Aeneid

All were attentive to the godlike man,

Conticuere omnes, intentique ora tenebant.

When from his lofty couch he thus began:

Inde toro pater Aeneas sic orsus ab alto:

"Great queen, what you command me to relate

Infandum, regina, iubes renovare dolorem,

Renews the sad remembrance of our fate:

Troianas ut opes et lamentabile regnum

An empire from its old foundations rent,

eruerint Danai; quaeque ipse miserrima vidi,

And ev'ry woe the Trojans underwent;

et quorum pars magna fui. Quis talia fando

A peopled city made a desart place;

Myrmidonum Dolopumve aut duri miles Ulixi

All that I saw, and part of which I was:

temperet a lacrimis? Et iam nox umida caelo

Not ev'n the hardest of our foes could hear,

praecipitat, suadentque cadentia sidera somnos.

Nor stern Ulysses tell without a tear.

Sed si tantus amor casus cognoscere nostros

And now the latter watch of wasting night,

et breviter Troiae supremum audire laborem,

And setting stars, to kindly rest invite;

quamquam animus meminisse horret, luctuque refugit,

But, since you take such int'rest in our woe,

incipiam. Fracti bello fatisque repulsi

And Troy's disastrous end desire to know,

ductores Danaum, tot iam labentibus annis,

I will restrain my tears, and briefly tell

instar montis equum divina Palladis arte

What in our last and fatal night befell.

aedificant, sectaque intexunt abiete costas:

"By destiny compell'd, and in despair,

votum pro reditu simulant; ea fama vagatur.

The Greeks grew weary of the tedious war,

Huc delecta virum sortiti corpora furtim

And by Minerva's aid a fabric rear'd,

includunt caeco lateri, penitusque cavernas

Which like a steed of monstrous height appear'd:

ingentis uterumque armato milite complent.

The sides were plank'd with pine; they feign'd it made

Est in conspectu Tenedos, notissima fama

For their return, and this the vow they paid.

insula, dives opum, Priami dum regna manebant,

Thus they pretend, but in the hollow side

nunc tantum sinus et statio male fida carinis:

Selected numbers of their soldiers hide:

huc se provecti deserto in litore condunt.

With inward arms the dire machine they load,

Nos abiisse rati et vento petiisse Mycenas:

And iron bowels stuff the dark abode.

ergo omnis longo solvit se Teucria luctu;

In sight of Troy lies Tenedos, an isle

panduntur portae; iuvat ire et Dorica castra

(While Fortune did on Priam's empire smile)

desertosque videre locos litusque relictum.

Renown'd for wealth; but, since, a faithless bay,

Hic Dolopum manus, hic saevus tendebat Achilles;

Where ships expos'd to wind and weather lay.

classibus hic locus; hic acie certare solebant.

There was their fleet conceal'd. We thought, for Greece

Pars stupet innuptae donum exitiale Minervae,

Their sails were hoisted, and our fears release.

et molem mirantur equi; primusque Thymoetes

The Trojans, coop'd within their walls so long,

duci intra muros hortatur et arce locari,

Unbar their gates, and issue in a throng,

sive dolo, seu iam Troiae sic fata ferebant.

Like swarming bees, and with delight survey

At Capys, et quorum melior sententia menti,

The camp deserted, where the Grecians lay:

aut pelago Danaum insidias suspectaque dona

The quarters of the sev'ral chiefs they show'd;

praecipitare iubent, subiectisque urere flammis,

Here Phoenix, here Achilles, made abode;

aut terebrare cavas uteri et temptare latebras.

Here join'd the battles; there the navy rode.

Scinditur incertum studia in contraria volgus.

Part on the pile their wond'ring eyes employ:

Primus ibi ante omnis, magna comitante caterva,

The pile by Pallas rais'd to ruin Troy.

Laocoön ardens summa decurrit ab arce,

Thymoetes first ('t is doubtful whether hir'd,

et procul: O miseri, quae tanta insania, cives?

Or so the Trojan destiny requir'd)

Creditis avectos hostis? Aut ulla putatis

Mov'd that the ramparts might be broken down,

dona carere dolis Danaum? Sic notus Ulixes?

