---
title: "Aeneid · Aeneis"
author: "Virgil"
translator: "Theodore C. Williams"
title_ru: "Энеида"
author_ru: "Вергилий"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 3 of 24
url: https://scriptura.si/works/virgil-aeneid/3/
cite: "Virgil, tr. Theodore C. Williams, Aeneid · Aeneis, section 3. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/virgil-aeneid/3/"
---

# Aeneid · Aeneis

*Virgil, tr. Theodore C. Williams*

Russian: Энеида, Вергилий

Aeneas flees burning Troy, loves and leaves Dido, goes down to the underworld and fights for a new home in Italy: Virgil’s Latin beside English verse.

> Latin: ed. J. B. Greenough, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-latinLit, phi0690.phi003, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Theodore C. Williams, from the Perseus Digital Library (phi0690.phi003.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 3. Book II · lines 1–401

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/virgil-aeneid/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/virgil-aeneid/3/#p-N

[¶0] A general silence fell; and all gave ear,
while, from his lofty station at the feast,
Father Aeneas with these words began:—
A grief unspeakable thy gracious word,
o sovereign lady, bids my heart live o'er:
how Asia's glory and afflicted throne
the Greek flung down; which woeful scene I saw,
and bore great part in each event I tell.
But O! in telling, what Dolopian churl,
or Myrmidon, or gory follower
of grim Ulysses could the tears restrain?
'T is evening; lo! the dews of night begin
to fall from heaven, and yonder sinking stars
invite to slumber. But if thy heart yearn
to hear in brief of all our evil days
and Troy's last throes, although the memory
makes my soul shudder and recoil in pain,
I will essay it. Wearied of the war,
and by ill-fortune crushed, year after year,
the kings of Greece, by Pallas' skill divine,
build a huge horse, a thing of mountain size,
with timbered ribs of fir. They falsely say
it has been vowed to Heaven for safe return,
and spread this lie abroad. Then they conceal
choice bands of warriors in the deep, dark side,
and fill the caverns of that monstrous womb
with arms and soldiery.

> Latin: Conticuere omnes, intentique ora tenebant.
Inde toro pater Aeneas sic orsus ab alto:
Infandum, regina, iubes renovare dolorem,
Troianas ut opes et lamentabile regnum
eruerint Danai; quaeque ipse miserrima vidi,
et quorum pars magna fui. Quis talia fando
Myrmidonum Dolopumve aut duri miles Ulixi
temperet a lacrimis? Et iam nox umida caelo
praecipitat, suadentque cadentia sidera somnos.
Sed si tantus amor casus cognoscere nostros
et breviter Troiae supremum audire laborem,
quamquam animus meminisse horret, luctuque refugit,
incipiam.Fracti bello fatisque repulsi
ductores Danaum, tot iam labentibus annis,
instar montis equum divina Palladis arte
aedificant, sectaque intexunt abiete costas:
votum pro reditu simulant; ea fama vagatur.
Huc delecta virum sortiti corpora furtim
includunt caeco lateri, penitusque cavernas
ingentis uterumque armato milite complent.

[¶1] In sight of Troy
lies Tenedos, an island widely famed
and opulent, ere Priam's kingdom fell,
but a poor haven now, with anchorage
not half secure; 't was thitherward they sailed,
and lurked unseen by that abandoned shore.
We deemed them launched away and sailing far,
bound homeward for Mycenae. Teucria then
threw off her grief inveterate; all her gates
swung wide; exultant went we forth, and saw
the Dorian camp untenanted, the siege
abandoned, and the shore without a keel.
“Here!” cried we, “the Dolopian pitched; the host
of fierce Achilles here; here lay the fleet;
and here the battling lines to conflict ran.”
Others, all wonder, scan the gift of doom
by virgin Pallas given, and view with awe
that horse which loomed so large. Thymoetes then
bade lead it through the gates, and set on high
within our citadel,—or traitor he,
or tool of fate in Troy's predestined fall.
But Capys, as did all of wiser heart,
bade hurl into the sea the false Greek gift,
or underneath it thrust a kindling flame
or pierce the hollow ambush of its womb
with probing spear. Yet did the multitude
veer round from voice to voice and doubt of all.

> Latin: Est in conspectu Tenedos, notissima fama
insula, dives opum, Priami dum regna manebant,
nunc tantum sinus et statio male fida carinis:
huc se provecti deserto in litore condunt.
Nos abiisse rati et vento petiisse Mycenas:
ergo omnis longo solvit se Teucria luctu;
panduntur portae; iuvat ire et Dorica castra
desertosque videre locos litusque relictum.
Hic Dolopum manus, hic saevus tendebat Achilles;
classibus hic locus; hic acie certare solebant.
Pars stupet innuptae donum exitiale Minervae,
et molem mirantur equi; primusque Thymoetes
duci intra muros hortatur et arce locari,
sive dolo, seu iam Troiae sic fata ferebant.
At Capys, et quorum melior sententia menti,
aut pelago Danaum insidias suspectaque dona
praecipitare iubent, subiectisque urere flammis,
aut terebrare cavas uteri et temptare latebras.
Scinditur incertum studia in contraria volgus.

