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

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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 bare

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.

Alas! small joy her kindness sped;

Ere long, the faithless lover fled

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 hardihood

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,