When the goddess Juno realized what Cupid had done to Queen Dido, Juno angrily confronted Venus.
"What good does all this scheming do?
How is Olympus honored by this fighting between me and you?
Your Trojan with my Carthaginian, let us join.
Dido shall be yours and Aeneas shall be mine.
Together, they shall form one common kingdom, one united line."
How well Venus knew the cunning Juno. Jupiter's wife
really had only one purpose; she wanted to keep Aeneas in Carthage -
to keep Aeneas from fulfilling his destiny in Italy. Venus, however,
had her own scheme in mind.
"You are right, dear Juno. Do as
you see fit.
Only one question I ask. Will Jupiter allow it?
Can such a marriage last?"
"I will tend to Jupiter." The crafty Juno smiled.
"Tomorrow, when Dido and Aeneas go hunting,
a dark cloud shall cover the plain,
with hail and thunder, and a tempestuous rain.
The fearful hunters shall take their speedy flight.
All will disperse into the gloomy night.
One cave a grateful shelter shall afford
for the fair queen and the Trojan lord.
I myself will the bridal bed prepare,
if you, fair Venus, to bless their vows, will be there."
The next morning, unaware of their fate, the regal group set out. Dido's charger, in bright gold and crimson, foamed at the bit and tossed its head. Aeneas rode up to her side, more lordly than Apollo, with laurel in his hair and golden weapons shining across his shoulders. Both a Trojan escort and a Carthaginian train attended the couple.
When Jupiter turned his eyes to Carthage, he could not believe what he saw. He swiftly summoned Mercury.
"Go forth, my son, my words relate.
Remind this Trojan of his fate.
This hero is destined to command
a powerful race and the Latian lands.
Bid him with speed Queen Dido to forsake;
with this command, the slumbering warrior wake."
Mercury passed over the seas and crossed the sands until, closing his wings, stopped on Libyan lands. Arriving there, he found the Trojan prince raising new ramparts for the town's defense. A purple scarf with gold embroidered over, (Queen Dido's gift) he wore about his waist. A sword, ornamented with glittering gems, hung idly by his side.
Then, with winged words, the god began
his rebuke.
"O useless man, you woman's property,
what are you making here,
these foreign walls and Libyan towers to rear?
Jove has sent me down with this severe command.
What do you mean by lingering in the Libyan land?"
The pious prince was seized with sudden fear.
Mute was his tongue, and upright stood his hair.
Three of his chiefs he quickly called.
He commanded them to repair the fleet
and then prepare to sail with silent care.
In the meantime, Aeneas pondered how he would tell Dido that he must leave at once. Surely Jove would inspire him, he thought. But he could not think of an easy way to break the news. Before Aeneas could approach her, Dido's servants informed her that the Trojan ships were preparing to leave the Libyan shores. Stunned, Dido confronted Aeneas.
"Does our love mean nothing to you,
or our exchange of vows?
And so, betrayer,
you hoped to hide your wickedness,
to go sneaking off without a word?"
"Good queen," Aeneas began.
"I must do as Apollo's oracle commands.
Fate invites me to the Latian lands.
That is the promised place to which I steer,
and all my vows will be ended there.
Fair queen, oppose not what the gods command.
I am forced by my fate, thus I leave your happy land."
Aeneas longed to soothe her pain, but Jupiter did not inspire him with any words of comfort. The gods had given their orders. He must obey. Sadly, he turned toward his fleet and prepared for their departure.
