Will quickly fly to Cytherea's fist.

Now, Cupid, turn thee to Ascanius' shape,
And go to Dido, who, instead of him,

Will set thee on her lap, and play with thee:
Then touch her white breast with this arrow-head,
That she may dote upon Æneas' love,

And by that means repair his broken ships,
Victual his soldiers, give him wealthy gifts,
And he, at last, depart to Italy,

330

Or else in Carthage make his kingly throne.

Cup. I will, fair mother; and so play my part

As every touch shall wound Queen Dido's heart. [Exit.
Ven. Sleep, my sweet nephew,2 in these cooling shades,
Free from the murmur of these running streams,

The cry of beasts, the rattling of the winds,
Or whisking of these leaves: all shall be still,

And nothing interrupt thy quiet sleep,

Till I return, and take thee hence again.

1 Old ed. "Citheida's."
2 Grandson (Lat. nepos).

[Exit. 340

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Enter CUPID as ASCANIUS.

Cup. Now, Cupid, cause the Carthaginian queen
To be enamour'd of thy brother's looks:
Convey this golden arrow in thy sleeve,
Lest she imagine thou art Venus' son;

And when she strokes thee softly on the head,
Then shall I touch her breast and conquer her.

Enter DIDO, ANNA, and IARBAS.

Iar. How long, fair Dido, shall I pine for thee? 'Tis not enough that thou dost grant me love,

But that I may enjoy what I desire:

That love is childish which consists in words.

Dido. Iarbas, know, that thou, of all my wooers,—

And yet have I had many mightier kings,

Hast had the greatest favours I could give.

I fear me, Dido hath been counted light

In being too familiar with Iarbas;

1 Scene: a room in Dido's palace.

ΙΟ

Albeit the gods do know, no wanton thought
Had ever residence in Dido's breast.

Iar. But Dido is the favour I request.
Dido. Fear not, Iarbas; Dido may be thine.
Anna. Look, sister, how Æneas' little son
Plays with your garments and embraceth you.
Cup. No, Dido will not take me in her arms;

I shall not be her son, she loves me not.

20

Dido. Weep not, sweet boy; thou shalt be Dido's

son:

Sit in my lap, and let me hear thee sing.

[CUPID sings.

No more, my child; now talk another while,
And tell me where learn'dst thou this pretty song.

Cup. My cousin Helen taught it me in Troy.
Dido. How lovely is Ascanius when he smiles!
Cup. Will Dido let me hang about her neck?
Dido. I, wag; and give thee leave to kiss her too.

30

Cup. What will you give me now? I'll have this fan.
Dido. Take it, Ascanius, for thy father's sake.
Iar. Come, Dido, leave Ascanius; let us walk.

Dido. Go thou away; Ascanius shall stay.
Iar. Ungentle queen, is this thy love to me?
Dido. O, stay, Iarbas, and I'll go with thee!
Cup. An if my mother go, I'll follow her.

40

Dido. Why stay'st thou here? thou art no love of mine. Iar. Iarbas, die, seeing she abandons thee! Dido. No; live, Iarbas: What hast thou deserved, That I should say thou art no love of mine? Something thou hast deserved.-Away, I say! Depart from Carthage; come not in my sight.

Iar. Am I not king of rich Gætulia?

Dido. Iarbas, pardon me, and stay a while.
Cup. Mother, look here.

Dido. What tell'st thou me of rich Gætulia?

Am not I queen of Libya? then depart.

Iar. I go to feed the humour of my love, Yet not from Carthage for a thousand worlds. Dido. Iarbas !

Iar. Doth Dido call me back?

Dido. No; but I charge thee never look on me.
Iar. Then pull out both mine eyes, or let me die.

50

[Exit.

Anna. Wherefore doth Dido bid Iarbas go?
Dido. Because his loathsome sight offends mine

eye,

And in my thoughts is shrined another love.

O Anna, didst thou know how sweet love were,

Full soon wouldst thou abjure this single life!

Anna. Poor soul, I know too well the sour of love: 60

O, that Iarbas could but fancy me!

Dido. Is not Æneas fair and beautiful?

[Aside.

Anna. Yes; and Iarbas foul and favourless.
Dido. Is he not eloquent in all his speech?
Anna. Yes; and Iarbas rude and rustical.
Dido. Name not Iarbas: but, sweet Anna, say,
Is not Æneas worthy Dido's love?

Anna. O sister, were you empress of the world,
Æneas well deserves to be your love!
So lovely is he, that, where'er he goes,
The people swarm to gaze him in the face.

Dido. But tell them, none shall gaze on him but I, Lest their gross eye-beams taint my lover's cheeks. Anna, good sister Anna, go for him,

Lest with these sweet thoughts I melt clean away.

Anna. Then, sister, you'll abjure Iarbas' love? Dido. Yet must I hear that loathsome name again? Run for Æneas, or I'll fly to him. [Exit ANNA.

Cup. You shall not hurt my father when he comes. Dido. No; for thy sake I'll love thy father well.— 80 O dull-conceited Dido, that till now

Didst never think Æneas beautiful!

But now, for quittance of this oversight,

I'll make me bracelets of his golden hair;
His glistering eyes shall be my looking-glass;
His lips an altar, where I'll offer up 1
As many kisses as the sea hath sands;
Instead of music I will hear him speak;
His looks shall be my only library ;
And thou, Æneas, Dido's treasury,

90

In whose fair bosom I will lock more wealth

Than twenty thousand Indias can afford.

O, here he comes! Love, love, give Dido leave
To be more modest than her thoughts admit,

Lest I be made a wonder to the world.

1 The same form of expression occurs in the Jew of Malta, iii. ll. 32, 33:

"Upon which altar I will offer up

My daily sacrifice of sighs and tears."