To lodge the monster fabric in the town.

aut hoc inclusi ligno occultantur Achivi,

But Capys, and the rest of sounder mind,

aut haec in nostros fabricata est machina muros

The fatal present to the flames designed,

inspectura domos venturaque desuper urbi,

Or to the wat'ry deep; at least to bore

aut aliquis latet error; equo ne credite, Teucri.

The hollow sides, and hidden frauds explore.

Quicquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentis.

The giddy vulgar, as their fancies guide,

Sic fatus, validis ingentem viribus hastam

With noise say nothing, and in parts divide.

in latus inque feri curvam compagibus alvum

Laocoon, follow'd by a num'rous crowd,

contorsit: stetit illa tremens, uteroque recusso

Ran from the fort, and cried, from far, aloud:

insonuere cavae gemitumque dedere cavernae.

'O wretched countrymen! what fury reigns?

Et, si fata deum, si mens non laeva fuisset,

What more than madness has possess'd your brains?

impulerat ferro Argolicas foedare latebras,

Think you the Grecians from your coasts are gone?

Troiaque, nunc stares, Priamique arx alta, maneres.

And are Ulysses' arts no better known?

Ecce, manus iuvenem interea post terga revinctum

This hollow fabric either must inclose,

pastores magno ad regem clamore trahebant

Within its blind recess, our secret foes;

Dardanidae, qui se ignotum venientibus ultro,

Or 't is an engine rais'd above the town,

hoc ipsum ut strueret Troiamque aperiret Achivis,

T' o'erlook the walls, and then to batter down.

obtulerat, fidens animi atque in utrumque paratus,

Somewhat is sure design'd, by fraud or force:

seu versare dolos, seu certae occumbere morti.

Trust not their presents, nor admit the horse.'

Undique visendi studio Troiana iuventus

Thus having said, against the steed he threw

circumfusa ruit, certantque inludere capto.

His forceful spear, which, hissing as flew,

Accipe nunc Danaum insidias, et crimine ab uno

Pierc'd thro' the yielding planks of jointed wood,

disce omnes.

And trembling in the hollow belly stood.

Namque ut conspectu in medio turbatus, inermis

The sides, transpierc'd, return a rattling sound,

constitit atque oculis Phrygia agmina circumspexit:

And groans of Greeks inclos'd come issuing thro' the wound

Heu, quae nunc tellus inquit quae me aequora possunt

And, had not Heav'n the fall of Troy design'd,

accipere? Aut quid iam misero mihi denique restat,

Or had not men been fated to be blind,

cui neque apud Danaos usquam locus, et super ipsi

Enough was said and done t'inspire a better mind.

Dardanidae infensi poenas cum sanguine poscunt?

Then had our lances pierc'd the treach'rous wood,

Quo gemitu conversi animi, compressus et omnis

And Ilian tow'rs and Priam's empire stood.

impetus. Hortamur fari; quo sanguine cretus,

Meantime, with shouts, the Trojan shepherds bring

quidve ferat, memoret, quae sit fiducia capto.

A captive Greek, in bands, before the king;

Ille haec, deposita tandem formidine, fatur:

Taken to take; who made himself their prey,

Cuncta equidem tibi, Rex, fuerit quodcumque, fatebor

T' impose on their belief, and Troy betray;

vera, inquit; neque me Argolica de gente negabo:

Fix'd on his aim, and obstinately bent

hoc primum; nec, si miserum Fortuna Sinonem

To die undaunted, or to circumvent.

finxit, vanum etiam mendacemque improba finget.

About the captive, tides of Trojans flow;

All press to see, and some insult the foe.

Now hear how well the Greeks their wiles disguis'd;

Behold a nation in a man compris'd.

Trembling the miscreant stood, unarm'd and bound;

He star'd, and roll'd his haggard eyes around,

Then said: 'Alas! what earth remains, what sea

Is open to receive unhappy me?

What fate a wretched fugitive attends,

Scorn'd by my foes, abandon'd by my friends?'