[¶2] Then from the citadel, conspicuous,
Laocoon, with all his following choir,
hurried indignant down; and from afar
thus hailed the people: “O unhappy men!
What madness this? Who deems our foemen fled?
Think ye the gifts of Greece can lack for guile?
Have ye not known Ulysses? The Achaean
hides, caged in yonder beams; or this is reared
for engin'ry on our proud battlements,
to spy upon our roof-tops, or descend
in ruin on the city. 'T is a snare.
Trust not this horse, O Troy, whate'er it bode!
I fear the Greeks, though gift on gift they bear.”
So saying, he whirled with ponderous javelin
a sturdy stroke straight at the rounded side
of the great, jointed beast. A tremor struck
its towering form, and through the cavernous womb
rolled loud, reverberate rumbling, deep and long.
If heaven's decree, if our own wills, that hour,
had not been fixed on woe, his spear had brought
a bloody slaughter on our ambushed foe,
and Troy were standing on the earth this day!
O Priam's towers, ye were unfallen still!

> Latin: Primus ibi ante omnis, magna comitante caterva,
Laocoön ardens summa decurrit ab arce,
et procul: “O miseri, quae tanta insania, cives?”
“Creditis avectos hostis? Aut ulla putatis”
“dona carere dolis Danaum? Sic notus Ulixes?”
“aut hoc inclusi ligno occultantur Achivi,”
“aut haec in nostros fabricata est machina muros”
“inspectura domos venturaque desuper urbi,”
“aut aliquis latet error; equo ne credite, Teucri.”
“Quicquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentis.”
Sic fatus, validis ingentem viribus hastam
in latus inque feri curvam compagibus alvum
contorsit: stetit illa tremens, uteroque recusso
insonuere cavae gemitumque dedere cavernae.
Et, si fata deum, si mens non laeva fuisset,
impulerat ferro Argolicas foedare latebras,
Troiaque, nunc stares, Priamique arx alta, maneres.

[¶3] But, lo! with hands fast bound behind, a youth
by clamorous Dardan shepherds haled along,
was brought before our king,—to this sole end
a self-surrendered captive, that he might,
although a nameless stranger, cunningly
deliver to the Greek the gates of Troy.
His firm-set mind flinched not from either goal,—
success in crime, or on swift death to fall.
The thronging Trojan youth made haste his way
from every side, all eager to see close
their captive's face, and clout with emulous scorn.
Hear now what Greek deception is, and learn
from one dark wickedness the whole. For he,
a mark for every eye, defenceless, dazed,
stood staring at our Phrygian hosts, and cried:
“Woe worth the day! What ocean or what shore
will have me now? What desperate path remains
for miserable me? Now have I lost
all foothold with the Greeks, and o'er my head
Troy's furious sons call bloody vengeance down.”
Such groans and anguish turned all rage away
and stayed our lifted hands. We bade him tell
his birth, his errand, and from whence might be
such hope of mercy for a foe in chains.
Then fearing us no more, this speech he dared:

> Latin: Ecce, manus iuvenem interea post terga revinctum
pastores magno ad regem clamore trahebant
Dardanidae, qui se ignotum venientibus ultro,
hoc ipsum ut strueret Troiamque aperiret Achivis,
obtulerat, fidens animi atque in utrumque paratus,
seu versare dolos, seu certae occumbere morti.
Undique visendi studio Troiana iuventus
circumfusa ruit, certantque inludere capto.
Accipe nunc Danaum insidias, et crimine ab uno
disce omnes.
Namque ut conspectu in medio turbatus, inermis
constitit atque oculis Phrygia agmina circumspexit:
“Heu, quae nunc tellus” inquit “quae me aequora possunt”
“accipere? Aut quid iam misero mihi denique restat,”
“cui neque apud Danaos usquam locus, et super ipsi”
“Dardanidae infensi poenas cum sanguine poscunt?”
Quo gemitu conversi animi, compressus et omnis
impetus. Hortamur fari; quo sanguine cretus,
quidve ferat, memoret, quae sit fiducia capto.
[Ille haec, deposita tandem formidine, fatur:]

[¶4] “O King! I will confess, whate'er befall,
the whole unvarnished truth. I will not hide
my Grecian birth. Yea, thus will I begin.
For Fortune has brought wretched Sinon low;
but never shall her cruelty impair
his honor and his truth. Perchance the name
of Palamedes, Belus' glorious son,
has come by rumor to your listening ears;
whom by false witness and conspiracy,
because his counsel was not for this war,
the Greeks condemned, though guiltless, to his death,
and now make much lament for him they slew.
I, his companion, of his kith and kin,
sent hither by my humble sire's command,
followed his arms and fortunes from my youth.
Long as his throne endured, and while he throve
in conclave with his kingly peers, we twain
some name and lustre bore; but afterward,
because that cheat Ulysses envied him
(Ye know the deed), he from this world withdrew,
and I in gloom and tribulation sore
lived miserably on, lamenting loud
my lost friend's blameless fall. A fool was I
that kept not these lips closed; but I had vowed
that if a conqueror home to Greece I came,
I would avenge. Such words moved wrath, and were
the first shock of my ruin; from that hour,
Ulysses whispered slander and alarm;
breathed doubt and malice into all men's ears,
and darkly plotted how to strike his blow.
Nor rest had he, till Calchas, as his tool,-
but why unfold this useless, cruel story?
Why make delay? Ye count all sons of Greece
arrayed as one; and to have heard thus far
suffices you. Take now your ripe revenge!
Ulysses smiles and Atreus' royal sons
with liberal price your deed of blood repay.”

