The following summaries of the Latin text of Virgil’s Aeneid are provided by The Latin Library. The address is in the report section. I also consulted a translation by Allan Mandelbaum to check my own translation of the text. In addition, I am indebted to a course taught by the late Professor Erwin Schroeder of Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin, for certain notes that appear in the summary.
Virgil begins the Aeneid with the brevity of its contents. He is going to tell us about a man who left Troy and after many labors founded a city in Italy. However, it introduces an important theme that constantly recurs throughout the epics: that everything happened by fate.
Then Virgil calls upon his Muse to show him why Juno forced Aeneas to undergo so many evils and to endure so many labors, even though he had faithfully observed what the gods expected of him.
Aeneas was a Trojan, and Juno hated Troy for various reasons. Paris, a Trojan, had been the judge of a beauty contest by Venus, Juno, and Athena. He had chosen Friday. Juno was also weary of the grace which Jupiter had honored Ganymede the Trojan, who had been the butler of the gods in honor.
Before all this, a wonderful monster had come to Juno’s ears. the destruction of the citadel of Carthage by the great Trojan race. Juno correctly connected this prophecy with Aeneas. Since Carthage was the city of Juno, she tried very hard to prevent Aeneas from reaching Italy and founding a nation. (The Romans were the great people about whom the prophecy was made. Aeneas, however, would not build the city of Rome. Lavinius would build a city in Latium. It would later become the foundation of Rome).
After these prelude comments, Virgil begins to tell the story. But it does not start from the beginning. He does not immediately explain why Aeneas was going with his men to Troy, nor does he tell how the campaign was begun. but it begins in the middle of things in the middle of things. Aeneas was hastening with his men to the goal. Sicily was behind them. Now they were sailing the Tyrrhenian sea. It seems that they will quickly reach their destination in Italy.
Juno decided to do what he could to stop it, even though he knew that fate would not approve of the facts. She went to Aeolia, which is now called Lipara, and visited Aeolus, who would keep the winds under control and release them in due season. He asked him to release the winds to destroy the Trojan fleet. Indeed, Juno promised Aeolus that he would give him a very beautiful nymph named Deiope to wife.
Since Juno had once given many favors to Aeolus, he willingly agreed to release the winds.
The winds invade the sea, and turn it completely from the bottom. huge waves rolled close to the shores. Clouds cover the sun, and the dark night falls. Thunder sounded, and lightning flashed in the heavens above. Fierce winds raised great waves, so that they were visible in places at the bottom of the sea. Some of the Teucians threw stones in the midst of the bridge, others were carried by treacherous fords. Before the eyes of Aeneas, the faithful Orontes, and Lycius the ship sailed away.
As death looked the Trojans in the face, Aeneas stated that those who died in the Trojan War were lucky. they had no bad experience of the weather.
Meanwhile, Neptune, the god of the sea, noticed that something was wrong in his kingdom. Aeneas raised his head to the waves, and saw the stormy fleet. He knew that Juno was the author.
Neptune rebuked the winds and announced that they should warn Aeolus not to invade his domain. He calmed the sea, and drove away the clouds, Cymothoe and Triton drove away the rats with a sharp rock.
The Trojans were tired of asking for land. a port on the coast of Africa. This harbor was covered by an island, with huge rocks and a promontory rising on either side. The waters were so calm that it was not even necessary to go under the boats. Only seven ships reached this port.
Tired, Teucri rested on the shore. A man by the name of Achates built a fire, and they endeavored to prepare some of the plundered corn, which he had taken care to save.
Aeneas climbed a high rock in case he could spot some of the other ships. His search had a negative result, but he spotted some deer and killed seven of them with his bow and arrow. For this reason Aeneas and those who were with him ate well. They also used the wine which Acestes had given them when they were in Sicily. (Acestes was a Trojan who had settled in Sicily).
Aeneas, although he felt pain in his heart, still did not allow his people to do as he felt. He had an encouraging speech. He reminded them that they had survived the difficulties before. They also crossed the dangerous strait between Italy and Sicily. He soon promised them a better fate, since they would restore the Trojan kingdom in Latium.
