Thus advised, Dido gives herself up to passion's sway. Her city is forgotten, her queenly ambition gone. In hospitality, in feasting, and the dalliance of love the days go by. And seemingly Æneas, too, has forgotten his glorious destiny, his promised land of Italy, and is sunk in a languorous dream of present bliss. But the fates of future Rome must not be thwarted. He is rudely awakened from his dream by Mercury, who at the command of Jove suddenly appears before him as he is engaged in urging on the walls and towers of Carthage. And can it be that thou art building here the walls Of Tyrian Carthage, and uprearing her fair towers, Thou dotard, of thy realm and thy great destiny Forgetful! Jove himself, the ruler of the gods, Who holds the heavens and earth and moves them at his will, To thee from bright Olympus straight hath sent me here. He bade me bear on speeding pinions these commands: What dost thou here? or with what hopes dost thou delay Upon the Libyan shores? If thou, indeed, art moved By no regard of thine own glorious destiny, Respect at least the budding hopes of him, thy son, Who after thee shall hold the scepter; for to him Are due the realms of Italy, the land of Rome. Miller. Æneas is overwhelmed with astonishment and remorse. At once all his old ambitions regain their sway, and his mind is bent upon instant departure. He cries aloud: O Jove, and I had near forgot my destiny, To oblivion lulled amid the sweets of this fair land! But now my heart's sole longing is for Italy, Which waits me by the promise of the fates. But how From this benumbing passion shall I free myself? How face the queen and put away her clinging love? [_To his attendants._] "Go ye, and swiftly call the Trojans to the shore; Bid them equip the vessels quickly for the sea, And frame for this our sudden voyage some fitting cause." Miller. But Dido has seen the hurrying Trojan mariners, and with her natural perceptions sharpened by suspicious fear, at once divines the meaning of this sudden stir. Maddened with the pangs of blighted love, she seeks Æneas and pours out her hot indignation mingled with pitiful pleadings.