She was the first to find the secret fraud, Before the fatal news was blazed abroad. Love the first motions of the lover hears, Quick to presage, and even in safety fears. Nor impious Fame was wanting, to report } The ships repaired, the Trojans' thick resort, } And purpose to forsake the Tyrian court. } Frantic with fear, impatient of the wound, And impotent of mind, she roves the city round. Less wild the Bacchanalian dames appear, } When, from afar, their nightly god they hear, } And howl about the hills, and shake the wreathy spear. } At length she finds the dear perfidious man; Prevents his formed excuse, and thus began:-- "Base and ungrateful! could you hope to fly, And undiscovered 'scape a lover's eye? Nor could my kindness your compassion move, Nor plighted vows, nor dearer bands of love? Or is the death of a despairing queen Not worth preventing, though too well foreseen? Even when the wintery winds command your stay, You dare the tempests, and defy the sea. False, as you are, suppose you were not bound To lands unknown, and foreign coasts to sound; Were Troy restored, and Priam's happy reign, Now durst you tempt, for Troy, the raging main? See, whom you fly! am I the foe you shun? Now, by those holy vows, so late begun, By this right hand, (since I have nothing more To challenge, but the faith you gave before,) I beg you by these tears too truly shed, By the new pleasures of our nuptial bed; If ever Dido, when you most were kind, Were pleasing in your eyes, or touched your mind; By these my prayers, if prayers may yet have place, Pity the fortunes of a falling race! For you, I have provoked a tyrant's hate, Incensed the Libyan and the Tyrian state; For you alone, I suffer in my fame, Bereft of honour, and exposed to shame! Whom have I now to trust, ungrateful guest? (That only name remains of all the rest!) What have I left? or whither can I fly? Must I attend Pygmalion's cruelty, Or till Iarbas shall in triumph lead A queen, that proudly scorned his proffered bed? Had you deferred, at least, your hasty flight, } And left behind some pledge of our delight, } Some babe to bless the mother's mournful sight, } Some young Æneas to supply your place, Whose features might express his father's face; I should not then complain to live bereft Of all my husband, or be wholly left." Here paused the queen. Unmoved he holds his eyes, } By Jove's command; nor suffered love to rise, } Though heaving in his heart; and thus at length replies:-- } "Fair queen, you never can enough repeat Your boundless favours, or I own my debt; Nor can my mind forget Eliza's name, While vital breath inspires this mortal frame. This only let me speak in my defence--