_Æn._ Thanks, good Iarbas, for thy friendly aid: Achates and the rest shall wait on thee, Whilst I rest thankful for this courtesy. [_Exeunt all except_ ÆNEAS. Now will I haste unto Lavinian shore, And raise a new foundation to old Troy. Witness the gods, and witness heaven and earth, 80 How loath I am to leave these Libyan bounds, But that eternal Jupiter commands! _Enter_ DIDO. _Dido._ I fear I saw Æneas' little son Led by Achates[543] to the Trojan fleet. If it be so, his father means to fly:-- But here he is; now, Dido, try thy wit.-- [_Aside._ Æneas, wherefore go thy men abroad? Why are thy ships new-rigged? or to what end, Launched from the haven, lie they in the road? Pardon me, though I ask; love makes me ask. 90 _Æn._ O, pardon me, if I resolve thee why! Æneas will not feign with his dear love. I must from hence: this day, swift Mercury, When I was laying a platform[544] for these walls, Sent from his father Jove, appear'd to me, And in his name rebuk'd me bitterly For lingering here, neglecting Italy. _Dido._ But yet Æneas will not leave his love. _Æn._ I am commanded by immortal Jove To leave this town and pass to Italy; 100 And therefore must of force. _Dido._ These words proceed not from Æneas' heart. _Æn._ Not from my heart, for I can hardly go; And yet I may not stay. Dido, farewell. _Dido._ Farewell! is this the 'mends for Dido's love? Do Trojans use to quit[545] their lovers thus? Fare well may Dido, so Æneas stay; I die, if my Æneas say farewell. _Æn._ Then let me go, and never say farewell: Let me go; farewell:[546] I must from hence. 110 _Dido._ These words are poison to poor Dido's soul: O, speak like my Æneas, like my love! Why look'st thou toward the sea? the time hath been When Dido's beauty chain'd[547] thine eyes to her. Am I less fair than when thou saw'st me first? O, then, Æneas, 'tis for grief of thee! Say thou wilt stay in Carthage with thy[548] queen, And Dido's beauty will return again. Æneas, say, how can'st thou take thy leave? Wilt thou kiss Dido? O, thy lips have sworn 120 To stay with Dido! canst thou take her hand? Thy hand and mine have plighted mutual faith; Therefore, unkind Æneas, must thou say, "Then let me go, and never say farewell?" _Æn._ O queen of Carthage, wert thou ugly-black, Æneas could not choose but hold thee dear! Yet must he not gainsay the gods' behest.