> Latin: “Cuncta equidem tibi, Rex, fuerit quodcumque, fatebor”
“vera, inquit; neque me Argolica de gente negabo:”
“hoc primum; nec, si miserum Fortuna Sinonem”
“finxit, vanum etiam mendacemque improba finget.”
“Fando aliquod si forte tuas pervenit ad auris”
“Belidae nomen Palamedis et incluta fama”
“gloria, quem falsa sub proditione Pelasgi”
“insontem infando indicio, quia bella vetabat,”
“demisere neci, nunc cassum lumine lugent.”
“Illi me comitem et consanguinitate propinquum”
“pauper in arma pater primis huc misit ab annis,”
“dum stabat regno incolumis regumque vigebat”
“consiliis, et nos aliquod nomenque decusque”
“gessimus. Invidia postquam pellacis Ulixi—”
“haud ignota loquor—superis concessit ab oris,”
“adflictus vitam in tenebris luctuque trahebam,”
“et casum insontis mecum indignabar amici.”
“Nec tacui demens, et me, fors si qua tulisset,”
“si patrios umquam remeassem victor ad Argos,”
“promisi ultorem, et verbis odia aspera movi.”
“Hinc mihi prima mali labes, hinc semper Ulixes”
“criminibus terrere novis, hinc spargere voces”
“in volgum ambiguas, et quaerere conscius arma.”
“Nec requievit enim, donec, Calchante ministro—”
“sed quid ego haec autem nequiquam ingrata revolvo?”
“Quidve moror, si omnis uno ordine habetis Achivos,”
“idque audire sat est? Iamdudum sumite poenas,”
“hoc Ithacus velit, et magno mercentur Atridae.”

[¶5] We ply him then with passionate appeal
and question all his cause: of guilt so dire
or such Greek guile we harbored not the thought.
So on he prates, with well-feigned grief and fear,
and from his Iying heart thus told his tale:
“Full oft the Greeks had fain achieved their flight,
and raised the Trojan siege, and sailed away
war-wearied quite. O, would it had been so!
Full oft the wintry tumult of the seas
did wall them round, and many a swollen storm
their embarcation stayed. But chiefly when,
all fitly built of beams of maple fair,
this horse stood forth,— what thunders filled the skies!
With anxious fears we sent Eurypylus
to ask Apollo's word; and from the shrine
he brings the sorrowful commandment home:
‘By flowing blood and by a virgin slain
the wild winds were appeased, when first ye came,
ye sons of Greece, to Ilium's distant shore.
Through blood ye must return. Let some Greek life
your expiation be.’ The popular ear
the saying caught, all spirits were dimmed o'er;
cold doubt and horror through each bosom ran,
asking what fate would do, and on what wretch
Apollo's choice would fall. Ulysses, then,
amid the people's tumult and acclaim,
thrust Calchas forth, some prophecy to tell
to all the throng: he asked him o'er and o'er
what Heaven desired. Already not a few
foretold the murderous plot, and silently
watched the dark doom upon my life impend.
Twice five long days the seer his lips did seal,
and hid himself, refusing to bring forth
His word of guile, and name what wretch should die.
At last, reluctant, and all loudly urged
By false Ulysses, he fulfils their plot,
and, lifting up his voice oracular,
points out myself the victim to be slain.
Nor did one voice oppose. The mortal stroke
horribly hanging o'er each coward head
was changed to one man's ruin, and their hearts
endured it well. Soon rose th' accursed morn;
the bloody ritual was ready; salt
was sprinkled on the sacred loaf; my brows
were bound with fillets for the offering.
But I escaped that death—yes! I deny not!
I cast my fetters off, and darkling lay
concealed all night in lake-side sedge and mire,
awaiting their departure, if perchance
they should in truth set sail. But nevermore
shall my dear, native country greet these eyes.
No more my father or my tender babes
shall I behold. Nay, haply their own lives
are forfeit, when my foemen take revenge
for my escape, and slay those helpless ones,
in expiation of my guilty deed.
O, by yon powers in heaven which witness truth,
by aught in this dark world remaining now
of spotless human faith and innocence,
I do implore thee look with pitying eye
on these long sufferings my heart hath borne.
O, pity! I deserve not what I bear.”

> Latin: Tum vero ardemus scitari et quaerere causas,
ignari scelerum tantorum artisque Pelasgae.
Prosequitur pavitans, et ficto pectore fatur:
“Saepe fugam Danai Troia cupiere relicta”
“moliri, et longo fessi discedere bello;”
“fecissentque utinam! Saepe illos aspera ponti”
“interclusit hiemps, et terruit Auster euntis.”
“Praecipue, cum iam hic trabibus contextus acernis”
“staret equus, toto sonuerunt aethere nimbi.”
“Suspensi Eurypylum scitantem oracula Phoebi”
“mittimus, isque adytis haec tristia dicta reportat:”
“‘Sanguine placastis ventos et virgine caesa,’”
“‘cum primum Iliacas, Danai, venistis ad oras;’”
“‘sanguine quaerendi reditus, animaque litandum’”
“‘Argolica.’ Volgi quae vox ut venit ad auris,”
“obstipuere animi, gelidusque per ima cucurrit”
“ossa tremor, cui fata parent, quem poscat Apollo.”
“Hic Ithacus vatem magno Calchanta tumultu”
“protrahit in medios; quae sint ea numina divom,”
“flagitat; et mihi iam multi crudele canebant”
“artificis scelus, et taciti ventura videbant.”
“Bis quinos silet ille dies, tectusque recusat”
“prodere voce sua quemquam aut opponere morti.”
“Vix tandem, magnis Ithaci clamoribus actus,”
“composito rumpit vocem, et me destinat arae.”
“Adsensere omnes, et, quae sibi quisque timebat,”
“unius in miseri exitium conversa tulere.”
“Iamque dies infanda aderat; mihi sacra parari,”
“et salsae fruges, et circum tempora vittae:”
“eripui, fateor, leto me, et vincula rupi,”
“limosoque lacu per noctem obscurus in ulva”
“delitui, dum vela darent, si forte dedissent.”
“Nec mihi iam patriam antiquam spes ulla videndi,”
“nec dulcis natos exoptatumque parentem;”
“quos illi fors et poenas ob nostra reposcent”
“effugia, et culpam hanc miserorum morte piabunt.”
“Quod te per superos et conscia numina veri,”
“per si qua est quae restet adhuc mortalibus usquam”
“intemerata fides, oro, miserere laborum”
“tantorum, miserere animi non digna ferentis.”

