Aeneid -- 296-330 -- Dido's reproach

English word order

at regina praesensit dolos (quis possit fallere amantem?)

But the queen anticipated his treachery (who could deceive a lover?)

que prima excepit futuros motus, timens omnia tuta.

and was the first to catch up with his future movements, fearing everything, [even when it was] safe.

furenti eadem impia Fama detulit classem armari que cursum parari.

To her in her madness that same unholy Rumour reported [that] the fleet was being equipped and [that] the journey was being prepared.

inops animi, saevit que, incensa, bacchatur per totam urbem,

Helpless in mind, she rages and, blazing, raves wantonly through the whole city,

qualis Thyias excita sacris commotis,

Like a Bacchante roused [when] the emblems [are] shaken,

ubi trieterica orgia stimulant Baccho audito,

When the triennial festivals excite [her] as [the cry] ‘Bacchus’ is heard,

que Cithaeron nocturnus vocat clamore.

and Cithaeron at night summons [her] with a shout.

tandem ultro, compellat Aenean his vocibus:

Finally, of her own accord, she rebukes Aeneas with these words:

sperasti etiam, perfide, posse dissimulare tantum nefas que tacitus decedere mea terra?

‘Did you really expect, treacherous one, to be able to hide such a great crime and silently depart from my land?

nec noster amor nec dextera quondam data nec Dido moritura crudeli funere tenet te?

Does neither our love nor the pledge once given, nor Dido, about to die a cruel death, hold you [back]?

quin etiam, properas moliri classem hiberno sidere et mediis Aquilonibus ire per altum, crudelis?

Nay rather, do you even hasten to prepare the fleet in the wintry season and in the midst of the North Winds to go over the deep [sea], cruel one?

quid, si non peteres aliena arva que ignotas domos, et antiqua Troia maneret,

Again, if you were not seeking foreign fields and unknown homes, and ancient Troy [still] remained,

peterentur Troia per undosum aequor classibus?

Would Troy be sought through the wave-filled sea in your fleet?

mene fugis? per has lacrimas que tuam dextram (quando ipsa reliqui nihil aliud iam mihi miserae)

[Is it] me you are fleeing from? By these tears and your pledge (since I myself have left nothing else now for myself in my misery)

per nostra conubia, per hymenaeos inceptos,

By our marriage, by the nuptials [you] took,

si quid merui bene de te, aut quicquam meum fuit dulce tibi, miserere labentis domus,

If in any way I have deserved well of you, or if anything of mine was sweet for you, pity a falling house,

et oro, si adhuc quis locus precibus, exue istam mentam,

and, I beg you, if [there is] still any room for prayers, lay aside that purpose [of yours]

Libycae gentes que Nomadum tyranni odere propter te, Tyrii infensi, eundem propter te

The Libyan peoples and Numidian rulers hate [me] because of you, my Tyrians [are] hostile, also because of you

pudor exstinctus, et qua sola adibam sidera, prior fama.

[all] shame [too is] lost, and that by which alone I might reach the stars, my former glory.

cui deseris me, moribundam, hospes, (quoniam hoc solum restat de nomen coniuge)?

To what do you relinquish me, a dying [woman], O guest, (since this alone is left from the name of a husband?)

quid moror? an dum frater Pygmalion destruat mea moenia aut Iarbas Gaetulus ducat captam?

Why should I live on? Either until my brother Pygmalion destroys my city walls or Iarbas the Gaetulian takes [me] captive?

si saltem qua suboles suscepta fuisset de te mihi ante fugam,

If at least some child had been conceived from you by me before [you] fled,

si quis parvulus Aeneas luderet mihi aula,

If some [sweet] little Aeneas were playing about my halls,

qui ore tamen referret te, non equidem viderer omnino capta ac deserta.

whose face might nevertheless recall yours, I’d not indeed seem so utterly deceived and forsaken.