Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A PAINTING OF DIDO by ANONYMOUS

First Line: "ON DIDO'S FAMOUS IMAGE, FRIEND, YOU STARE"
Last Line: LEVELLING HIS LIES AGAINST MY SELF-RESTRAINT
Subject(s): CARTHAGE;DIDO;
ON Dido's famous image, friend, you stare,
I am her portrait shining heavenly fair;
And fair was I, yet schemed not to allure
As you hear sung; the fame I got was pure.
I never saw AEneas, neither came
To Africa while Troy went up in flame;
But fleeing fierce Iarbas for my lord
Into my breast I plunged the two-edged sword.
Why gird me, Muse, with Virgil? the chaste saint
Levelling his lies against my self-restraint!



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