[¶6] Pity and pardon to his tears we gave,
and spared his life. King Priam bade unbind
the fettered hands and loose those heavy chains
that pressed him sore; then with benignant mien
addressed him thus: “Whate'er thy place or name,
forget the people thou hast Iost, and be
henceforth our countryman. But tell me true!
What means the monstrous fabric of this horse?
Who made it? Why? What offering to Heaven,
or engin'ry of conquest may it be?”
He spake; and in reply, with skilful guile,
Greek that he was! the other lifted up
his hands, now freed and chainless, to the skies:
“O ever-burning and inviolate fires,
witness my word! O altars and sharp steel,
whose curse I fled, O fillets of the gods,
which bound a victim's helpless forehead, hear!
'T is lawful now to break the oath that gave
my troth to Greece. To execrate her kings
is now my solemn duty. Their whole plot
I publish to the world. No fatherland
and no allegiance binds me any more.
O Troy, whom I have saved, I bid thee keep
the pledge of safety by good Priam given,
for my true tale shall my rich ransom be.
The Greeks' one hope, since first they opened war,
was Pallas, grace and power. But from the day
when Diomed, bold scorner of the gods,
and false Ulysses, author of all guile,
rose up and violently bore away
Palladium, her holy shrine, hewed down
the sentinels of her acropolis,
and with polluted, gory hands dared touch
the goddess, virgin fillets, white and pure,—
thenceforth, I say, the courage of the Greeks
ebbed utterly away; their strength was Iost,
and favoring Pallas all her grace withdrew.
No dubious sign she gave. Scarce had they set
her statue in our camp, when glittering flame
flashed from the staring eyes; from all its limbs
salt sweat ran forth; three times (O wondrous tale!)
it gave a sudden skyward leap, and made
prodigious trembling of her lance and shield.
The prophet Calchas bade us straightway take
swift flight across the sea; for fate had willed
the Trojan citadel should never fall
by Grecian arm, till once more they obtain
new oracles at Argos, and restore
that god the round ships hurried o'er the sea.
Now in Mycenae, whither they are fled,
new help of heaven they find, and forge anew
the means of war. Back hither o'er the waves
they suddenly will come. So Calchas gave
the meaning of the god. Warned thus, they reared
in place of Pallas, desecrated shrine
yon image of the horse, to expiate
the woeful sacrilege. Calchas ordained
that they should build a thing of monstrous size
of jointed beams, and rear it heavenward,
so might it never pass your gates, nor come
inside your walls, nor anywise restore
unto the Trojans their lost help divine.
For had your hands Minerva's gift profaned,
a ruin horrible—O, may the gods
bring it on Calchas rather!—would have come
on Priam's throne and all the Phrygian power.
But if your hands should lift the holy thing
to your own citadel, then Asia's host
would hurl aggression upon Pelops' land,
and all that curse on our own nation fall.”

> Latin: His lacrimis vitam damus, et miserescimus ultro.
Ipse viro primus manicas atque arta levari
vincla iubet Priamus, dictisque ita fatur amicis:
“Quisquis es, amissos hinc iam obliviscere Graios;”
“noster eris, mihique haec edissere vera roganti:”
“Quo molem hanc immanis equi statuere? Quis auctor?”
“Quidve petunt? Quae religio, aut quae machina belli?”
Dixerat. Ille, dolis instructus et arte Pelasga,
sustulit exutas vinclis ad sidera palmas:
“Vos, aeterni ignes, et non violabile vestrum”
“testor numen” ait “vos arae ensesque nefandi,”
“quos fugi, vittaeque deum, quas hostia gessi:”
“fas mihi Graiorum sacrata resolvere iura,”
“fas odisse viros, atque omnia ferre sub auras,”
“si qua tegunt; teneor patriae nec legibus ullis.”
“Tu modo promissis maneas, servataque serves”
“Troia fidem, si vera feram, si magna rependam.”
“Omnis spes Danaum et coepti fiducia belli”
“Palladis auxiliis semper stetit. Impius ex quo”
“Tydides sed enim scelerumque inventor Ulixes,”
“fatale adgressi sacrato avellere templo”
“Palladium, caesis summae custodibus arcis,”
“corripuere sacram effigiem, manibusque cruentis”
“virgineas ausi divae contingere vittas;”
“ex illo fluere ac retro sublapsa referri”
“spes Danaum, fractae vires, aversa deae mens.”
“Nec dubiis ea signa dedit Tritonia monstris.”
“Vix positum castris simulacrum, arsere coruscae”
“luminibus flammae arrectis, salsusque per artus”
“sudor iit, terque ipsa solo—mirabile dictu—”
“emicuit, parmamque ferens hastamque trementem.”
“Extemplo temptanda fuga canit aequora Calchas,”
“nec posse Argolicis exscindi Pergama telis,”
“omina ni repetant Argis, numenque reducant,”
“quod pelago et curvis secum avexere carinis.”
“Et nunc, quod patrias vento petiere Mycenas,”
“arma deosque parant comites, pelagoque remenso”
“improvisi aderunt: ita digerit omina Calchas.”
“Hanc pro Palladio moniti, pro numine laeso”
“effigiem statuere, nefas quae triste piaret.”
“Hanc tamen immensam Calchas attollere molem”
“roboribus textis caeloque educere iussit,”
“ne recipi portis, aut duci in moenia possit,”
“neu populum antiqua sub religione tueri.”
“Nam si vestra manus violasset dona Minervae,”
“tum magnum exitium (quod di prius omen in ipsum”
“convertant!) Priami imperio Phrygibusque futurum;”
“sin manibus vestris vestram ascendisset in urbem,”
“ultro Asiam magno Pelopea ad moenia bello”
“venturam, et nostros ea fata manere nepotes.”

