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Part of the book: The Theme of Love in the 'Romans d'Antiquité'

Rosemarie Jones

MHRA Texts and Dissertations 5

Modern Humanities Research Association

MedievalFrenchPoetryopen

Abstract.  The Roman d'Eneas presents two love relationships: between Eneas and Dido, and between Eneas and Lavine. It is well known that in the depiction of the first the poet followed fairly closely the account in the Aeneid, supplementing this with elements drawn from his knowledge of Ovid. In fact, the whole basis of the story comes from Virgil: the Trojans arrive in Libya, and Dido, queen of Carthage, welcomes them to her city. By kissing Ascanius, whom Venus has invested with a special power, Dido burns with passion for Aeneas, a passion which is consummated while she and the Trojan, out hunting, take refuge in a cave from a storm. They spend the winter in Carthage together, until a message comes to Aeneas that he must leave Africa and make his way to Italy. Dido, hearing of his imminent departure, vainly tries to persuade him to stay at least until the winter is past. When he sets sail with his followers she kills herself, and their last meeting takes place in the underworld when Aeneas is on his way to see his father Anchises.

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