1. “I sing of arms and of a man: his fate had made him fugitive; he was the first to journey from the coasts of Troy as far as Italy and the Lavinian shores.” (Book 1, Lines 1-4)
2. “Perhaps one day, it will be a pleasure to recall even these things.” (Book 1, Line 203)
3. “Do not yield to evil, but proceed ever more boldly against it.” (Book 6, Line 95)
4. “Fortune sides with him who dares.” (Book 10, Line 284)
5. “Through hardships to the stars.” (Book 12, Line 728)
6. “My only labor is to love.” (Book 4, Line 432)
7. “Fate, I submit, has no forgiveness in its laws.” (Book 4, Line 629)
8. “Now, by my ancestors’ love, my country’s gods, my household gods, my son Ascanius, I beg you: spare the young and the innocent.” (Book 9, Line 674)
9. “A joy shared is a joy doubled.” (Book 1, Line 727)
10. “Ease, no doubt, is precious, but freedom is more precious, honor more precious still.” (Book 6, Line 459)
11. “Each of us bears his own Hell.” (Book 6, Line 743)
12. “I have not finished my course, nor fought my last battle.” (Book 6, Line 1178)
13. “He wept, and suddenly the song no longer pleased.” (Book 1, Line 460)
14. “If I cannot bend the higher powers, I move the gods of hell.” (Book 7, Line 314)
15. “Our life is what our thoughts make it.” (Book 3, Line 146)
Summary of The Aeneid:
The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem written by Virgil, recounting the adventures and trials of Aeneas, a Trojan hero and the son of Venus. After the fall of Troy, Aeneas embarks on a long and arduous journey to fulfill his destiny and establish a new homeland in Italy. Along the way, he faces numerous challenges, battles, and encounters with both mortal and divine forces.
The epic is divided into twelve books and can be broken down into three main parts:
The Wanderings (Books 1-6): Aeneas travels from Troy to various places, including Carthage, where he meets Queen Dido, and the Underworld, where he speaks with his deceased father. He learns about the glorious future of Rome and the importance of fulfilling his fate.
The War in Italy (Books 7-12): Aeneas arrives in Italy and seeks to form alliances with local tribes. However, he faces opposition from the native Latins, led by Turnus. The epic culminates in a climactic battle between the Trojans and the Latins, with Aeneas ultimately emerging victorious.
The Foundation of Rome: After the war, Aeneas fulfills his destiny and establishes the foundations of Rome through his son Ascanius (also known as Iulus).
The Aeneid explores themes of fate, duty, heroism, and the grand destiny of Rome. It serves as a significant piece of Roman mythology and a cultural treasure of the Western literary tradition.
