DIDO Your counsel all is urged in vain To Earth and Heav'n I will complain! To Earth and Heav'n why do I call? Earth and Heav'n conspire my fall. To Fate I sue, of other means bereft The only refuge for the wretched left.
BELINDA See, Madam, see where the Prince appears; Such Sorrow in his looks he bears As would convince you still he's true. [enter Aeneas]
AENEAS What shall lost Aeneas do? How, Royal Fair, shall I impart The God's decree, and tell you we must part?
DIDO Thus on the fatal Banks of Nile, Weeps the deceitful crocodile Thus hypocrites, that murder act, Make Heaven and Gods the authors of the Fact.
AENEAS By all that's good ...
DIDO By all that's good, no more! All that's good you have forswore. To your promis'd empire fly And let forsaken Dido die.
AENEAS In spite of Jove's command, I'll stay. Offend the Gods, and Love obey.
DIDO No, faithless man, thy course pursue; I'm now resolv'd as well as you. No repentance shall reclaim The injur'd Dido's slighted flame. For 'tis enough, whate'er you now decree, That you had once a thought of leaving me.
AENEAS Let Jove say what he will: I'll stay!
DIDO Away, away! No, no, away!
AENEAS No, no, I'll stay, and Love obey!
DIDO To Death I'll fly If longer you delay; Away, away!..... [Exit Aeneas] But Death, alas! I cannot shun; Death must come when he is gone.