Alexander, and in the third century Juvencus penned the first
Christian epic, using the Life of Christ as his theme. In the fifth
century Claudianus harked back to the old Greek myths of the battle of
the Giants and of the Abduction of Persephone, although by that time
Christianity was well established in Italy. From that epoch Roman
literature practically ceased to exist, for although various attempts
at Latin epics were made by mediaeval poets, none of them proved of
sufficient merit to claim attention here.

THE AENEID

_Book I._ After stating he is about to sing the deeds of the heroic
ancestor of the Romans, Virgil describes how, seven years after
escaping from burning Troy, Aeneas' fleet was overtaken by a terrible
storm off the coast of Africa. This tempest, raised by the turbulent
children of Aeolus at Juno's request, threatened before long to
destroy the Trojan fleet. But, disturbed by the commotion overhead and
by Aeneas' frantic prayers for help, Neptune suddenly arose from the
bottom of the sea, angrily ordered the winds back to their cave, and
summoned sea-nymphs and tritons to the Trojans' aid. Soon, therefore,
seven of the vessels came to anchor in a sheltered bay, where Aeneas
landed with his friend Achates. While reconnoitring, they managed to
kill seven stags with which to satisfy the hunger of the men, whom
Aeneas further cheered by the assurance that they were the destined
ancestors of a mighty people.

Meantime Venus, beholding the plight of her son Aeneas, had hastened
off to Olympus to remind Jupiter of his promise to protect the remnant
of the Trojan race. Bestowing a kiss, the King of the Gods assured her
that after sundry vicissitudes Aeneas would reach Italy, where in due
time his son would found Alba Longa. Jupiter added a brief sketch of
what would befall this hero's race, until, some three hundred years
after his death, one of his descendants, the Vestal Ilia, would bear
twin sons to Mars, god of War. One of these, Romulus, would found
the city of Rome, where the Trojan race would continue its heroic
career and where Caesar would appear to fill the world with his fame.

"From Troy's fair stock shall Caesar rise,
The limits of whose victories
Are ocean, of his fame the skies."[5]

Having thus quieted Venus' apprehensions in regard to her son, Jupiter
directed Mercury to hasten off to Carthage so as to warn Dido she is
to receive hospitably the Trojan guests.

After a s