Book 1 - Juno's Storm Drives the Trojans to Carthage
Virgil outlines the subject-matter of his poem and invokes the Muses before detailing the causes of Juno's anger against the Trojans.
The action begins and we find the Trojans sailing from Sicily, which rouses Juno to anger. She visits Aeolus and bids him raise a storm, which he consents to do. He frees all the winds and thus causes a storm which terrifies Aeneas and scatters his fleet, sinking one ship. At the critical moment, Neptune hears the tumult and calms the storm himself. Aeneas collects seven ships and reaches a sheltered cove on the coast of North Africa. While looking out for the missing ships, he sights a herd of deer, kills seven and distributes them to his comrades together with wine. He makes a speech of encouragement to his men who, after feasting, give way to regrets for lost companions.
While Jupiter looks down from heaven, Venus reproaches him for his apparent indifference to the fate of the Trojans. Jupiter consoles her by prophesying Aeneas' triumph and the future glories of Rome and Augustus. He sends down Mercury to influence Dido and the Carthaginians in favour of the Trojans.
While Aeneas is reconnoitring, he meets Venus disguised as a huntress. Suspecting that she is not mortal, he prays her to tell him where he is. Venus tells him that he is in Carthage and describes the story of Dido's flight from Tyre. She asks Aeneas about himself. He begins but, at the sight of twelve swans, Venus interrupts to prophesy the safe return of his lost ships. As she leaves, she reveals herself as a goddess and makes Aeneas and Achates invisible by covering them in mist. Protected by this mist, they go to the city of Carthage , which is still being built, and enter unseen. They reach the temple of Juno, and Aeneas weeps on seeing scenes from the siege of Troy on the walls.
Dido arrives at the temple in regal fashion, and then a deputation from the missing ships also arrives. Ilioneus complains that he and his comrades have been treated like pirates and asks Dido for protection and permission to repair their ships and to return to Sicily, if Aeneas is dead. Dido promises protection and to search for Aeneas. The mist that has rendered Aeneas and Achates invisible up until this point now dissipates, leaving the two in full view. Aeneas expresses eternal gratitude to Dido for her kindness. She takes him to her palace and prepares for a banquet. Aeneas sends for his son Ascanius and orders that presents be brought for Dido.
Venus, thinking that she can see Juno's hand in all this, instructs Cupid to take Ascanius' place and cause Dido to fall deeply in love with Aeneas. The banquet begins and Cupid carries out his orders. Wine starts to flow and Dido asks Aeneas to tell of the capture of Troy and of his wanderings.
Book 2 - The Sack of Troy
Aeneas introduces his tale. The Trojans take their first look at the horse, thinking that the Greeks have sailed away. Laocoon rushes down and warns the Trojans not to trust the horse. Sinon is captured and makes three long speeches, to obtain pity, curiosity and credibility. He is both freed and believed. Laocoon is devoured by serpents, together with his sons - a supposed punishment for his earlier 'sacrilege'. The Trojans, now thoroughly convinced, wheel the horse into the city. The last fight for Troy begins as the Greek fleet sails back in the moonlight and Sinon lets out those inside the horse.
The ghost of Hector appears to Aeneas in a dream and warns him to get out of Troy. Aeneas is startled out of sleep and becomes aware of what is happening. He does the exact opposite of what Hector has advised and wildly seizes his weapons. On his way to the fray, he is met by Panthus, priest of Apollo, carrying holy objects and telling him that all is lost. The Trojans, led by Aeneas, after killing Androgeos and his men, win some success, dressed in Greek armour they have captured. Finally Coroebus springs to help Cassandra and in the consequent skirmish the Trojans are defeated and killed.
The fighting shifts to Priam's palace, where Aeneas is unable to check the Greek attack. Pyrrhus smashes down the doors and the Greeks swarm into the palace. Priam is cruelly slaughtered by Pyrrhus. Aeneas is suddenly reminded of his duty to his family, and finds that he is alone. He spies Helen keeping watch on the doors of the temple of Vesta and determines to kill her, as recompense for the deaths she has caused. However, Venus appears to prevent him and urges him to go to his family.
