Question

ead the passage from chapter 17 of The Prince.

against my will, my fate
A throne unsettled, and an infant state,
Bid me defend my realms with all my pow'rs,
And guard with these severities my shores.

In this passage by the Roman poet Virgil, Queen Dido speaks about the responsibilities of a ruler. How does the phrase infant state in the second line affect the tone?

It changes the tone to make it more threatening.
It supports the overall tone of fear.
It changes the tone to become more serious.
It suggests a tone of loving concern.

Answer 1

It suggests a tone of loving concern. Calling the realm an "infant state" makes it sound vulnerable and in need of protection, giving Dido's speech a protective, almost maternal quality rather than merely threatening or fearful.