[¶7] Thus Sinon's guile and practiced perjury
our doubt dispelled. His stratagems and tears
wrought victory where neither Tydeus' son,
nor mountain-bred Achilles could prevail,
nor ten years' war, nor fleets a thousand strong.
But now a vaster spectacle of fear
burst over us, to vex our startled souls.
Laocoon, that day by cast of lot
priest unto Neptune, was in act to slay
a huge bull at the god's appointed fane.
Lo! o'er the tranquil deep from Tenedos
appeared a pair (I shudder as I tell)
of vastly coiling serpents, side by side,
stretching along the waves, and to the shore
taking swift course; their necks were lifted high,
their gory dragon-crests o'ertopped the waves;
all else, half seen, trailed low along the sea;
while with loud cleavage of the foaming brine
their monstrous backs wound forward fold on fold.
Soon they made land; the furious bright eyes
glowed with ensanguined fire; their quivering tongues
lapped hungrily the hissing, gruesome jaws.
All terror-pale we fled. Unswerving then
the monsters to Laocoon made way.
First round the tender limbs of his two sons
each dragon coiled, and on the shrinking flesh
fixed fast and fed. Then seized they on the sire,
who flew to aid, a javelin in his hand,
embracing close in bondage serpentine
twice round the waist; and twice in scaly grasp
around his neck, and o'er him grimly peered
with lifted head and crest; he, all the while,
his holy fillet fouled with venomous blood,
tore at his fetters with a desperate hand,
and lifted up such agonizing voice,
as when a bull, death-wounded, seeks to flee
the sacrificial altar, and thrusts back
from his doomed head the ill-aimed, glancing blade.
then swiftly writhed the dragon-pair away
unto the templed height, and in the shrine
of cruel Pallas sure asylum found
beneath the goddess' feet and orbed shield.
Such trembling horror as we ne'er had known
seized now on every heart. “Of his vast guilt
Laocoon,” they say, “receives reward;
for he with most abominable spear
did strike and violate that blessed wood.
Yon statue to the temple! Ask the grace
of glorious Pallas!” So the people cried
in general acclaim.

> Latin: Talibus insidiis periurique arte Sinonis
credita res, captique dolis lacrimisque coactis,
quos neque Tydides, nec Larisaeus Achilles,
non anni domuere decem, non mille carinae.
Hic aliud maius miseris multoque tremendum
obicitur magis, atque improvida pectora turbat.
Laocoön, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,
sollemnis taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.
Ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta—
horresco referens—immensis orbibus angues
incumbunt pelago, pariterque ad litora tendunt;
pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque
sanguineae superant undas; pars cetera pontum
pone legit, sinuatque immensa volumine terga.
Fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant,
ardentisque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni,
sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.
Diffugimus visu exsangues: illi agmine certo
Laocoönta petunt; et primum parva duorum
corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque
implicat, et miseros morsu depascitur artus;
post ipsum auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem
corripiunt, spirisque ligant ingentibus; et iam
bis medium amplexi, bis collo squamea circum
terga dati, superant capite et cervicibus altis.
Ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos,
perfusus sanie vittas atroque veneno,
clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit:
quales mugitus, fugit cum saucius aram
taurus, et incertam excussit cervice securim.
At gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones
effugiunt saevaeque petunt Tritonidis arcem,
sub pedibusque deae clipeique sub orbe teguntur.
Tum vero tremefacta novus per pectora cunctis
insinuat pavor, et scelus expendisse merentem
Laocoönta ferunt, sacrum qui cuspide robur
laeserit, et tergo sceleratam intorserit hastam.
Ducendum ad sedes simulacrum orandaque divae
numina conclamant.

[¶8] Ourselves did make
a breach within our walls and opened wide
the ramparts of our city. One and all
were girded for the task. Smooth-gliding wheels
were 'neath its feet; great ropes stretched round its neck,
till o'er our walls the fatal engine climbed,
pregnant with men-at-arms. On every side
fair youths and maidens made a festal song,
and hauled the ropes with merry heart and gay.
So on and up it rolled, a tower of doom,
and in proud menace through our Forum moved.
O Ilium, my country, where abode
the gods of all my sires! O glorious walls
of Dardan's sons! before your gates it passed,
four times it stopped and dreadful clash of arms
four times from its vast concave loudly rang.
Yet frantic pressed we on, our hearts all blind,
and in the consecrated citadel
set up the hateful thing. Cassandra then
from heaven-instructed heart our doom foretold;
but doomed to unbelief were Ilium's sons.
Our hapless nation on its dying day
flung free o'er streets and shrines the votive flowers.