After a final glance at the burning city, Aeneas reaches his father's house, only to find his father stubbornly refusing to move. Creusa implores Aeneas not to desert them. Suddenly Iulus' hair catches fire and at this omen, Anchises is persuaded to join them. They prepare for departure but, when they reach the appointed place, Creusa is missing. Aeneas returns to search for her and sees his own home in flames. As he calls out for Creusa, her ghost appears to him, telling him of his long journey ahead and that he must leave her behind. Her ghost disappears and Aeneas and his companions set out on their journey.
Book 3 - The Trojans' Wanderings
Having built a fleet and embarked upon their journey, the Trojans come to Thrace. In attempting to build walls for a new city, Aeneas offers a sacrifice and begins uprooting trees. To demonstrate that this is not the desired site for the new Trojan settlement, a portent appears to Aeneas: blood drips from the roots of the trees and the voice of Polydorus, a son of Priam sent into the protection of the king of Thrace with a large quantity of gold and subsequently murdered by him for it, calls on Aeneas not to dig up his burial-place, but to escape. The Trojans pay fresh funeral rites to Polydorus and leave Thrace.
On arrival at Delos, Aeneas prays for an omen. Apollo informs him that the Trojans will found a new Troy. This is interpreted by Aeneas as being at Crete, since that was where Teucer had sailed from, when he originally set out to choose the site of Troy. They swiftly head for Crete, where they begin founding a new city. A plague afflicts them and they decide to return to Apollo's oracle. The Penates appear to Aeneas in a dream and, on behalf of Apollo, tell him to go to Hesperia. The Trojans set out again.
Having been blown off course by a terrible storm, they land in the Strophades, where the infamous Harpies live. They kill some cattle and perform a sacrifice before settling down to a feast. This is interrupted, however, by the Harpies. The Trojans prepare to do battle against them, but Calaeno speaks out, mocking their efforts. She confirms that they must go to Italy, where they will be allowed to land but will not be given a city; nor will they be able to build walls around their city until they have reached such depths of famine that they are forced to eat their own tables. Terrified, the Trojans embark again and sail to Leucate.
From Leucate, they sail to Buthrotum, where Aeneas by chance meets Helenus and Andromache, whom he discovers to be the rulers there. Andromache tells Aeneas her fate and asks him his. She then leads him into the city to be entertained. Having stayed there a few days, Aeneas approaches the prophet Helenus and asks for guidance. Helenus leads him to the temple of Apollo and, inspired by the god, tells Aeneas of his coming travels and of his visit to the Sibyl who will foretell the future.
After sad farewells, the Trojans cross the Adriatic and, enjoying a favourable journey, land in Italy, where their first action is to sacrifice to Juno in order to appease her hostility. Sailing past Scylla and Charybdis, they are driven down to the Cyclops' coast and Etna. They meet a castaway who asks them for help, claiming to be Achaemenides, one of Ulysses' men left behind after the encounter with Polyphemus. Suddenly catching sight of Polyphemus and the other Cyclopes, they make a swift getaway, with Achaemenides in tow, making sure that they avoid Scylla and Charybdis. Continuing around the coast of Sicily, they reach Drepanum. Here, Anchises dies and they are driven by Juno's storm to Carthage.
Book 4 - Dido and Aeneas
Dido is filled with desire for Aeneas and cannot sleep. The morning after the banquet, she confesses her love to her sister Anna, but assures her that she will not break the vow she made to her deceased husband of never re-marrying. Anna advises that resistance to desire is foolish and suggests that marriage to Aeneas would also have practical benefits, since he would act as a defence against her enemies.
This is enough to persuade Dido, who hesitates no longer. She arranges a sacrifice in the correct manner, but her obsession results in a cessation of the building of Carthage.