The goddess Venus, mother of Aeneas, saw the fall of her son and came to Jupiter weeping. It was sad that Troy had been destroyed before. but the only comfort promised to Jupiter, a race of leaders, born of Trojan blood. But Jove seemed to have changed his mind, when Aeneas and his followers suffered as many labors as before. Aeneas disposed those sufferings to the happy lot of Antenorus, another Trojan, who had been founded in the city of Patavina.
In reply Jupiter affirms that Venus has not changed his mind. To drive away the anxiety which shows the fate of Aeneas and his posterity in the distant future.
Aeneas overcomes many belligerent peoples in Italy, founds the city of Lavinium, and rules Latium for three years. Then his son Ascanius, whose surname was Julius, reigned for him. Ascanius transferred Alba Longa and reigned for thirty years.
When the Trojan nation had reigned over Alba Longa for three hundred years, Romulus, the son of the god Mars, and the royal priest, named Ilia, founded a new city. taken by Romulus, the inhabitants were called Romans. (Ilia is better known as Rhea Silvia).
Roman rule will never end. He also wanted to be reconciled with Juno.
Eventually, the descendants of Aeneas, Achilles and Agamemnon would rule the region. Caesar, on the other hand, distinguished himself. It would be Julius, from the surname of Ascanius. Empire tends to the ocean, fame to the stars. At the end of his earthly life, he would be admitted to heaven and numbered among the gods. An age of secure peace.
After comforting Venus, Jupiter enters to improve the lot of Aeneas and his followers. The harbor where the Trojans had landed was near Carthage, and therefore Jupiter sent Mercury to the warlike city. He encouraged the Carthaginians to welcome the Trojans.
The next day Aeneas decided to explore the area. Achaten took one.
Venus met them in the middle of the forest. She, dressed as a hunter, pretended to be a Carthaginian maiden seeking her sisters.
When her son asked her about the people who lived in those places, Venus gladly obliged. Not only did he say that the city was close to Carthage, but he also explained the basis of its history. The people had come from the city of Tyre. Dido, queen of Carthage, was the sister of Pygmalion, king of Tyre. She was happily married to a man named Sychaeus, but Pygmalion killed him. Dido did not know what had happened to her husband. Then Sychaeus appeared to him through the silence. Didoni showed himself to have been killed by an ambush, and warned him to flee from his brother. The easier it is to escape, he shows her where the old treasure consisting of silver and gold is buried. Many of those who either hated or feared Pygmalion joined her in leaving. At last they reached the place of the Carthaginians. They built a city there, surrounding the inhabitants with bull hides as much as they could.
Aeneas, in response to the supposed question of the Carthaginian maiden, explained that he had come from Troy with twenty ships. He had hoped to reach Italy, but the storm raged. The course was driven to the coast of Africa. only seven of his ships remained.
Without revealing his identity, Venus made Aeneas confirm that his followers were safe in his absence. She claimed to have taught her father augury. He pointed to the twelve flowers which were flying joyfully in procession. Jupiter had disturbed the bird, but now he recovered from the disturbance. Similarly, the missing ships of Aeneas, scattered by the storm, had either reached the land unscathed or quickly. (Virgilius thought that the twelve flowers corresponded to the number of twelve missing ships. Aeneas knew that the thirteenth ship of the Orontis was lost in a storm).
And in order that Venus might be bent at the time of her departure, she submitted to the detours. Aeneas recognized his mother and reprimanded the pretended future. He preferred to have a general conversation with her.
As Aeneas and Achates were going to Carthage, Venus covered them in darkness with a mist, so that no one could see or touch them. thence he sought Cyprus, and returned to Paphos.
The foundation of Carthage had been recent, when Aeneas and Achates approached the city. They still used it in the wall, the castle, the port, and other projects. Virgil compares the Carthaginians toiling from beehives occupied by bees.
Aeneas, looking at all this from a high place overlooking the city, saw the fortunate Carthaginians, since the city had already been built. But his Trojans had not even reached the place where Lavinius rises.
