This, Venus knew, was spoken with a purpose, A guileful one, to turn Italian empire To Libyan shores: not without reservation She spoke in answer: “Who would be so foolish As to refuse such terms, preferring warfare, If only fortune follows that proposal? I do not know, I am more than a little troubled What fate permits: will Jupiter allow it, One city for the Tyrians and Trojans, This covenant, this mixture? You can fathom His mind, and ask him, being his wife. I follow Wherever you lead.” And royal Juno answered: “That I will tend to. Listen to me, and learn How to achieve the urgent need. They plan, Aeneas, and poor Dido, to go hunting When sunlight floods the world to-morrow morning. While the rush of the hunt is on, and the forest shaken With beaters and their nets, I will pour down Dark rain and hail, and make the whole sky rumble With thunder and threat. The company will scatter, Hidden or hiding in the night and shadow, And Dido and the Trojan come for shelter To the same cave. I will be there and join them In lasting wedlock; she will be his own, His bride, forever; this will be their marriage.” Venus assented, smiling, not ungracious-- The trick was in the open. Dawn, rising, left the ocean, and the youth Come forth from all the gates, prepared for hunting, Nets, toils, wide spears, keen-scented coursing hounds, And Dido keeps them waiting; her own charger Stands bright in gold and crimson; the bit foams, The impatient head is tossed. At last she comes, With a great train attending, gold and crimson, Quiver of gold, and combs of gold, and mantle Crimson with golden buckle. A Trojan escort Attends her, with Iulus, and Aeneas Comes to her side, more lordly than Apollo Bright along Delos’ ridges in the springtime With laurel in his hair and golden weapons Shining across his shoulders. Equal radiance Is all around Aeneas, equal splendor. They reach the mountain heights, the hiding-places Where no trail runs; wild goats from the rocks are started, Run down the ridges; elsewhere, in the open Deer cross the dusty plain, away from the mountains. The boy Ascanius, in the midst of the valley, Is glad he has so good a horse, rides, dashing Past one group or another: deer are cowards And wild goats tame; he prays for some excitement, A tawny lion coming down the mountain Or a great boar with foaming mouth.