Juno meanwhile, annoyed by Venus' apparent success, suggests to her a marriage between Aeneas and Dido. Venus agrees, despite realising that this is a plot to make Carthage all- powerful and prevent a new empire from being established in Italy. The Carthaginians and Trojans assemble for a hunt. Juno brings about a storm of thunder and hail. As everyone runs for shelter, Dido and Aeneas reach the same cave, where the powers of nature bear witness to their union.
News of this is carried by Rumour to the ears of king Iarbas, the son of Jupiter and a Garamantian nymph, and a suitor of Dido's. In anger, he abuses his father and questions his authority, since Dido has overlooked the favours done her and let an effeminate vagrant become her husband and co-ruler. Hearing Iarbas' prayers, Jupiter instructs Mercury to go down to Aeneas and remind him of his duty, calling upon Ascanius' destiny if his own is not motivation enough to leave. Mercury does as he is ordered, finding Aeneas busy building the walls of Carthage.
Aeneas, terrified by the god's appearance and with his duty suitably impressed upon him, frets about how he will tell Dido but, at the same time, orders his men to prepare secretly for departure. The queen, hearing rumours that the Trojans are preparing their fleet, rages round the city like a Bacchant and confronts Aeneas before he can say anything to her. She attacks his duplicity and heartlessness and begs that he stay, partly because his departure leaves her vulnerable to her enemies. Aeneas, with difficulty, replies, acknowledging her kindness but denying that he ever entered into any marriage with her. He states that he is controlled by the Fates and is impelled to seek Italy, justifying this with reference to the commands of Apollo, the ghost of his father, the destiny of Ascanius and the visit of Mercury. Dido angrily pours scorn on his reply, noting his lack of emotion, criticising his lack of gratitude and questioning whether his future is really the concern of the gods. She tells him to go if he wishes but prays that her memory may pursue him. With these words she rushes into the palace and faints.
The Trojans continue to prepare to depart and Dido, on seeing them, asks her sister, Anna, to beseech Aeneas to stay until there is a prevailing wind. She no longer requests that he stay permanently but asks him at least to grant her a short respite that she may learn to grieve. This Anna does, but the Fates forbid Aeneas to hear and the Gods block his ears.
Dido now determines to die, a decision that is strengthened by the appearance of unpleasant portents as she sacrifices and the voice of Sychaeus, her deceased husband, at the shrine she has established for him. Furthermore, she recalls the words of ancient prophets and is visited by unsettling dreams. She tricks Anna into building her a pyre, replete with the armour that Aeneas left behind, by pretending that she has discovered a Massylian priestess who has advised that her obsession can be relieved if she destroys everything that reminds her of him.
That night Dido considers her position and realises that suicide is her only option. Meanwhile, Aeneas is visited again by Mercury, while he sleeps on the stern of his ship, and is told that he must depart immediately if he is not to put himself and his comrades in danger from Dido's madness. As a result, the Trojans set off.
When dawn comes, the queen awakes to see the harbour empty and the Trojan fleet sailing away. In distress, she rages that she did not visit any punishment on Aeneas for his actions and eventually invokes a curse upon him and his people, which foreshadows the troubles in Italy, the future enmity between the Carthaginians and the Romans, and the coming of Hannibal as an avenger. Having done this, she instructs Sychaeus' nurse, Barce, to send Anna to her in preparation for the sacrifice. When the old woman has bustled away. Dido climbs the pyre and with a final look at Aeneas' possessions and a few words of encouragement, she falls upon his sword. Rumour rages through the city and Anna, when she hears, rushes to the pyre and lambasts Dido for not letting her share in her fate, for deceiving her into building the pyre and for destoying not only herself but also her sister and her people. Climbing the pyre, she holds the dying queen in her arms. Juno, taking pity on her anguish, sends Iris down from Olympus, who takes a lock of Dido's hair. All life then passes from Dido's body.
Book 5 - Funeral Games for Anchises
As Aeneas sails away, he and the other Trojans see the flame of Dido's pyre and rightly fear the worst. Because of a storm, they make for Sicily, where they are met by Acestes, a friend of theirs. The next day, Aeneas summons his comrades and tells them that it is the anniversary of Anchises' death, and that they will celebrate with games in his honour in nine days time. He pours a libation to his father. A portent, a large rainbow-coloured snake, appears and is seen as an encouraging sign of Anchises' presence. The ceremony and banquet continue.
