Aeneid 4.393-412

Aeneas returns to his ships. The Trojans prepare hurriedly and delightedly to leave. Dido looks on in anguish

At pius Aeneas, quamquam lenire dolentem

solando cupit et dictis avertere curas,

Yet dutiful Aeneas, although he desires to soften her grieving by comforting her and to turn aside her cares with words,

multa gemens magnoque animum labefactus amore,

iussa tamen divum exsequitur, classemque revisit.

groaning much, and weakened in heart by great love, he does, however, follow the orders of the gods and he returns to his fleet.

Tum vero Teucri incumbunt, et litore celsas

deducunt toto naves: natat uncta carina;

Then indeed the sons of Teucer give their attention to the high ships and launch them all along the shore.

frondentisque ferunt remos et robora silvis

infabricata, fugae studio.

The vessel shining with pitch goes afloat, and they bring from the woods oars with leaves still attached and wood unfashioned in their eagerness for flight.

Migrantis cernas, totaque ex urbe ruentis.

You could see them moving and rushing out of the whole city.

Ac velut ingentem formicae farris acervum

cum populant, hiemis memores, tectoque reponunt;

And [it was] just as when ants despoil a huge heap of flour, mindful of winter and store it under cover;

it nigrum campis agmen, praedamque per herbas

convectant calle angusto;

and the black column goes over the plains and over the grass they together bring the plunder through the narrow pass:

pars grandia trudunt obnixae frumenta umeris; pars agmina cogunt castigantque moras;

some shove great grains, pushing against them with their shoulders, others bring up the rear and punish delays,

opere omnis semita fervet.

The whole path seethes with the effort.

Quis tibi tum, Dido, cernenti talia sensus?

What were your feelings, Dido, when you noticed such things?

quosve dabas gemitus, cum litora fervere late prospiceres arce ex summa,

or what groans were you uttering, when upon the widely seething shore, you looked out from the top of the citadel,

totumque videres misceri ante oculos tantis clamoribus aequor?

and you saw before your eyes the whole sea confused with so much noise!

Improbe Amor, quid non mortalia pectora cogis?

O wicked love, to what do you not drive mortal hearts!