Libro IV: vv. 1-30 Didone
English relation
Dido’s tale, subject of the 4th book of Eneide, is the embodyment of the eternal alternatin between heart and reason owned by human-kind and dangerous because sometimes it can be letal. The queen of Carthago falls in love with Enea; she identifies in him the male dream model: a “pius” respectful man, belives in family values, he is heroic and he possesives all of that experiences that make him so charming. The woman falls at Enea’s feet and she is happy: happy to love and be loved; she is happy because she has found a family in Enea; she is happy because she can consolidate her reign thanks to the support of a male figure. Enea too rejoices over this love, in fact he knows that he has found a reliable person and he sees this as the beginning of a peaceful period for him and for his people. But they both deceive themselves: Enea doesn’t take into account that fate will have him found a different city from Cartagine; Dido doesn’t take into consideration the devasting power of her feelings and the disappointement that will ensue from it. The conclusion of the situation will be tragic for both of them. Enea will have to give up his peace in the name of Fate .Dido will see all of her dreams annihilated and she will not be able to console herself .Book 4 will make the meaning clear in the final lines which describe the queen's madnees and death.The tragedy is complete;all the loose trades are brought toghether :the inexorable and incombent weight of Fate contrasts with the initial Fortune ,the unhappiness takes the place of Joy and hopes .The gradual advancement of madness leads to Dido's suicide and so she finally finds peace that soothes her sorrow.At this point the woman is "infelix"(vv.596) because she has seen deserted shores and she has seen that the Trojan fleet is going further and further (…aequatis classem procedere velis…vv.587);(…litoraque et valuas sensit…portus…vv588).After a lot of questions that she has asked herself and not to a real person she is “effera,trepida,furibunda”(vv.646).She is completely going mad but she will alternate between lucid intervals and frequent non-sense.The Queen would like to “divellere…(Enea’s)…corpus”(vv.600).She would like to give “Ascanium epulandum (vv.602)” to the “Caput infandum”(vv.616).She is “moritura”(vv.604),”moriens”(vv.610),”pallida morte futura”(vv.644) and in her delirium she starts to worse.She curses her fate “Fata Iovis”(vv.614) that has taken away her loved one.Even though she considers him partially responsible for her suffering assails and his descendants with terrible words of malediction “…imprecor…pugnant…”(vv.629).And finally the last act:by now she is completely mad and sensless “sanguineam volvens aliem”(vv.643),”interfusa genes et pallida morte futura”(vv.644),”inrumpit limina”(vv.645) and she commits suicide.There is bitterness, sorrow, pain in this rush gesture that make any mercy pointless.Dido casts a glance at the things that remind of her past “iliacas vestes notumque cubile”(vv.648),she goes up the stake and she stabbs herself “ferro conlapsa”(vv.564).Perhaps the “Infelix “ Dido will understand,in the last lucid interval of her life, that she has accomplished inappellable tragedy.She is looking for a light that she can’t find anywhere :”per sese attollens …adnixa lavavit”(vv.690);”per revoluta toro est”(vv.691);”alto…caelo lucem”(vv.692).Dido’s destiny ,who”…nec fato,merita,nec morte peribat”(vv.694) is fulfilled the initial love has turned into hatred the move lethat the move rooted and uncontrollable. It may be a witness that in those times happy ending tales didn't exist as they don't nowadays. It can show how feeling can change a person ,but not always for the best..
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