He said, and sigh'd, and cast a rueful eye:

Our pity kindles, and our passions die.

We cheer youth to make his own defense,

And freely tell us what he was, and whence:

What news he could impart, we long to know,

And what to credit from a captive foe.

"His fear at length dismiss'd, he said: 'Whate'er

My fate ordains, my words shall be sincere:

I neither can nor dare my birth disclaim;

Greece is my country, Sinon is my name.

Tho' plung'd by Fortune's pow'r in misery,

'T is not in Fortune's pow'r to make me lie.

If any chance has hither brought the name

Of Palamedes, not unknown to fame,

Who suffer'd from the malice of the times,

Accus'd and sentenc'd for pretended crimes,

Because these fatal wars he would prevent;

Whose death the wretched Greeks too late lament-

Me, then a boy, my father, poor and bare

Of other means, committed to his care,

Fando aliquod si forte tuas pervenit ad auris

His kinsman and companion in the war.

Belidae nomen Palamedis et incluta fama

While Fortune favor'd, while his arms support

gloria, quem falsa sub proditione Pelasgi

The cause, and rul'd the counsels, of the court,

insontem infando indicio, quia bella vetabat,

I made some figure there; nor was my name

demisere neci, nunc cassum lumine lugent.

Obscure, nor I without my share of fame.

Illi me comitem et consanguinitate propinquum

But when Ulysses, with fallacious arts,

pauper in arma pater primis huc misit ab annis,

Had made impression in the people's hearts,

dum stabat regno incolumis regumque vigebat

And forg'd a treason in my patron's name

consiliis, et nos aliquod nomenque decusque

(I speak of things too far divulg'd by fame),

gessimus. Invidia postquam pellacis Ulixi—

My kinsman fell. Then I, without support,

haud ignota loquor—superis concessit ab oris,

In private mourn'd his loss, and left the court.

adflictus vitam in tenebris luctuque trahebam,

Mad as I was, I could not bear his fate

et casum insontis mecum indignabar amici.

With silent grief, but loudly blam'd the state,

Nec tacui demens, et me, fors si qua tulisset,

And curs'd the direful author of my woes.

si patrios umquam remeassem victor ad Argos,

'T was told again; and hence my ruin rose.

promisi ultorem, et verbis odia aspera movi.

I threaten'd, if indulgent Heav'n once more

Hinc mihi prima mali labes, hinc semper Ulixes

Would land me safely on my native shore,

criminibus terrere novis, hinc spargere voces

His death with double vengeance to restore.

in volgum ambiguas, et quaerere conscius arma.

This mov'd the murderer's hate; and soon ensued

Nec requievit enim, donec, Calchante ministro—

Th' effects of malice from a man so proud.

sed quid ego haec autem nequiquam ingrata revolvo?

Ambiguous rumors thro' the camp he spread,

Quidve moror, si omnis uno ordine habetis Achivos,

And sought, by treason, my devoted head;

idque audire sat est? Iamdudum sumite poenas,

New crimes invented; left unturn'd no stone,

hoc Ithacus velit, et magno mercentur Atridae.

To make my guilt appear, and hide his own;

Tum vero ardemus scitari et quaerere causas,

Till Calchas was by force and threat'ning wrought-

ignari scelerum tantorum artisque Pelasgae.

But why- why dwell I on that anxious thought?

Prosequitur pavitans, et ficto pectore fatur:

If on my nation just revenge you seek,

Saepe fugam Danai Troia cupiere relicta

And 't is t' appear a foe, t' appear a Greek;

moliri, et longo fessi discedere bello;

Already you my name and country know;

fecissentque utinam! Saepe illos aspera ponti

Assuage your thirst of blood, and strike the blow:

interclusit hiemps, et terruit Auster euntis.

My death will both the kingly brothers please,

Praecipue, cum iam hic trabibus contextus acernis

And set insatiate Ithacus at ease.'

staret equus, toto sonuerunt aethere nimbi.

This fair unfinish'd tale, these broken starts,

Suspensi Eurypylum scitantem oracula Phoebi

Rais'd expectations in our longing hearts:

mittimus, isque adytis haec tristia dicta reportat:

Unknowing as we were in Grecian arts.

