 | Dido |  |
235
SCENE III.
Dido, Selene, Osmidas, attendants.Did.
And does Æneas fly me thus? What means
Such cruel silence! how have I offended!
Sel.
His purpose is to leave thee—Love and Glory
With doubtful empire struggle in his heart.
Did.
And does he find it glory to forsake me?
Osm.
Now policy assist me! [aside.]
—Mighty queen!
Selene little reads Æneas' thoughts:
Arbaces from the Moorish court is sent
Ambassador to Carthage.
Did.
Well, what follows?
Osm.
The haughty king demands your hand in marriage.
Æneas fears that you, by force compell'd,
Will yield to his demand; and therefore flies
To shun the grief to see you wed another.
Did.
It may be so—go, dearest sister, chace
From my Æneas such unkind suspicions,
And tell him death alone shall tear me from him.
Sel.
This I must suffer too! relentless fate!
[aside.
236
To him thy sister, void of art,
Shall make thy purpose known,
And sooth to peace thy love-sick heart;
[to Did.
But rend with grief her own.
[aside.
Shall make thy purpose known,
And sooth to peace thy love-sick heart;
[to Did.
But rend with grief her own.
To him my faithful lips address'd,
Shall all thy thoughts reveal:
[to Did.
But how, the pangs that rend my breast,
Shall I, ye powers! conceal! [aside.]
Shall all thy thoughts reveal:
[to Did.
But how, the pangs that rend my breast,
Shall I, ye powers! conceal! [aside.]
Exit.
| Dido | |