ROMAN MYTHOLOGY AND SAGA 651Dido and Anna, by Washington Allston (1779-1843). Oil on millboard, 1809(7); 24 X 18 in.
Anna comforts her sister, while Aeneas stealthily slips away from the palace to the wait-
ing fleet in the background. In this unfinished painting Allston's focus is the closeness
of the sisters rather than the solitary tragedy of Dido. (Lowe Art Museum, University of
Miami, Miami, Florida, Gift of the Washington Allston Trust. Courtesy of Lowe Art Museum.)
whenever time gives you strength. This is my curse—shore with opposing shore,
sea with sea, arms with arms, let them and their descendants fight!
Vergil has again united myth and history, for Dido's curse vividly reminds
the reader of Rome's times of greatest danger, the wars against Carthage. But
in Dido, Vergil also created a character who has always aroused the sympathy
of his readers—we are reminded of Augustine, who confessed that he shed tears