> Latin: Dividimus muros et moenia pandimus urbis.
Accingunt omnes operi, pedibusque rotarum
subiciunt lapsus, et stuppea vincula collo
intendunt: scandit fatalis machina muros,
feta armis. Pueri circum innuptaeque puellae
sacra canunt, funemque manu contingere gaudent.
Illa subit, mediaeque minans inlabitur urbi.
O patria, O divom domus Ilium, et incluta bello
moenia Dardanidum, quater ipso in limine portae
substitit, atque utero sonitum quater arma dedere:
instamus tamen inmemores caecique furore,
et monstrum infelix sacrata sistimus arce.
Tunc etiam fatis aperit Cassandra futuris
ora, dei iussu non umquam credita Teucris.
Nos delubra deum miseri, quibus ultimus esset
ille dies, festa velamus fronde per urbem.

[¶9] The skies rolled on; and o'er the ocean fell
the veil of night, till utmost earth and heaven
and all their Myrmidonian stratagems
were mantled darkly o'er. In silent sleep
the Trojan city lay; dull slumber chained
its weary life. But now the Greek array
of ordered ships moved on from Tenedos,
their only light the silent, favoring moon,
on to the well-known strand. The King displayed
torch from his own ship, and Sinon then,
whom wrathful Heaven defended in that hour,
let the imprisoned band of Greeks go free
from that huge womb of wood; the open horse
restored them to the light; and joyfully
emerging from the darkness, one by one,
princely Thessander, Sthenelus, and dire
Ulysses glided down the swinging cord.
Closely upon them Neoptolemus,
the son of Peleus, came, and Acamas,
King Menelaus, Thoas and Machaon,
and last, Epeus, who the fabric wrought.
Upon the town they fell, for deep in sleep
and drowsed with wine it lay; the sentinels
they slaughtered, and through gates now opened wide
let in their fellows, and arrayed for war
th' auxiliar legions of the dark design.

> Latin: Vertitur interea caelum et ruit oceano nox,
involvens umbra magna terramque polumque
Myrmidonumque dolos; fusi per moenia Teucri
conticuere, sopor fessos complectitur artus:
et iam Argiva phalanx instructis navibus ibat
a Tenedo tacitae per amica silentia lunae
litora nota petens, flammas cum regia puppis
extulerat, fatisque deum defensus iniquis
inclusos utero Danaos et pinea furtim
laxat claustra Sinon. Illos patefactus ad auras
reddit equus, laetique cavo se robore promunt
Thessandrus Sthenelusque duces, et dirus Ulixes,
demissum lapsi per funem, Acamasque, Thoasque,
Pelidesque Neoptolemus, primusque Machaon,
et Menelaus, et ipse doli fabricator Epeos.
Invadunt urbem somno vinoque sepultam;
caeduntur vigiles, portisque patentibus omnis
accipiunt socios atque agmina conscia iungunt.

[¶10] That hour it was when heaven's first gift of sleep
on weary hearts of men most sweetly steals.
O, then my slumbering senses seemed to see
Hector, with woeful face and streaming eyes;
I seemed to see him from the chariot trailing,
foul with dark dust and gore, his swollen feet
pierced with a cruel thong. Ah me! what change
from glorious Hector when he homeward bore
the spoils of fierce Achilles; or hurled far
that shower of torches on the ships of Greece!
Unkempt his beard, his tresses thick with blood,
and all those wounds in sight which he did take
defending Troy. Then, weeping as I spoke,
I seemed on that heroic shape to call
with mournful utterance: “O star of Troy!
O surest hope and stay of all her sons!
Why tarriest thou so Iong? What region sends
the long-expected Hector home once more?
These weary eyes that look on thee have seen
hosts of thy kindred die, and fateful change
upon thy people and thy city fall.
O, say what dire occasion has defiled
thy tranquil brows? What mean those bleeding wounds?”
Silent he stood, nor anywise would stay
my vain lament; but groaned, and answered thus:
“Haste, goddess-born, and out of yonder flames
achieve thy flight. Our foes have scaled the wall;
exalted Troy is falling. Fatherland
and Priam ask no more. If human arm
could profit Troy, my own had kept her free.
Her Lares and her people to thy hands
Troy here commends. Companions let them be
of all thy fortunes. Let them share thy quest
of that wide realm, which, after wandering far,
thou shalt achieve, at last, beyond the sea.”
He spoke: and from our holy hearth brought forth
the solemn fillet, the ancestral shrines,
and Vesta's ever-bright, inviolate fire.

> Latin: Tempus erat, quo prima quies mortalibus aegris
incipit, et dono divom gratissima serpit.
In somnis, ecce, ante oculos maestissimus Hector
visus adesse mihi, largosque effundere fletus,
raptatus bigis, ut quondam, aterque cruento
pulvere, perque pedes traiectus lora tumentis.
Ei mihi, qualis erat, quantum mutatus ab illo
Hectore, qui redit exuvias indutus Achilli,
vel Danaum Phrygios iaculatus puppibus ignis,
squalentem barbam et concretos sanguine crinis
volneraque illa gerens, quae circum plurima muros
accepit patrios. Ultro flens ipse videbar
Compellare virum et maestas expromere voces:
“O lux Dardaniae, spes O fidissima Teucrum,”
“quae tantae tenuere morae? Quibus Hector ab oris”
“exspectate venis? Ut te post multa tuorum”
“funera, post varios hominumque urbisque labores”
“defessi aspicimus! Quae causa indigna serenos”
“foedavit voltus? Aut cur haec volnera cerno?”
Ille nihil, nec me quaerentem vana moratur,
sed graviter gemitus imo de pectore ducens,
“Heu fuge, nate dea, teque his, ait, eripe flammis.”
“Hostis habet muros; ruit alto a culmine Troia.”
“Sat patriae Priamoque datum: si Pergama dextra”
“defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuissent.”
“Sacra suosque tibi commendat Troia penatis:”
“hos cape fatorum comites, his moenia quaere”
“magna, pererrato statues quae denique ponto.”
Sic ait, et manibus vittas Vestamque potentem
aeternumque adytis effert penetralibus ignem.