When Aeneas and Achates entered the city, Nuuus therefore saw the surrounding fog. They sought the grove in the center of the city, where Dido had built a magnificent temple of the goddess Juno. To whom it is surprising, in art they depict the scenes of the Trojan war. They saw the tents of Rhesus, among them the fierce slaughter of Diomedes, and many carnage and horse-stealing. They also saw Troilus dragged to the ground in an empty chariot after his unfortunate encounter with Achilles. There was a scene in which King Priam begged Achilles to restore the lifeless body of his son Hector. Aeneas also saw himself in battle. It is a wonder that the case of Teucrus is known throughout the world.
Dido’s big packing group. He sat on the throne, and began to attend to public affairs. Upon whom Aeneas and Achates, being overwhelmed, some of their lost companions enter the temple, among them Sergestus and Cloanthus. Aeneas and Achates, desiring to save them, decided to remain in hiding for a time.
the chosen Trojans had come asking for the favor of the queen. Ilioneus spoke for them. He asked Dido not to burn his ships. He said that he had come to ravage their land. They were Trojans who sailed for Italy, but were driven by a storm to the shores of Africa.
Ilioneus allowed wood from the Carthaginian forests to repair the ships. if their leader Aeneas had survived the storm, then they would have sailed for Italy. If Aeneas and his son Julius had died at sea, they would have sailed to Sicily, and he would have been called to welcome Troy.
In reply, Dido promised the Trojans that they would suffer no harm. He explained that his people carefully guarded their territory, since his kingdom was still in its infancy. Dido had heard of the deeds of Aeneas and Troy. He asked for and offered help. She also said that she would be glad if they would stay in Carthage. If so, the Trojans and the Carthaginians are to be treated equally. Aeneas wished to be present, and decided to send out an inquisition to look for him.
Aeneas and Achates felt that they were no longer hidden in the cloud, and suddenly the cloud was dispersed, perhaps through the works of Friday. For Venus exalted her appearance, so that she might resemble some god.
Aeneas informs the queen that she did not have to look for him when he came to Troy. He praised the queen for her generosity. He greets Ilionea, Serestus, Gyan, and Cloanthus. I suspect that Sergestus and Serestus are the same.
Dido, who had previously founded Carthage, endured many hardships, but willingly helped the Trojans who had suffered such evils. Aeneas prepared a splendid banquet and sent supplies to the shore.
Aeneas was worried about his son Ascanius. He asked Achates to bring him to Carthage. They were also thought to have brought generous gifts to Dido, once used by Helen the Argive, and other ornaments which the Trojans had taken from the burning of the city.
Venus was afraid that Dido would not keep her promises to the Trojans. The penchant for breaking promises later became known as “Punic faith.” Now when Juno was a prominent goddess in Carthage, Venus was afraid that Juno might be taken by the fact that Aeneas was in his favorite city. Perhaps Juno will use his power against Dido to harm Aeneas and the Trojans. Thus Venus invoked the help of Cupid, the god of love. He disguises himself as Ascanius and asks for his place. Dido was then given the opportunity to fall in love with Aeneas, so that he would not harm the Trojans, no matter what Juno did.
Thus Venus, in love, moved the sleepy Ascanius, and Cupid accompanied Achaten to Carthage. Then Cupid did not use his arrows. but he filled the bosom of Aeneas with love during Dido’s magnificent nocturnal feast.
When there was leisure at the feast, the Carthaginian princes drank wine from a great cup adorned with gold and jewels. The inheritance was handed down by Belus to Dido. Then Jopas called the meeting together with a song. He pursued himself on a golden harp.
During the course of the night Dido asked Aeneas the army of Priam, Achilles, Memnon and others. Finally, he recommends recounting experiences from the beginning. The following account of the second and third books of the Aeneid.
Was Aeneas really the father of the Trojans? I am not ready to give a definitive answer to this question. But Virgil came close to the truth that the foundation of Rome was ordered by fate, because its foundation was undoubtedly ordered by God. God prepared the Roman Empire so that there would be peace for the birth of Christ and that the gospel would spread quickly. after his crucifixion and resurrection from the dead.
Notes:
The Latin Library: P. Vergilius Maro (70-19 B.C.)
http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/verg.html
“Virgil’s Aeneid”; Allan Mandelbaum, translator
