from
care or to bind it, and to stay rivers also, and to turn the courses
of the stars, and to call up the spirits of the dead. Do thou,
therefore--for this is what the priestess commands--build a pile in
the open court, and put thereon the sword which he left hanging in our
chamber, and the garments he wore, and the couch on which he lay, even
all that was his, so that they may perish together."
And when these things were done--for Anna knew not of her purpose--and
also an image of Æneas was laid upon the pile, the priestess, with her
hair unbound, called upon all the gods that dwell below, sprinkling
thereon water that was drawn, she said, from the lake of Avernus, and
scattering evil herbs that had been cut at the full moon with a sickle
of bronze. Dido also, with one foot bare and her garments loosened,
threw meal upon the fire and called upon the Gods, if haply there be
any, that look upon those that love and suffer wrong.
In the mean time Æneas lay asleep in the hind part of his ship, when
there appeared to him in a dream the god Mercury, even as he had seen
him when he brought the commandment of Jupiter. And Mercury spake,
saying, "Son of Venus, canst thou sleep? seest thou not what perils
surround thee, nor hearest how the favourable west wind calls? The
queen purposes evil against thee. If thou lingerest till the morning
come thou wilt see the shore covered with them that wish thee harm.
Fly, then, and tarry not; for a woman is ever of many minds."
Then did Æneas in great fear start from his sleep, and call his
companions, saying, "Wake, and sit on the benches, and loose the
sails. 'Tis a god thus bids us fly." And even as he spake he cut the
cable with his sword. And all hasted to follow him, and sped over the
sea.
And now it was morning, and Queen Dido, from her watch-tower, saw the
ships upon the sea. Then she smote upon her breast and tore her hair,
and cried, "Shall this stranger mock us thus? Hasten to follow him.
Bring down the ships from the docks, make ready sword and fire. And
this was the man who bare upon his shoulders his aged father! Why did
I not tear him to pieces, and slay his companions with the sword, and
serve up the young Ascanius at his meal? And if I had perished, what
then? for I die to-day. O Sun, that regardest all the earth, and Juno,
that carest for marriage bonds, and Hecate, Queen of the dead, and ye
Furies that take vengeance on evildoers, hear me. If it be ordered
that he reach this land, yet grant that he suffer many things from his
enemies, and be driven from his city, and beg for help from strangers,
and see his people cruelly slain with the sword; and, when he shall
have made peace on ill conditions, that he enjoy not long his kingdom,
but die before his day, and lie unburied on the plain. And ye, men of
Tyre, hate his children and his people for ever. Let there be no love
or peace between you. And may some avenger arise from my grave who
shall persecute the race of Dardanus with fire and sword. So shall
there be war for ever between him and me."
Then she spake to old Barcé, who had been nurse to her husband
Sichæus, "Bid my sister bathe herself in water, and bring with her
beasts for sacrifice. And do thou also put a garland about thy head,
for I am minded to finish this sacrifice which I have begun, and to
burn the image of the man of Troy."
And when the old woman made haste to do her bidding, Queen Dido ran to
the court where the pile was made for the burning, and mounted on the
pile, and drew the sword of Æneas from the scabbard. Then did she
throw herself upon the bed, and cry, "Now do I yield up my life. I
have finished my course. I have built a mighty city. I have avenged my
husband on him that slew him. Happy had I been, yea too happy! had the
ships of Troy never come to this land." Then she kissed the bed and
cried, "Shall I die unavenged? Nevertheless let me die. The man of
Troy shall see this fire from the sea whereon he journeys, and carry
with him an augury of death."
And when her maidens looked, lo! she had fallen upon the sword, and
the blood was upon her hands. And a great cry went up through the
palace, exceeding loud and bitter, even as if the enemy had taken
Carthage or ancient Tyre, and the fire were mounting over the
dwellings of men and of Gods. And Anna her sister heard it, and
rushing through the midst called her by name, "O my sister, was this
thy purpose? Were the pile and the sword and the fire for this? Why
wouldst thou not suffer that I should die with thee? For surely, my
sister, thou hast slain thyself, and me, and thy people, and thy city.
But give me water, ye maidens, that I may wash her wounds, and if
there be any breath left in her, we may yet stay it."
Then she climbed on to the pile, and caught her sister in her arms,
and sought to staunch the blood with her garments. Three times did
Dido strive to raise her eyes; three times did her spirit leave her.
Three times she would have raised herself upon her elbow; three times
she fell back upon the bed, looking with wandering eyes for the light,
and groaning that she yet beheld it.
[Illustration: DIDO ON THE FUNERAL PILE.]
Then Juno, looking down from heaven, saw that her pain was long, and
pitied her, and sent down Iris, her messenger, that she might loose
the soul that struggled to be free. For, seeing that she died not by
nature, nor yet by the hand of man, but before her time and of her own
madness, Queen Proserpine had not shred the ringlet from her head
which she shreds from them that die. Wherefore Iris, flying down with
dewy wings from heaven, with a thousand colours about her from the
light of the sun, stood above her head and said, "I give thee to
death, even as I am bidden, and loose thee from thy body." Then she
shred the lock, and Queen Dido gave up the ghost.