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.