 Book 1
The poem opens with phrase "ordior arma" "I set in order the arms" and tells how the poet's theme is the Second Punic War, setting up the conflict as the struggle between the Roman and Carthaginian nations for supremacy.The betrayal of Dido, familiar from the "Aeneid" and Juno's anger stir the goddess to prophesy the course of the war and choose Hannibal as her instrument of revenge.The childhood oath of Hannibal to his father Hamilcar at the Dido temple in Carthage is narrated, and his character is described as vicious, cunning, and daring.