All casuists agree that theft is a breach of the moral law; yet if I
might presume to mingle things sacred with profane, the Israelites
only spoiled the Egyptians, not robbed them, because the propriety
was transferred by a revelation to their lawgiver. I confess Dido
was a very infidel in this point; for she would not believe, as
Virgil makes her say, that ever Jupiter would send Mercury on such
an immoral errand. But this needs no answer--at least, no more than
Virgil gives it:-
"Fata obstant, placidasque viri Deus obstruit aures."
This notwithstanding, as Segrais confesses, he might have shown a
little more sensibility when he left her, for that had been
according to his character.
But let Virgil answer for himself. He still loved her, and
struggled with his inclinations to obey the gods:-
"Curam sub corde premebat,
Multa gemens, magnoque animum labefactus amore."
Upon the whole matter, and humanly speaking, I doubt there was a
fault somewhere, and Jupiter is better able to bear the blame than
either Virgil or AEneas.
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