And Aeneas, Being a thoughtful father, speeds Achates Back to the ships, with tidings for Iulus, He is to join them; all the father’s fondness Is centred on the son. Orders are given To bring gifts with him, saved from the Trojan ruins, A mantle stiff with figures worked in gold; A veil with gold acanthus running through it, Once worn by Helen, when she sailed from Sparta Toward that forbidden marriage, a wondrous gift Made by her mother Leda; and the sceptre That Ilione, Priam’s eldest daughter, Had carried once; a necklace hung with pearls; A crown of gold and jewels. Toward the ships Achates sped the message. Meanwhile Venus Plotted new stratagems, that Cupid, changed In form and feature, should appear instead Of young Ascanius, and by his gifts Inspire the queen to passion, with his fire Burning her very bones. She feared the house Held dubious intentions; men of Tyre Were always two-faced people, and Juno’s anger Vexed her by night. She spoke to her wingèd son:-- “O my one strength and source of power, my son, Disdainful of Jove’s thunderbolt, to you I come in prayer for help. You know that Juno Is hateful toward Aeneas, keeps him tossing All over the seas in bitterness; you have often Grieved with me for your brother. And now Dido Holds him with flattering words; I do not trust Juno’s ideas of welcome; she will never Pause at a point like this. Therefore I purpose To take the queen by cunning, put around her A wall of flame, so that no power can change her, So that a blazing passion for Aeneas Will bind her to us. Listen! I will tell you How you can manage this. The royal boy, My greatest care, has heard his father’s summons To come to the city, bringing presents, rescued From the flames of Troy and the sea; and he is ready. But I will make him drowsy, carry him off In slumber over Cythera, or hide him Deep on Idalium in a secret bower Before he learns the scheme or interrupts it. You, for one night, no more, assume his features, The boy’s familiar guise, yourself a boy, So that when Dido takes you to her bosom During the royal feast, with the wine flowing, And happiness abounding, you, receiving The sweetness of her kiss, will overcome her With secret fire and poison.”