[¶11] Now shrieks and loud confusion swept the town;
and though my father's dwelling stood apart
embowered deep in trees, th' increasing din
drew nearer, and the battle-thunder swelled.
I woke on sudden, and up-starting scaled
the roof, the tower, then stood with listening ear:
't was like an harvest burning, when wild winds
uprouse the flames; 't was like a mountain stream
that bursts in flood and ruinously whelms
sweet fields and farms and all the ploughman's toil,
whirling whole groves along; while dumb with fear,
from some far cliff the shepherd hears the sound.
Now their Greek plot was plain, the stratagem
at last laid bare. Deiphobus' great house
sank vanquished in the fire. Ucalegon's
hard by was blazing, while the waters wide
around Sigeum gave an answering glow.
Shrill trumpets rang; Ioud shouting voices roared;
wildly I armed me (when the battle calls,
how dimly reason shines!); I burned to join
the rally of my peers, and to the heights
defensive gather. Frenzy and vast rage
seized on my soul. I only sought what way
with sword in hand some noble death to die.

> Latin: Diverso interea miscentur moenia luctu,
et magis atque magis, quamquam secreta parentis
Anchisae domus arboribusque obtecta recessit,
clarescunt sonitus, armorumque ingruit horror.
Excutior somno, et summi fastigia tecti
ascensu supero, atque arrectis auribus adsto:
in segetem veluti cum flamma furentibus austris
incidit, aut rapidus montano flumine torrens
sternit agros, sternit sata laeta boumque labores,
praecipitisque trahit silvas, stupet inscius alto
accipiens sonitum saxi de vertice pastor.
Tum vero manifesta fides, Danaumque patescunt
insidiae. Iam Deiphobi dedit ampla ruinam
Volcano superante domus; iam proxumus ardet
Ucalegon; Sigea igni freta lata relucent.
Exoritur clamorque virum clangorque tubarum.
Arma amens capio; nec sat rationis in armis,
sed glomerare manum bello et concurrere in arcem
cum sociis ardent animi; furor iraque mentem
praecipitant, pulchrumque mori succurrit in armis.

[¶12] When Panthus met me, who had scarce escaped
the Grecian spears,—Panthus of Othrys' line,
Apollo's priest within our citadel;
his holy emblems, his defeated gods,
and his small grandson in his arms he bore,
while toward the gates with wild, swift steps he flew.
“How fares the kingdom, Panthus? What strong place
is still our own?” But scarcely could I ask
when thus, with many a groan, he made reply:—
“Dardania's death and doom are come to-day,
implacable. There is no Ilium now;
our Trojan name is gone, the Teucrian throne
Quite fallen. For the wrathful power of Jove
has given to Argos all our boast and pride.
The Greek is Iord of all yon blazing towers.
yon horse uplifted on our city's heart
disgorges men-at-arms. False Sinon now,
with scorn exultant, heaps up flame on flame.
Others throw wide the gates. The whole vast horde
that out of proud Mycenae hither sailed
is at us. With confronting spears they throng
each narrow passage. Every steel-bright blade
is flashing naked, making haste for blood.
Our sentries helpless meet the invading shock
and give back blind and unavailing war.”
By Panthus' word and by some god impelled,
I flew to battle, where the flames leaped high,
where grim Bellona called, and all the air
resounded high as heaven with shouts of war.
Rhipeus and Epytus of doughty arm
were at my side, Dymas and Hypanis,
seen by a pale moon, join our little band;
and young Coroebus, Mygdon's princely son,
who was in Troy that hour because he loved
Cassandra madly, and had made a league
as Priam's kinsman with our Phrygian arms:
ill-starred, to heed not what the virgin raved!

> Latin: Ecce autem telis Panthus elapsus Achivom,
Panthus Othryades, arcis Phoebique sacerdos,
sacra manu victosque deos parvumque nepotem
ipse trahit, cursuque amens ad limina tendit.
“Quo res summa, loco, Panthu? Quam prendimus arcem?”
Vix ea fatus eram, gemitu cum talia reddit:
“Venit summa dies et ineluctabile tempus”
“Dardaniae: fuimus Troes, fuit Ilium et ingens”
“gloria Teucrorum; ferus omnia Iuppiter Argos”
“transtulit; incensa Danai dominantur in urbe.”
“Arduus armatos mediis in moenibus adstans”
“fundit equus, victorque Sinon incendia miscet”
“insultans; portis alii bipatentibus adsunt,”
“milia quot magnis umquam venere Mycenis;”
“obsedere alii telis angusta viarum”
“oppositi; stat ferri acies mucrone corusco”
“stricta, parata neci; vix primi proelia temptant”
“portarum vigiles, et caeco Marte resistunt.”
Talibus Othryadae dictis et numine divom
in flammas et in arma feror, quo tristis Erinys,
quo fremitus vocat et sublatus ad aethera clamor.
Addunt se socios Rhipeus et maximus armis
Epytus oblati per lunam Hypanisque Dymasque,
et lateri adglomerant nostro, iuvenisque Coroebus,
Mygdonides: illis ad Troiam forte diebus
venerat, insano Cassandrae incensus amore,
et gener auxilium Priamo Phrygibusque ferebat,
infelix, qui non sponsae praecepta furentis
audierit.

