Anna. Wicked AEneas.

Dido. Call him not wicked, sister speake him faire,
And looke vpon him with a Mermaides eye,
Tell him, I neuer vow’d at Aulis gulfe
The desolation of his natiue Troy,
Nor sent a thousand ships vnto the walles,
Nor euer violated faith to him: 
Request him gently (Anna) to returne,
I craue but this, he stay a tide or two,
That I may learne to beare it patiently,
If he depart thus suddenly, I dye: 
Run Anna, run, stay not to answere me.

Anna. I goe faire sister, heauens graunt good successe.

Exit Anna.

Enter the Nurse.

Nurse. O Dido, your little sonne Ascanius
Is gone! he lay with me last night,
And in the morning he was stolne from me,
I thinke some Fairies haue beguiled me.

Dido. O cursed hagge and false dissembling wretch! 
That slayest me with thy harsh and hellish tale,
Thou for some pettie guift hast let him goe,
And I am thus deluded of my boy: 
Away with her to prison presently,
Traytoresse too keend and cursed Sorceresse.

Nurse. I know not what you meane by treason, I, I am as true as any one of yours. Exeunt the Nurse.

Dido. Away with her, suffer her not to speake.  My sister comes, I like not her sad lookes.

Enter Anna.

Anna. Before I came, AEneas was abourd,
And spying me, hoyst vp the sailes amaine: 
But I cride out, AEneas, false AEneas stay. 
Then gan he wagge his hand, which yet held vp,
Made me suppose he would haue heard me speake: 
Then gan they driue into the Ocean,
Which when I viewd, I cride, AEneas stay,
Dido, faire Dido wils AEneas stay: 
Yet he whose heart of adamant or flint,
My teares nor plaints could mollifie a whit: 
Then carelesly I rent my haire for griefe,
Which seene to all, though he beheld me not,
They gan to moue him to redresse my ruth,
And stay a while to heare what I could say,
But he clapt vnder hatches saild away.

Dido. O Anna, Anna, I will follow him.

Anna. How can ye goe when he hath all your fleete?

Dido. Ile frame me wings of waxe like Icarus,
And ore his ships will soare vnto the Sunne,
That they may melt and I fall in his armes: 
Or els Ile make a prayer vnto the waues,
That I may swim to him like Tritons neece: 
O Anna, fetch Orions Harpe,
That I may tice a Dolphin to the shoare,
And ride vpon his backe vnto my loue: 
Looke sister, looke louely AEneas ships,
See see, the billowes heaue him vp to heauen,
And now downe falles the keeles into the deepe: 
O sister, sister, take away the Rockes,
Theile breake his ships, O Proteus, Neptune, Ioue,
Saue, saue AEneas, Didos leefest loue! 
Now is he come on shoare safe without hurt: 
But see, Achates wils him put to sea,
And all the Sailers merrie make for ioy,
But he remembring me shrinkes backe againe: 
See where he comes, welcome, welcome my loue.