At this point , Aeneas has made the camp of the Tuscans and convinced them to follow him against Mezentius . He sails downriver followed by the chiefs of the Tuscans with about thirty ships of men. It is night as Aeneas sails and one of the nymphs who was once one of his ships grabs the stern and lifts herself up. She tells him to hasten because the Trojans are in dire straits. Aeneas prays to the earth and promises offerings.
Day begins as the ships near the camp.
They rain arrows from the ships. The attackers stare at Aeneas looking noble and godlike in his armor. Turnus does not despair, but he rallies his men and tells them to cut the Trojans down as they step on land. They begin to jump from the ships, but King Tarchon has his men run the ships right on to land. His ship gets stuck, but the Tuscans begin to pour onto the field.