The first race is a ship-race between Mnestheus, Gyas, Sergestus and Cloanthus - all founders of great Roman houses. Aeneas establishes a rock as the turning-point. In an exciting race, Gyas takes the lead, followed by Cloanthus, Mnestheus and Sergestus. Gyas argues with his pilot and throws him overboard for disobeying him. Cloanthus then overtakes him. Sergestus and Mnestheus also hope to overtake him, and Mnestheus urges his men not to be last. Sergestus steers too near to a rock, is caught and runs aground. Mnestheus speeds past him and Gyas, but fails to beat Cloanthus, who makes vows to the gods of the sea and wins their aid. Aeneas awards prizes to the three crews and captains. Sergestus finally manages to bring in his disabled ship and is given the fourth prize.
Aeneas and the spectators go inland for the foot race. Nisus is winning until he falls over. He then deliberately trips Salius in order that Euryalus might win. This Euryalus does, with Diores second, but all four win prizes.
Aeneas proclaims two prizes for the boxing match. Dares claims the first prize unopposed. Acestes urges Entellus, an old Sicilian champion, to enter. At first, he is reluctant because of his age, but eventually he agrees and produces a terrible pair of gloves with nails of iron. Dares refuses to fight one so armed, and Entellus consents to fight on equal terms. Aeneas brings out a matching pair of gauntlets and the fight begins. After preliminary sparring, Entellus aims a mighty blow which misses and causes him to fall flat on the ground. He is helped to his feet and furiously drives Dares round the arena. Aeneas intervenes to stop the fight. Dares is carried away by friends to his ship and Entellus receives an ox as a prize, which he kills with one blow, as a sacrifice to Eryx.
Aeneas declares an archery contest, the target being a dove tied to a mast. Hippocoon, Mnestheus, Eurytion and Acestes compete. Hippocoon hits the mast, Mnestheus divides the cord, which lets the bird escape, Eurytion kills the bird, and Acestes, with no target left, shoots into the air. His arrow catches fire. Aeneas interprets this as a good omen and awards him first prize.
The final event is an equestrian display by the Trojan boys. Such a ceremony was introduced by lulus to Alba Longa, and was later handed on to the Romans under the name 'lusus Troiae'. The scene moves to the ships, where Iris, sent by Juno, has persuaded the Trojan women to set fire to the ships, by disguising herself as one of them and rousing indignation about their fate. She flings the first torch herself. When she is recognised as a goddess, the others stand in doubt, but, as she vanishes, they are seized with frenzy and set the ships alight. News reaches the Trojans at the games. Ascanius gallops up and calms the women, but the flame burns on, despite efforts to extinguish it. Aeneas invokes Jupiter either to save or destroy them. A tremendous storm follows immediately, and all but four ships are saved.
Aeneas nevertheless is in despair and wonders whether to settle in Sicily after all, but Nautes advises him not to give up on the mission to make for Italy, but to allow those who do not wish to continue to found their own city in Sicily. Aeneas is even more perplexed, but Anchises appears to him in a dream and bids him follow Nautes advice. First, however, he must visit him in the Underworld and learn the future. They all agree to act in this way. The ships are repaired, the new city begun and honours paid to Venus and Anchises.
After nine days of festivities, the Trojans prepare to embark amid much weeping. Venus appeals to Neptune, fearing that Juno may again try to raise a storm. Neptune reassures her, reminding her of past instances of his care for Aeneas, and promising that the Trojans will reach Italy safely, with the loss of just one man.
The Trojans set sail, with Palinurus at the helm. The god of sleep tries to lure him from his post, but, finding him inflexible, afflicts him with sleep and throws him overboard. Aeneas takes his place, amid great lamentation.
