 | Dido |  |
SCENE II.
Enter Iarbas attended.Iar.
And whither does this wandering hero now
Direct his arms and vessels? Does he bear
The war elsewhere? Or would he seek by flight
To escape Iarbas?
Æn.
Fate again prepares
New obstacles to stay me.
[aside.
283
For a moment
Thy barks may yet remain at anchor here;
If thou hast courage, meet my arm—behold
I dare thee to the combat.
Æn.
I accept
Thy profferr'd challenge—Hold, my friends, I seek
No sword but mine to tame yon haughty boaster.
[to his followers.
I am prepar'd—what now employs thy thoughts?
[to Iar.
Iar.
I think thy death but little will suffice
To satiate my revenge.
Æn.
Far rather own
To stay me now demands thy noblest effort—
—To arms!
Iar.
To arms!
[fight: while they are engaged and Iarbas begins to give ground, the Moors come to his assistance and attack Æneas.]
Æn.
Come, all thy realm united!
Iar.
Defend thee, if thou canst—
Æn.
I fear thee not,
Barbarian!—
[the companions of Æneas come to his assistance and attack the Moors: a skirmish ensues, the Moors are driven off: Iarbas falls.]
—Thou art fallen beneath my arm,
Yield, or this weapon drinks thy blood.
284
In vain
Thou seek'st to bend me—
Æn.
If thou wilt not ask
Life from thy victor—
Iar.
Never—use thy fortune.
Æn.
Die then—but hold awhile—it shall be so.
No—take thy life, nor deem thy empty pride
Shall change the tenour of my constant soul.
[Exit.
Iar.
I am conquer'd, not subdu'd—at least Iarbas
Shall never prove alone the cruel mark
Of fickle Fortune's rage: a monarch's fall
Shall drag a kingdom down to share his ruin.
[Exit.
| Dido | |