/ Holy one, whatever god you are, / we go with you, we act on your command / most happily!" / .
If the gods had not acted when they did, Dido was clearly going to stop Aeneas, or die trying. Sad as it is that Aeneas spurned her love, and drove her to suicide; his duty was to found a city in Italy, and not in Africa. Nothing must interfere with the duty, not even the love of a beautiful queen. .
The Trojans stop to regroup at Sicily on the way the sight of Rome. They join another group of Trojans, and have the games in honor of Anchises, Aeneas" father. It is while in Sicily that Aeneas again has doubts and again wavers in his duty. .
/ Within him, coping with momentous questions: / Should he forget the destiny foretold / And make his home in Sicily, or try / Again for Italy? / .
This time, that wavering is costly. It costs ships. The women of Troy, tricked by Juno, set the ships on fire. The men's" efforts of extinguishing the flames is futile. It is only through the intervention of Jupiter that the fleet is saved. Duty again prevails, and Aeneas departs for Italy and a more interference to that goal. .
The duty that Aeneas has been given by Jupiter is not supported by all the gods. Juno, the wife of Aeneas is bitterly opposed to it, due to a slight she received at the hand, or rather the mouth, of a Trojan. The gods of the ancient world tend to hold grudges, and Juno is no exception. Her anger burns hot against Aeneas and his band of Trojans, and she sets blocks in their paths, sending a Fury to inflict damage and spread the seeds of discord. Armies gather against the Trojans, and many will be slaughtered. But Aeneas has some allies. His mother has her husband Vulcan commission weaponry and armor, and he has a new ally, the Arcadians, who are the enemy of the Latins. He will not be stopped this time. The battle rages fiercely, and the casualties are high, including the son of the king of the Arcadians, Pallas.