What fate, thou son of heav’n, decrees these perils vast? And what the power that drives thee on our savage shores? And art thou that Æneas whom to Ilium’s prince, Anchises, on the bank of Phrygian Simois, The kindly Venus bore? And now do I recall That Teucer once to Sidon came as suppliant; For exiled from his native Salamis he came. ‘T was at the time when fertile Cyprus bowed beneath My father’s might, and by the victor’s sway was held. From that time on, thy name, and all the Grecian kings, And the fortunes of thy city have been known to me. Nay, Teucer’s self, though foeman, sang the praise of Troy, And said that he himself from ancient Trojan stock Had sprung. Wherefore, O princes, come and make my halls Your own. An equal fate has willed that I, like you, The sport of many toils, should find a resting place Within this land. With grief acquainted, I have learned To comfort hapless wanderers oppressed with grief. They prepare to leave the scene. Dido despatches men to bear gifts to the Trojan fleet, and proclaims a banquet for the ensuing night in honor of Æneas and the Trojan princes. _Æneas_, to Achates (643-655): Go, speed thee, friend, to where, upon the sandy beach, Our comrades camp about the ships. This joyful news To young Ascanius bear, and bid him come with thee To Dido’s town. Exit Achates. To other Trojans: Go ye, and fetch from out the ships The treasures that we saved from Ilium’s fall: the robe, Stiff wrought with golden pattern, and the flowing veil All interwov’n with bright acanthus’ yellow bloom, Those beauteous robes of price which Argive Helen brought From rich Mycenæ when to Pergama she came, Her mother’s wondrous gift. And bring the scepter fair Which once Ilione, the eldest daughter of Our monarch, bore; the pearl-set necklace, and the crown, Its double golden circlet spangled o’er with gems. The Trojans withdraw to do his bidding. The music sounds, and as the entire court moves from the scene, Dido sends some of her maidens back to throw incense upon the flames. They kneel upon the steps and Anna advances to the altar. As the smoke ascends, Dido and Æneas turn to follow the rest. Curtain. ACT I. SCENE 2 A place in the deep, green forest. Ferns and flowers strew the ground and the sunlight falls through the branches in flecks of gold. In the foreground are two great moss-grown rocks, on one of which sits Cupid, draped with garlands of wild flowers, shooting his arrows at a heart-shaped target hung from the branches of a tree in the center of the stage. At one side sits Venus, absorbed in deep, troubled meditation. She has resumed the flowing draperies befitting a goddess. Pink or canary yellow will harmonize with the scene. _Venus_ (657-662):