Book 4- summary of events
On the morning after the banquet given in honor of Aeneas, Dido confides to Anna, her sister, that the Trojan warrior is the only man she has met since the death of her husband, Sychaeus, who could make her consider breaking her vow to remain faithful to his memory and never remarry. Urging the queen to act on these new, amorous feelings, Anna emphasizes that the dead do not care about the romantic lives of those they leave behind. She advises Dido to pursue the Trojan, both for the sake of her own happiness and for the future safety and prosperity of Carthage, which, Anna says, will be militarily strengthened by the Trojans's remaining presence. Anna's counsel increases Dido's lust for Aeneas, but, unable to act on this passion, the queen languishes helplessly, neglecting her once-paramount project, the half-built new city of Carthage.
The morning after Aeneas’ banquet of honor, Dido confides in her sister, Anna, that the hero of Troy is the only man she has met since the death of her husband, Sychaeus, at the hand of her brother, who could convince her to break her vow to remain faithful to Sychaeus and never remarry (she has had numerous suitors). Anna tells her sister to follow these new feelings, stating that the dead do not care for those they leave behind, for they are incapable. Her sister also suggests it would be beneficial for the queen to pursue Aeneas, as the Trojans could help preotect the people of Carthage, and also would help her own happiness. Anna’s suggestions increased Dido’s longing for Aeneas, but the queen is conscious of what her people will think of her, she remains helpless. She begins to neglect Carthage, and what was once a symbol to the Trojans of what their own city should look like, no longer grows at the rapid rate it once did.
Dido and Aeneas's relationship catches the attention of Juno and Venus. For very different reasons — Juno wants to delay Aeneas's reaching Italy, and Venus wants to...