Note to the reader: This fictional story occurred approximately 3,200 years ago, around 1,200 BC.
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Jealous Juno, the wife of Jove, (Jupiter) looked out from
her celestial palace and, to her dismay,
spotted Aeneas and his crew sailing for Italy. Juno poured out her anger
to Aolus, god of the wind.
She had hated Aeneas, the hero of Troy, ever since Jove's daughter, the goddess Venus, had arranged Aeneas' escape from the defeated Troy. The Trojans sailed toward Italy to make a name for themselves there.
"Tis yours, O queen, to will the work
which duty binds me to fulfill."
Aolus bowed low."These airy kingdoms, and this wide command,
are all presents to me from your bounteous hand."
Neptune, god of the sea, heard the sound
of the raging billows breaking above him.
Displeased, and fearing for his watery reign,
he reared his awful head above the main.
Serene in majesty, he rolled his eyes
around the space of earth, and seas, and skies.
He saw the Trojan fleet dispersed, distressed,
and by stormy winds and winter's heaven, oppressed.
Full well the god his sister's envy knew,
and what her aims and what her arts pursued.
He summoned the wind Eurus and also the western blast.
At first an angry glance on both he cast.
Then, he thus rebuked them: "Audacious winds!
From whence this bold attempt, this rebel insolence?
Is it for you to ravage seas and land,
unauthorized by my supreme command?"
Thus shamed by Neptune, Aolus, god of the wind, hoarsely recalled his subject blasts. Neptune smoothed the seas with his trident and dispelled the darkness. He ordered beauteous sea-green nymphs to remove the vessels that had crashed on the rocks and to gently set them on the beach. Neptune himself heaved the ships that had landed on the shoals and placed them on the shore.
Once on land, Aeneas, leader of the remnant
band of Trojans, surveyed the damage. Only seven ships remained of the
scattered fleet. Achates, Aeneas' good friend, repeatedly struck a flint
until he got a fire going. Some men dropped wet on the ground near the
fire. Others scoured their ships in search of corn to grind. Aeneas chose
to climb a nearby hill and scout out the strange new land upon which they
had been cast. He first turned his gaze out to sea in search of other
lost ships, but he saw none. Aeneas then looked inland and saw a grassy
plain on the other side of the hill. There, in a meadow just below him,
he spotted seven stags. He pulled out a supply of
quivers and his trusty bow. Within minutes he had
dropped seven stags - one for each of the crews of the remaining seven
ships. His men heartily enjoyed their venison feast. When all had eaten
their fill, Aeneas addressed the ragged Trojans.
"Jove will soon dispose
to future good our past and present woes.
What greater ills with pleasure you will relate
your sorrows past, as benefits of Fate.
Through these various hazards and events we move on to Latium,
and the realms predicted for us by Jove.
There our Trojan kingdoms once again will rise.
Endure the hardships of your present state;
live and reserve yourselves for better fate."
These words Aeneas spoke, but not from his heart.
His outward smiles concealed his inward smart.