draught, and the other princes after him.  Then the minstrel Iopas, whom Atlas himself had taught, sang to the harp, of the moon, how she goes on her way, and of the sun, how his light is darkened.  He sang also of men, and of the beasts of the field, whence they come; and of the stars, Arcturus, and the Greater Bear and the Less, and the Hyades; and of the winter sun, why he hastens to dip himself in the ocean; and of the winter nights, why they tarry so long.  The queen also talked much of the story of Troy, of Priam, and of Hector, asking many things, as of the arms of Memnon, and of the horses of Diomed, and of Achilles, how great he was.  And at last she said to AEneas, “Tell us now thy story, how Troy was taken, and thy wanderings over land and sea.”  And AEneas made answer, “Nay, O Queen, but thou biddest me renew a sorrow unspeakable.  Yet, if thou art minded to hear these things, hearken.”  And he told her all that had befallen him, even to the day when his father Anchises died.

Much was Queen Dido moved by the story, and much did she marvel at him that told it, and scarce could sleep for thinking of him.  And the next day she spake to Anna, her sister, “O my sister, I have been troubled this night with ill dreams, and my heart is disquieted within me.  What a man is this stranger that hath come to our shores!  How noble of mien!  How bold in war!  Sure I am that he is of the sons of the Gods.  What fortunes have been his!  Of what wars he told us!  Surely were I not steadfastly purposed that I would not yoke me again in marriage, this were the man to whom I might yield.  Only he—­for I will tell thee the truth, my sister—­only he, since the day when Sichaeus died by our brother’s hand, hath moved my heart.  But may the earth swallow me up, or the almighty Father strike me with lightning, ere I stoop to such baseness.  The husband of my youth hath carried with him my love, and he shall keep it in his grave.”

So she spake, with many tears.  And her sister made answer, “Why wilt thou waste thy youth in sorrow, without child or husband?  Thinkest thou that there is care or remembrance of such things in the grave?  No suitors indeed have pleased thee here or in Tyre, but wilt thou also contend with a love that is after thine own heart?  Think too of the nations among whom thou dwellest, how fierce they are, and of thy brother at Tyre, what he threatens against thee.  Surely it was by the will of the Gods, and of Juno chiefly, that the ships of Troy came hither.  And this city, which thou buildest, to what greatness will it grow if only thou wilt make for thyself such alliance!  How great will be the glory of Carthage if the strength of Troy be joined unto her!  Only do thou pray to the Gods and offer sacrifices; and, for the present, seeing that the time of sailing is now past, make excuse that these strangers tarry with thee awhile.”