[¶13] When these I saw close-gathered for the fight,
I thus addressed them: “Warriors, vainly brave,
if ye indeed desire to follow one
who dares the uttermost brave men may do,
our evil plight ye see: the gods are fled
from every altar and protecting fire,
which were the kingdom's stay. Ye offer aid
unto your country's ashes. Let us fight
unto the death! To arms, my men, to arms!
The single hope and stay of desperate men
is their despair.” Thus did I rouse their souls.
Then like the ravening wolves, some night of cloud,
when cruel hunger in an empty maw
drives them forth furious, and their whelps behind
wait famine-throated; so through foemen's steel
we flew to surest death, and kept our way
straight through the midmost town. The wings of night
brooded above us in vast vault of shade.
But who the bloodshed of that night can tell?
What tongue its deaths shall number, or what eyes
find meed of tears to equal all its woe?
The ancient City fell, whose throne had stood
age after age. Along her streets were strewn
the unresisting dead; at household shrines
and by the temples of the gods they lay.
Yet not alone was Teucrian blood required:
oft out of vanquished hearts fresh valor flamed,
and the Greek victor fell. Anguish and woe
were everywhere; pale terrors ranged abroad,
and multitudinous death met every eye.

> Latin: Quos ubi confertos audere in proelia vidi,
incipio super his: “Iuvenes, fortissima frustra”
“pectora, si vobis audentem extrema cupido”
“certa sequi, quae sit rebus fortuna videtis:”
“excessere omnes, adytis arisque relictis,”
“di, quibus imperium hoc steterat; succurritis urbi”
“incensae; moriamur et in media arma ruamus.”
“Una salus victis, nullam sperare salutem.”
Sic animis iuvenum furor additus: inde, lupi ceu
raptores atra in nebula, quos improba ventris
exegit caecos rabies, catulique relicti
faucibus exspectant siccis, per tela, per hostis
vadimus haud dubiam in mortem, mediaeque tenemus
urbis iter; nox atra cava circumvolat umbra.
Quis cladem illius noctis, quis funera fando
explicet, aut possit lacrimis aequare labores?
Urbs antiqua ruit, multos dominata per annos;
plurima perque vias sternuntur inertia passim
corpora, perque domos et religiosa deorum
limina. Nec soli poenas dant sanguine Teucri;
quondam etiam victis redit in praecordia virtus
victoresque cadunt Danai: crudelis ubique
luctus, ubique pavor, et plurima mortis imago.

[¶14] Androgeos, followed by a thronging band
of Greeks, first met us on our desperate way;
but heedless, and confounding friend with foe,
thus, all unchallenged, hailed us as his own:
“Haste, heroes! Are ye laggards at this hour?
Others bear off the captives and the spoil
of burning Troy. Just from the galleys ye?”
He spoke; but straightway, when no safe reply
returned, he knew himself entrapped, and fallen
into a foeman's snare; struck dumb was he
and stopped both word and motion; as one steps,
when blindly treading a thick path of thorns,
upon a snake, and sick with fear would flee
that lifted wrath and swollen gorge of green:
so trembling did Androgeos backward fall.
At them we flew and closed them round with war;
and since they could not know the ground, and fear
had whelmed them quite, we swiftly laid them low.
Thus Fortune on our first achievement smiled;
and, flushed with victory, Cormbus cried:
“Come, friends, and follow Fortune's finger, where
she beckons us what path deliverance lies.
Change we our shields, and these Greek emblems wear.
'Twixt guile and valor who will nicely weigh
When foes are met? These dead shall find us arms.”
With this, he dons Androgeos' crested helm
and beauteous, blazoned shield; and to his side
girds on a Grecian blade. Young Rhipeus next,
with Dymas and the other soldiery,
repeat the deed, exulting, and array
their valor in fresh trophies from the slain.
Now intermingled with our foes we moved,
and alien emblems wore; the long, black night
brought many a grapple, and a host of Greeks
down to the dark we hurled. Some fled away,
seeking their safe ships and the friendly shore.
Some cowards foul went clambering back again
to that vast horse and hid them in its maw.

> Latin: Primus se, Danaum magna comitante caterva,
Androgeos offert nobis, socia agmina credens
inscius, atque ultro verbis compellat amicis:
“Festinate, viri: nam quae tam sera moratur”
“segnities? Alii rapiunt incensa feruntque”
“Pergama; vos celsis nunc primum a navibus itis.”
Dixit, et extemplo, neque enim responsa dabantur
fida satis, sensit medios delapsus in hostis.
Obstipuit, retroque pedem cum voce repressit:
inprovisum aspris veluti qui sentibus anguem
pressit humi nitens, trepidusque repente refugit
attollentem iras et caerula colla tumentem;
haud secus Androgeos visu tremefactus abibat.
Inruimus, densis et circumfundimur armis,
ignarosque loci passim et formidine captos
sternimus: adspirat primo fortuna labori.
Atque hic successu exsultans animisque Coroebus,
“O socii, qua prima” inquit “fortuna salutis”
“monstrat iter, quoque ostendit se dextra, sequamur”
“mutemus clipeos, Danaumque insignia nobis”
“aptemus: dolus an virtus, quis in hoste requirat?”
“Arma dabunt ipsi.” Sic fatus, deinde comantem
Androgei galeam clipeique insigne decorum
induitur, laterique Argivum accommodat ensem.
Hoc Rhipeus, hoc ipse Dymas omnisque iuventus
laeta facit; spoliis se quisque recentibus armat.
Vadimus immixti Danais haud numine nostro,
multaque per caecam congressi proelia noctem
conserimus, multos Danaum demittimus Orco.
Diffugiunt alii ad navis, et litora cursu
fida petunt: pars ingentem formidine turpi
scandunt rursus equum et nota conduntur in alvo.