Only you- through your mother and brother’s spear, his arrows And through the companions of your fleeing, the Trojan rites, the gods- thus they might win victory, and those whatever you carry back from your race, and fierce Mars may also set a limit to the damage you do and Ascanius may happily live out his years and Ancises’s old bones can softly rest! Spare, I beg, the home which offers itself up to be held by you! You declare what crime except that I have loved? am I not a Phthian and born from the great Mycenae, nor have my husband or father stood against you? If you are ashamed of me as a wife, I am called house-guest, not spouse: While Dido is yours, she will endure to be whatever you want. The seas beating against the African shore are known to me. At certain times they offer and take away passage. When the breeze will offer passage, you will provide the sails to the winds. Now smooth seaweed contains your stranded raft. Command to me that I observe time: you will depart more certain, and I will not allow you, if you wish, to remain. And your companions desire rest, and your torn fleet, half-repaired requests paltry delays. We will owe to you for what we deserve and if at all more I seek a small time on behalf of hope for marriage: while the seas calm and love had moderated advantage, I am learning to be able to endure sorrow more bravely. If not, the intention is to give my life to you. You will not be able to be cruel to me long. If only you could see how the image of writhing is. I write, and a trojan sword is on my lap; and from my cheeks tears work onto the drawn sword, which now will be stained with blood instead of tears. How well your gifts fit my fate! You construct my grave with little expense. Now my chest is not pierced for the first time by your weapon. That place holds a wound of fierce love. Anna my sister, sister Anna, cruelly conscious of my crime, now you will give the final gifts to my ashes. Consumed by the funeral pyre I will not be inscribed Elissa of Sychaeus. This so great poem will be on the marble of my tomb. Aeneas provided the cause of death and the sword. Dido herself fell by the use of her own hand.
Note: I interpreted the italics as Dido speaking, while the normal format is Ovid's voice.
Note: I interpreted the italics as Dido speaking, while the normal format is Ovid's voice.