Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/241

Who owed to her whate’er he had,
For she received him when the sad
City of Troy in flames he fled,
And reached her shores to misery wed.
His comrades dealt she no small share
Of honour, for the love she bare13890
To him, and hade his ships refit,
With many a storm, bulged, torn, and split;
And in her passion vowed that he
Lord of her realm and self should be;
In, turn, great oaths Æneas swore
His heart was hers for evermore,
And soul and body would he give
Io her, and in her love would live.

Tragedy of Dido Alas! small joy her kindness sped;
Ere long, the faithless lover fled13900
O’er the bright sea without one word
To her, who died whenso she heard
His treachery, for she straight withdrew
Into her chamber, and pierced through
Her loving heart with selfsame sword
He erst had borne, her love and lord.

Unhappy Dido, who in mind
Still kept her traitorous love unkind,
Seized the bright blade, and as she stood
Naked, the point with hardihood13910
Thrust ’neath her breasts, twin hills of snow,
And fell thereon to end her woe.
O grievous sight, O sad to see!
Full hard of heart that man must be,