Virgil states theme of poem (I sing of arms and the man-also reference to Homeric influence, Odyssey and Illiad)) followed by the invocation to the Muse and by the mention of Carthage, Juno's beloved city. In her fear for Carthage and her hatred of the Trojans she has for long years kept the Trojans away from their promised home in Latium (six years, coming up for seventh summer). So great a task it was to found the Roman race.
As the Trojans are sailing from Sicily on the last stage of their voyage to Italy Juno intervenes to stop them. She goes to Aeolus, king of the winds, and bribes him to release the winds, creating a storm that wrecked the Trojan ships. He agrees to do so. He was bribed by being given the loveliest of Juno’s 14 nymphs, Deiopea, (although they are all of rarest beauty) as his lawful wife. He hits the mountain with the butt of his spear and the winds form a column, and then destroy the ships.
Aeneas is panic-stricken, and prays for death/questions why he is being so tortured. Very unstoic but it adds mental realism to the epic. The ships are trashed, and that of Orontes sinks.
Neptune intervenes, angrily rebukes the winds, and calms the storm. He spotted his sister Juno’s anger and cunning.
They land in Africa after the storm. Achates lights a fire and they all share out wine. Aeneas reconnoitres, and shoots seven stags whilst holding onto a rock. He heartens his men and they feast, saddened by the apparent loss of thirteen of their twenty ships.(Notice they have one deer per boat-coincidence?)
Achates is very useful and trust worthy-resonance of Agrippa?
Venus complains to Jupiter that the promise of Aeneas' destiny are not being fulfilled. He replies that it will be fulfilled, and outlines the glory awaiting the Roman people and their mission to civilize the world.We even learn from the scroll of fate that Aeneas will rule for 3 and Ascanius for 30 years after the foundation of their city.
Jupiter sends Mercury to instil