FIRST PHASE

The Storm in Book 1 is, as Poeschl has shown,1 'programmatic' for the whole of the Aeneid. In this passage, the basic ideas, images, and sequences of action and feeling are shaped for the first time in the epic, and they are built up into a comprehensive whole from the moment that Juno sees the Trojans setting out from Sicily to the colourful journey of Neptune over the pacified sea and Jupiter's speech to Venus. I suggest that this first phase extends still further, namely up to line 656 so as to include the consequences of Jupiter's encouragement of Venus and of his sending Mercury to Dido with the command to offer Aeneas hospitality, which of course she does. The storm is initiated by Juno. The setting of this scene is the middle region of the cosmos, the region of air and water, of winds and sea. This is where Juno begins her activity, going 'to the native land of rainstorms, a place pregnant with raging southwinds, Aeolia' (51f2). It is below the serene peace of the ether and of Jupiter, but above the evil depth of the earth. This region of the dark stormy air, stormy both in the physical and the spiritual sense, is, as we have seen,2 her own proper element. Here she goes to Aeolus, lord of the winds, whose spirit is one of anger and blind tearing motion, a spirit in close accord with her own mind when she goes. Juno comes to this region, because she is aware that the Trojans are setting out from Sicily for Italy and she intends to prevent 'the king of the Trojans' from reaching his goal (37f). The cause of Aeneas' toils is savage Juno's anger that will not forget (4). Virgil asks the Muse what the reasons are for this anger which pursues a man outstanding by his pietas. For such great wrath is strange in a heavenly spirit (lOf). Here the searching question is raised immediately of whether such anger is really compatible with a 'heavenly mind'. Anger is not, as we shall see, in Virgil's scale of values evil in itself; it depends on the reasons.3 Juno loves Carthage, her favourite city and wants her to rule an empire 78 The Living Universe among men-'if fate would allow it' (18). But she had heard that descendants from Troy were to destroy Carthage and rule su­ premely. according to the ordinance of Fate. This is what Juno fears (23). The cause of Juno's fear and anger is, then, an affection which, instead of being overruled by obedience to destiny. stub­ bornly pursues its own aspirations. Her anger is one of disobedi­ ence and rebellion and, therefore, evil.' There are other reasons which stem from a memory of the past. In the Trojan War she supported the Greeks in their fight against Troy. The cruel pain which made her hate the Trojans was caused by the rejection of her beauty by Trojan Paris who preferred Venus (27). the fact that the Trojan race descended from Dardanus, son of Jupiter and Electra (genus inuisum 28), one of the many loves of Jupiter, and Jupiter's affection for the beautiful Trojan youth Ganymede, a descendant of Dardanus. Troy, then, had meant pain and anger to Juno in the past; and the reason for that old anger had been hurt pride and jealousy.5 It is interesting to note that Homer mentions the reason for Hera's anger, namely the 'judgement of Paris', as late as in Book 24 (27ff) of the Iliad. The moral nature of Hera's anger, whether justified or evil, is of little importance to Homer. For Virgil, this and the other reasons are of primary importance, because through them it becomes immediately plain that Juno's anger is wrong. But what makes her anger evil, most of all, is that she yields to her love for Carthage against the decree of fate and the will of Jupiter. The destructive forces which Juno sets in motion against the Trojans are the storm winds. Since they are characterized by violence and anger/ they are akin to Juno and fit instruments of her anger and hatred, and since by Jupiter's decree Aeolus is appointed to release or check them according to any order he may receive, Juno is able to command him to destroy or scatter the Trojan fleet (1.690. Here Jupiter is ultimately in control. But this does not mean that everything must ineluctably go according to his will all the time. The possibility of contrary action is built into Aeolus' appointment by Jupiter himself. 7 When the danger to the Trojan fleet is at its height, the counter-command is given by Neptune. He is the brother of Jupiter and obviously one in mind with him, being like a man of piety and authority who quells a raging mob.' He scolds the winds, sends them home. and calms the sea.