Book 6 - The Underworld
The Trojans arrive at Cumae and prepare for a meal. Aeneas goes to consult the Sibyl at Apollo's temple, and gazes in admiration at the picture on the temple doors before being called in by the Sibyl. In her inner sanctum, she goes into a prophetic trance and calls on Aeneas to pray to Apollo. He asks to be allowed to enter the kingdom promised by fate and promises a temple to Apollo and Diana, and a special shrine for the Sibyl. She gives a prophetic reply, showing that many trials still await Aeneas but urging him to press on nonetheless. Aeneas replies that he is not put off by the prospect of such a dangerous task, and asks to be allowed to visit Anchises in the Underworld. The Sibyl describes the formidable nature of such a journey, stating two prerequisites : the Golden Bough and the due burial of one of Aeneas' companions.
Aeneas leaves the cave heavy at heart, only to find that the body is that of Misenus, killed when foolishly challenging Triton to a trumpet contest, and so he sets about organising funeral rites. As he prays to see the Golden Bough, two doves guide him to it. He plucks it off and takes it to the Sibyl. All this time, funeral rites for Misenus have been occurring on the shore. After dutifully raising a great mound as a tomb, Aeneas makes preparatory sacrifices and, together with the Sibyl, descends into the Underworld.
There is an interlude as Virgil invokes the gods of the dead to allow him to tell of what Aeneas and the Sibyl saw. At the entrance, they are confronted by various horrible shapes of personified forms of suffering, and a host of unnatural monsters. At the river Styx, they see Charon and his boat. The ghosts keep crowding around, but only some are admitted. The Sibyl tells Aeneas that only the buried may be ferried across, while the rest must wait one hundred years. Aeneas meets the ghost of Palinurus and hears the story of his death. Palinurus begs for burial or to be taken across the Styx unburied. The Sibyl tells him that this is impossible, but consoles him by telling him that the cape where he died will always bear his name. Aeneas and the Sibyl are challenged by Charon, but when she shows him the Golden Bough, he ferries them across.
Having crossed the Styx, they see the barking, three-headed dog Cerberus guarding the far bank. In order to pass him, the Sibyl throws him a drugged cake, which puts him to sleep. As they continue, they first meet the souls of infants, then the unjustly condemned and then the suicides. They enter the Mourning Fields, inhabited by those who have died of love. Here, Aeneas sees Dido, but in spite of his appeal, she turns from him without a word.
They come to a place for dead heroes, and meet warriors of both sides from the Trojan War. Aeneas meets the ghost of Deiphobus, cruelly mangled, and asks him the cause of his suffering. Deiphobus tells him how he was attacked while sleeping, betrayed by his wife Helen to Menelaus and Ulysses. He then asks Aeneas about himself. The Sibyl interrupts, reminding Aeneas that he has the rest of the Underworld to see, at which Deiphobus retires.
Next they see Tartarus, surrounded by a fiery river and echoing with the sounds of torture. In reply to Aeneas' question, the Sibyl tells him that he may not enter, but describes some of the sinners and their punishments. They hurry from Tartarus towards Elysium and leave the Golden Bough at Pluto's palace. They enter the Groves of the Blessed in Elysium, and see an idyllic scene of beautiful contentment. Musaeus, the poet, offers to guide them to Anchises. This he does and Aeneas meets Anchises surveying his Roman descendants. Anchises welcomes his son with joyful surprise and Aeneas is shown a great gathering of ghosts at the river Lethe. He asks his father about it and Anchises explains that they are waiting for rebirth. He gives an account of the soul's relationship with the body and what happens to it after death. Aeneas is then treated to the Pageant of Heroes: Anchises points out to Aeneas the famous Romans waiting to be born - the Alban kings, Romulus, Augustus, the Roman kings and many heroes of the Roman Republic. Finally, Anchises mentions the elderly Marcellus, famed in the 2nd Punic War, who is attended by a younger spirit. This is the young Marcellus (nephew of Augustus), who is destined to suffer an early death.
Still guided by Anchises, Aeneas and the Sibyl leave by the Gate of Ivory, one of the two gates of the Underworld. Aeneas rejoins his fleet and sails to Caieta.