Dido opens her heart to her sister. But for her promised loyalty to the dead Sychaeus, she must have yielded (1-36). Anna pleads for AEneas, and Dido half-yielding sacrifices to the marriage-gods. The growth of her passion is described (37-104). Venus feigns assent to Juno's proposal that AEneas shall marry Dido and be king of Carthage. At a hunting Juno will send a storm and the lovers will shelter in a cave, and there plight their vows (105-144). The plot is consummated. Dido yields (145-198). Description of Rumour, who bruits abroad the story and rouses the jealous Iarbas to conjure his father, Jupiter, to interpose (199-248). Jupiter sends Mercury to remind AEneas of his mission (249-298). AEneas, terrified by the message, prepares for instant flight, to the delight of his followers and the despair of Dido (299-342), who entreats him to stay, and rehearses the dangers to which he is leaving her (343-374). AEneas is obdurate. Although he loves Dido, he is the slave of a destiny which he must at all costs fulfil (375-410). After calling down a solemn curse upon him Dido swoons, but crushing the impulse to comfort her, he hastens his preparations for departure (411-468). Dido sends Anna with a last appeal to AEneas, who nevertheless, in spite of struggles, obeys the gods (469-513). In utter misery Dido, on pretext of burning all AEneas' love-gifts, prepares a pyre and summons a sorceress. Her preparations complete, she utters her last lament (514-639). Mercury repeats his warning to AEneas, who sails forthwith (640-671). Daybreak reveals his flight, and Dido--cursing her betrayer--falls by her own hand, to the despair of her sister and the consternation of her subjects (672-837). I. Long since a prey to passion's torturing pains, The Queen was wasting with the secret flame, The cruel wound was feeding on her veins. Back to the fancy of the lovelorn dame Came the chief's valour and his country's fame. His looks, his words still lingered in her breast, Deep-fixt. And now the dewy Dawn upcame, And chased the shadows, when her love's unrest Thus to her sister's soul responsive she confessed: II. "What dreams, dear Anna, fill me with alarms; What stranger guest is this? like whom in face? How proud in portance, how expert in arms! In sooth I deem him of celestial race; Fear argues souls degenerate and base; But he--how oft by danger sore bestead, What warlike exploits did his lips retrace. Were not my purpose steadfast, ne'er to wed, Since love first played me false, and mocked me with the dead,