Dido Queen of Carthage
Act III Scene IV
Location: The Cave
The storm raised by Juno finds Dido and Aeneas chancing upon one another in a cave as they seek shelter. Dido finally declares her love, and Aeneas reciprocates, promising to stay in Carthage.
Dido:
Kind clowdes that sent forth such a curteous storme,
As made disdaine to flye to fancies lap!
Stoute loue in mine armes make thy Italy,
Whose Crowne and kingdome rests at thy commande.
Dido, Queen of Carthage, III.iii.54-7
Dido and Aeneas Chance Upon One Another During the Storm
Juno's plan is executed exactly as she predicted in III.ii: A storm has blown up suddenly during the hunt, and Dido and Aeneas separately chance to find the same cave in which to take shelter. Marlowe is enjoying himself in this scene at his characters' expense. There is an amusing irony when Dido asks how Aeneas found this cave and he replies "by chance, sweete Queene, as Mars and Venus met" [III.iv.3]. With equal irony, oblivious to the fact that it is the Goddesses' design that has led them both there, Dido replies "that was in a net, where we are loose" [III.iv.4], referring to how Venus' husband entrapped her by laying a fine net on the couch.
Tiptoeing verbally around what she really feels, Dido with protracted awkwardness gradually reveals her feelings for Aeneas. He seems to have no inkling, or perhaps he is just observing etiquette: "Aeneas' thoughts dare not ascend so high, as Dido's heart, which Monarkes might not scale" [III.iv.32-3]. It seems Dido's earlier attempt to disguise her love by introducing a gallery of rejected suitors worked.
Aeneas Vows His Love For Dido
Aeneas responds to Dido's declaration of love in kind, and promises "Neuer to leaue these newe vpreared walles, whiles Dido liues and rules in Junos towne, neuer to like or loue any but her!" [III.iv.49-50]. The "vow" is a significant Marlowe addition, which when subsequently broken emphasizes Aeneas' betrayal; Virgil does not have Aeneas make any promise to the queen. But as Dido observes, this is music to her ears. Her ardent hopes have been fulfilled, as indeed have those of Juno and Venus when the Queen offers Aeneas "this wedding ring, wherewith my husband woo'd me yet a maide, and be thou King of Libia, by my gift" [III.iv.61-3]. In the best traditions of decorum, the stage direction tells us only that the lovers "exeunt to the cave."