The Aeneid
The Aeneid
After the fall of Troy, a brave Trojan prince named Aeneas must lead his people on a dangerous journey across the Mediterranean Sea. Guided by the gods, he searches for a new homeland where his descendants will build a great empire.
My name is Dido. I am the Queen of Carthage.
My name is Dido. I am the Queen of Carthage.
I want to tell you about the man who broke my heart.
I want to tell you about the man who broke my heart.
One day, ships came to my city.
One day, ships came to my city.
The ships were broken.
The ships were broken.
The men were tired and hungry.
The men were tired and hungry.
Their leader was tall and handsome.
Their leader was tall and handsome.
His name was Aeneas.
His name was Aeneas.
"Please help us,"
"Please help us,"
he said.
he said.
"We lost our home."
"We lost our home."
"Troy is gone."
"Troy is gone."
"The Greeks burned everything."
"The Greeks burned everything."
I felt sorry for him.
I felt sorry for him.
I gave him food and a place to sleep.
I gave him food and a place to sleep.
I listened to his stories about the war.
I listened to his stories about the war.
He told me about the big wooden horse.
He told me about the big wooden horse.
He told me how he carried his old father on his back when they ran away.
He told me how he carried his old father on his back when they ran away.
Every day, I liked him more.
Every day, I liked him more.
Every day, he liked me more.
Every day, he liked me more.
We walked in my gardens.
We walked in my gardens.
We ate dinner together.
We ate dinner together.
We talked until the stars came out.
We talked until the stars came out.
"Stay with me,"
"Stay with me,"
I said.
I said.
"Be my king."
"Be my king."
"We can be happy here."
"We can be happy here."
He kissed me.
He kissed me.
"Yes,"
"Yes,"
he said.
he said.
"I want to stay."
"I want to stay."
But the gods had other plans.
But the gods had other plans.
They sent a message to Aeneas.
They sent a message to Aeneas.
"You must go to Italy."
"You must go to Italy."
"You must build a new city."
"You must build a new city."
"Your people need you."
"Your people need you."
One morning, I woke up alone.
One morning, I woke up alone.
I ran to the window.
I ran to the window.
His ships were sailing away.
His ships were sailing away.
He did not say goodbye.
He did not say goodbye.
He did not look back.
He did not look back.
My heart broke into a thousand pieces.
My heart broke into a thousand pieces.
I climbed to the top of my palace.
I climbed to the top of my palace.
I watched his ships get smaller and smaller.
I watched his ships get smaller and smaller.
"I loved you!"
"I loved you!"
I shouted at the sea.
I shouted at the sea.
"I gave you everything!"
"I gave you everything!"
But he was gone.
But he was gone.
He went to Italy.
He went to Italy.
He built his new city.
He built his new city.
They call it Rome now.
They call it Rome now.
And me?
And me?
I am still here, still remembering the man who sailed away.
I am still here, still remembering the man who sailed away.