SCENE 3

At the ancient temple of Ceres without the walls. The fugitives come straggling in in various bands, a motley array, Æneas and his immediate followers among the rest. Æneas watches them as they come and gather about him, counting and identifying them. He now discovers that Creüsa is missing.

_Æneas_ (738-748):

Alas, Creüsa, by what wretched fate Hast thou been overwhelmed? Where art thou now? Hast wandered from the way, or, spent with toil, Hast thou given o’er the journey? Woe is me! My eyes shall never more behold thy face! What god or man is guilty of this crime? Or what more cruel deed have I beheld In all our stricken town?

To his friends:

Behold, my friends, To you my son and sire and household gods Do I commend, while I reseek the streets And ruined dwellings of our fallen Troy, If haply I may find her once again.

He puts on his full armor, and rushes back through the dark gate into the city.