Lavinia

After another winter, the War Gate erodes in Laurentum and opens by itself, which is a sinister omen. The area experiences increasing violence, for which Ascanius’s men in Alba Longa are partly responsible. Aeneas leaves to try to quell the violence, which terrifies Lavinia; she knows he’ll die soon but can’t know exactly when. She’s immensely relieved when he returns safely after nine days, having successfully brokered a truce. Aeneas chastises Ascanius, explaining to him that piety involves more than winning wars. He pushes Ascanius to recognize the humanity in even his enemies and to respect them. He hopes that Ascanius can improve and do what’s necessary for his people.

That spring, Aeneas, a beloved king and kind father, starts taking Silvius on horseback rides. In March, Aeneas, Lavinia, Silvius, and others visit the coast to take advantage of good weather. Lavinia tells Aeneas that she’s pregnant with a daughter. In May is the three-year anniversary of the day that Lavinia saw the Trojan ships coming up the river. That day, Aeneas goes out to retrieve a herd of cattle with Achates, his former lover and fellow soldier, and some other men. A group of Rutulians attacks, but Aeneas and his men win the fight, and Aeneas spares one young man’s life. As he retreats, however, the man throws a spear that pierces Aeneas’s chest. He dies in Achates’s arms. Aeneas’s last word is i, meaning “go on, go” (156). Achates and the others bring Aeneas’s body back to Lavinium. Lavinia washes his body and performs his funeral rites as she mourns. She realizes that when the poet said that Aeneas would rule for three years, he meant exactly three years to the day.

Ascanius takes over Aeneas’s rule, though he’s unpopular with the people of Lavinium. During the first year after Aeneas’s death, Lavinia develops a closer friendship with Achates. He struggles immensely with grief, telling her repeatedly how Aeneas died. Ascanius tries to send Achates to serve in Alba Longa, but Lavinia persuades him otherwise because he’s still so fragile. Lavinia doubles back to note that a month after Aeneas died, she miscarried.

Ascanius moves to Alba Longa, still believing it’s a better city. He takes Lavinia, Silvius, and Aeneas’s household gods with him. Achates remains in Lavinium, but Atys, Ascanius’s lover, comes with them to Alba Longa. Lavinia runs the royal household but isn’t happy. Ascanius keeps getting embroiled in conflicts, even antagonizing Evander and Latinus. Latinus visits Alba Longa and suggests to Lavinia that a time may come when she needs to return to Lavinium with Silvius to protect him from Ascanius’s influence. Shortly after the visit, Latinus falls ill and dies. Lavinia suspects that Silvius can see the future in Aeneas’s shield just as she can. He grows up strong, competitive, kind, and well-liked. Ascanius tells Lavinia that he’s sure Alba Longa will be a great city because it was foretold in a prophecy, which surprises Lavinia because the poet never said any such thing.

Ascanius is set to be married, and Lavinia must return to Lavinium so that a new queen can run the household. She asks that Silvius come with her, but Ascanius refuses, even when Lavinia begs him to reconsider. Silvius, who’s only 11, doesn’t want to separate from his mother. She promises to take him to Albunea and tells him about grandfather Picus, the woodpecker ancestral spirit. Out of options, she and some of her attendants flee to Lavinium with Silvius. For a while, they’re safe because Ascanius is busy with his wedding preparations. When he comes to retrieve Silvius, Lavinia and her son hide in the old woodcutter’s cottage near Albunea. After a couple days there, they travel to the sacred grove at Albunea. Lavinia hears an owl in the night saying i-i-i. She has a dream that instructs her to raise her son in the woods.

The next morning, Lavinia tells Silvius about her dream. She goes to Lavinium, leaving Silvius hidden in the woods. She tells her people about the omen with such authority that they agree to her plan, in defiance of Ascanius’s orders. Achates is especially moved, feeling as though Aeneas has come back from the dead to give Lavinia the omen. Ascanius accepts the omen, since he puts much faith in prophecy. The people of Lavinium fix up the woodcutter’s cottage and help with Silvius’s education for the next several years. Ascanius and his wife have no children, and Lavinia suspects that Ascanius is only interested in men.

Although Ascanius is no longer as prone to violence like before, a few border skirmishes occur. During one of these, Atys is killed; he and Ascanius had recently quarreled. Ascanius’s grief overpowers him to the point that many people, especially his wife, find it inappropriate. His wife leaves him and returns to her home. One day, Aeneas’s household gods mysteriously appear in Lavinium, which signals Lavinia and Silvius to return home. Ascanius doesn’t try to stop them. The center of power shifts back to Lavinium, and 16-year-old Silvius becomes king. Ascanius shares power with him graciously.

Silvius eventually marries and has children. Ascanius cedes the throne entirely after ruling Alba Longa for 30 years. Silvius moves to Alba Longa to rule, while Lavinia stays in Lavinium as she ages. Maruna eventually dies, after which her niece accompanies Lavinia on her infrequent trips to Albunea. Unlike the other characters in the story, Lavinia knows that she can’t die and will never reunite with Aeneas in the underworld. She gradually grows weaker and then transforms into an owl and lives forever in Albunea. When she speaks, her “cry is soft and quavering: i, i… Go on, go” (188).