Soon as Jove’s loved wife saw that she was so mastered by the plague, and that good name could not stand in 5 the face of passion, she, the daughter of Saturn, bespeaks Venus thus:—“Brilliant truly is the praise, ample the spoils you are carrying off, you and your boy—great and memorable the fame, if the plots of two gods have really conquered one woman. No; I am not so blind either 10 to your fears of my city, to your suspicions of the open doors of my stately Carthage. But when is this to end? or what calls now for such terrible contention? Suppose for a change we establish perpetual peace and a firm marriage bond. You have gained what your whole heart 15 went to seek. Dido is ablaze with love, and the madness is coursing through her frame. Jointly then let us rule this nation, each with full sovereignty; let her stoop to be the slave of a Phrygian husband, and make over her Tyrians in place of dowry to your control.” 20 To her—for she saw that she had spoken with a feigned intent, meaning to divert the Italian empire to the coast of Libya—Venus thus replied:—“Who would be so mad as to spurn offers like these, and prefer your enmity to your friendship, were it but certain that the issue you name 25 would bring good fortune in its train? But I am groping blindly after destiny—whether it be Jupiter’s will that the Tyrians and the voyagers from Troy should have one city—whether he would have the two nations blended and a league made between them. You are his wife; it 30 is your place to approach him by entreaty. Go on, I will follow.” Imperial Juno rejoined thus:—“That task shall rest with me. Now, in what way our present purpose can be contrived, lend me your attention, and I will explain in brief. Æneas and Dido, poor sufferer! are 35 proposing to go hunting in the forest, when first to-morrow’s sun displays his rising, and with his beams uncurtains the globe. On them I will pour from above a black storm of mingled rain and hail, just when the horsemen are all astir, and spreading their toils before the wood-walks, and the whole heaven shall be convulsed with thunder. The train shall fly here and there, and be lost in the thick darkness. Dido and the Trojan chief shall 5 find themselves in the same cave. I will be there, and, if I may count on your sanction, will unite her to him in lasting wedlock, and consecrate her his for life. Thus shall Hymen[172] give us his presence.” The Queen of Cythera makes no demur, but nods assent, smiling at the 10 trick she has found out.