Inspires friends to follow Aeneid, oddly (8)
I believe the answer is:
animates
'inspires' is the definition.
('animate' can be a synonym of 'inspire')
'friends to follow aeneid oddly' is the wordplay.
'friends' becomes 'mates' (mate is a kind of friend).
'to follow' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'oddly' means one should take alternating letters.
The alternating letters of 'aeneid' are 'ani'.
'mates' after 'ani' is 'ANIMATES'.
(Other definitions for animates that I've seen before include "Enlivens" , "Gives life or movement to, say cartoon" , "Brings to life" .)