Haiku: 254-271

Sator Iuppiter,
fatur de fatum Iulo;
patro longius.

Great Man Question

In the story, the poet's characterization of the great man prompts us to compare him with Aeneas himself. In lines 148-150, an angry, unruly mob of people is described, "saevitque animis ignobile vulgus iamque faces et saxa volant, furor arma ministrat." Then, they stop to a screeching halt when "pietate gravem ac meritis si forte virum quem conspexere, silent arrectisque auribus astant; ille regit dictis animos et pectora mulcet" (lines 151-153). The fact that his presecence is just needed to shut everyone up shows that he is a well respected man, which Aeneas is, since he is a brave, respectful war general. Also, Aeneas has shown to be a man who speaks well in front of others and later on encourages his men to not give up home and to battle through whatever obstacle they face. This also relates to how the great man's words settled down the uneasy mob of people. So, by looking at how the great man was able to gain attention quickly and uses his words to control the people and win them over, it can be paralleled to Aeneas and how he is able to keep the respect of his men and touch their hearts with his words, too. Both use words before violence.