Enter Dido and AEneas.

Dido. I feare I sawe AEneas little sonne,
Led by Achates to the Troian fleete: 
If it be so, his father meanes to flye: 
But here he is, now Dido trie thy wit.
AEneas, wherefore goe thy men abourd?,
Why are thy ships new rigd? or to what end
Launcht from the hauen, lye they in the Rhode? 
Pardon me though I aske, loue makes me aske.

AEn. O pardon me, if I resolue thee why: 
AEneas will not faine with his deare loue,
I must from hence:  this day swift Mercury
When I was laying a platforme for these walles,
Sent from his father Ioue, appeard to me,
And in his name rebukt me bitterly,
For lingering here, neglecting Italy.

Dido. But yet AEneas will not leaue his loue.

AEn. I am commaunded by immortal Ioue, To leaue this towne and passe to Italy, And therefore must of force.

Dido. These words proceed not from AEneas heart.

AEn. Not from my heart, for I can hardly goe, And yet I may not stay, Dido farewell.

Dido. Farewell:  is this the mends for Didos loue?  Doe Troians vse to quit their Louers thus?  Fare well may Dido, so AEneas stay, I dye, if my AEneas say farewell.

AEn. Then let me goe and neuer say farewell, Let me goe, farewell, I must from hence.

Dido. These words are poyson to poore Didos soule, O speake like my AEneas, like my loue:  Why look’st thou toward the sea? the time hath been When Didos beautie chaungd thine eyes to her; Am I lesse faire then when thou sawest me first?  O then AEneas, tis for griefe of thee:  Say thou wilt stay in Carthage with my Queene, And Didos beautie will returne againe:  AEneas, say, how canst thou take thy leaue?  Wilt thou kisse Dido?  O thy lips haue sworne To stay with Dido:  canst thou take her hand?  Thy Hand and mine haue plighted mutuall faith, Therefore vnkinde AEneas, must thou say, Then let me goe, and neuer say farewell.

AEn. O Queene of Carthage, wert thou vgly blacke, AEneas could not choose but hold thee deare, Yet must he not gainsay the Gods behest.

Dido. The Gods, what Gods be those that seeke my death? 
Wherein haue I offended Iupiter,
That he should take AEneas from mine armes? 
O no, the Gods wey not what Louers doe,
It is AEneas calles AEneas hence,
And wofull Dido by these blubbred cheekes,
By this right hand, and by our spousall rites,
Desires AEneas to remaine with her: 
Si bene quid de te merui, fuit aut tibi quidquam
Dulce meum, miserere domus labentis:  & istam
Oro, si quis ad hac precibus locus, exue mentem.