In the mean time AEneas lay asleep in the hind part of his ship, when there appeared to him in a dream the god Mercury, even as he had seen him when he brought the commandment of Jupiter.  And Mercury spake, saying, “Son of Venus, canst thou sleep? seest thou not what perils surround thee, nor hearest how the favorable west wind calls?  The queen purposes evil against thee.  If thou lingerest till the morning come thou wilt see the shore covered with them that wish thee harm.  Fly, then, and tarry not; for a woman is ever of many minds.”

Then did AEneas in great fear start from his sleep, and call his companions, saying, “Wake, and sit on the benches, and loose the sails.  ’Tis a god thus bids us fly.”  And even as he spake he cut the cable with his sword.  And all hasted to follow him, and sped over the sea.

And now it was morning, and Queen Dido, from her watch-tower, saw the ships upon the sea.  Then she smote upon her breast and tore her hair, and cried, “Shall this stranger mock us thus?  Hasten to follow him.  Bring down the ships from the docks, make ready sword and fire.  And this was the man who bare upon his shoulders his aged father.  Why did I not tear him to pieces, and slay his companions with the sword, and serve up the young Ascanius at his meal?  And if I had perished, what then? for I die to-day.  O Sun, that regardest all the earth, and Juno, that carest for marriage bonds, and Hecate, Queen of the dead, and ye Furies that take vengeance on evil-doers, hear me.  If it be ordered that he reach that land, yet grant that he suffer many things from his enemies, and be driven from his city, and beg for help from strangers, and see his people cruelly slain with the sword; and, when he shall have made peace on ill conditions, that he enjoy not long his kingdoms, but die before his day, and lie unburied on the plain.  And ye, men of Tyre, hate his children and his people forever.  Let there be no love or peace between you.  And may some avenger arise from my grave who shall persecute the race of Dardanus with fire and sword.  So shall there be war forever between him and me.”

Then she spake to old Barce, who had been nurse to her husband Sichaeus, “Bid my sister bathe herself in water, and bring with her beasts for sacrifice.  And do thou also put a garland about thy head, for I am minded to finish this sacrifice which I have begun, and to burn the image of the man of Troy.”

And when the old woman made haste to do her bidding, Queen Dido ran to the court where the pile was made for the burning, and mounted on the pile, and drew the sword of AEneas from the scabbard.  Then did she throw herself upon the bed, and cry,

“Now do I yield up my life.  I have finished my course.  I have built a mighty city.  I have avenged my husband on him that slew him.  Happy had I been, yea, too happy! had the ships of Troy never come to this land.”  Then she kissed the bed and cried, “Shall I die unavenged?  Nevertheless let me die.  The man of Troy shall see this fire from the sea whereon he journeys, and carry with him an augury of death.”