Sanguine placastis ventos et virgine caesa,

His former trembling once again renew'd,

cum primum Iliacas, Danai, venistis ad oras;

With acted fear, the villain thus pursued:

sanguine quaerendi reditus, animaque litandum

"'Long had the Grecians (tir'd with fruitless care,

Argolica. Volgi quae vox ut venit ad auris,

And wearied with an unsuccessful war)

obstipuere animi, gelidusque per ima cucurrit

Resolv'd to raise the siege, and leave the town;

ossa tremor, cui fata parent, quem poscat Apollo.

And, had the gods permitted, they had gone;

Hic Ithacus vatem magno Calchanta tumultu

But oft the wintry seas and southern winds

protrahit in medios; quae sint ea numina divom,

Withstood their passage home, and chang'd their minds.

flagitat; et mihi iam multi crudele canebant

Portents and prodigies their souls amaz'd;

artificis scelus, et taciti ventura videbant.

But most, when this stupendous pile was rais'd:

Bis quinos silet ille dies, tectusque recusat

Then flaming meteors, hung in air, were seen,

prodere voce sua quemquam aut opponere morti.

And thunders rattled thro' a sky serene.

Vix tandem, magnis Ithaci clamoribus actus,

Dismay'd, and fearful of some dire event,

composito rumpit vocem, et me destinat arae.

Eurypylus t' enquire their fate was sent.

Adsensere omnes, et, quae sibi quisque timebat,

He from the gods this dreadful answer brought:

unius in miseri exitium conversa tulere.

"O Grecians, when the Trojan shores you sought,

Iamque dies infanda aderat; mihi sacra parari,

Your passage with a virgin's blood was bought:

et salsae fruges, et circum tempora vittae:

So must your safe return be bought again,

eripui, fateor, leto me, et vincula rupi,

And Grecian blood once more atone the main."

limosoque lacu per noctem obscurus in ulva

The spreading rumor round the people ran;

delitui, dum vela darent, si forte dedissent.

All fear'd, and each believ'd himself the man.

Nec mihi iam patriam antiquam spes ulla videndi,

Ulysses took th' advantage of their fright;

nec dulcis natos exoptatumque parentem;

Call'd Calchas, and produc'd in open sight:

quos illi fors et poenas ob nostra reposcent

Then bade him name the wretch, ordain'd by fate

effugia, et culpam hanc miserorum morte piabunt.

The public victim, to redeem the state.

Quod te per superos et conscia numina veri,

Already some presag'd the dire event,

per si qua est quae restet adhuc mortalibus usquam

And saw what sacrifice Ulysses meant.

intemerata fides, oro, miserere laborum

For twice five days the good old seer withstood

tantorum, miserere animi non digna ferentis.

Th' intended treason, and was dumb to blood,

His lacrimis vitam damus, et miserescimus ultro.

Till, tir'd, with endless clamors and pursuit

Ipse viro primus manicas atque arta levari

Of Ithacus, he stood no longer mute;

vincla iubet Priamus, dictisque ita fatur amicis:

But, as it was agreed, pronounc'd that I

Quisquis es, amissos hinc iam obliviscere Graios;

Was destin'd by the wrathful gods to die.

noster eris, mihique haec edissere vera roganti:

All prais'd the sentence, pleas'd the storm should fall

Quo molem hanc immanis equi statuere? Quis auctor?

On one alone, whose fury threaten'd all.

Quidve petunt? Quae religio, aut quae machina belli?

The dismal day was come; the priests prepare

Dixerat. Ille, dolis instructus et arte Pelasga,

Their leaven'd cakes, and fillets for my hair.

sustulit exutas vinclis ad sidera palmas:

I follow'd nature's laws, and must avow

Vos, aeterni ignes, et non violabile vestrum

I broke my bonds and fled the fatal blow.

testor numen ait vos arae ensesque nefandi,

Hid in a weedy lake all night I lay,

quos fugi, vittaeque deum, quas hostia gessi:

Secure of safety when they sail'd away.

fas mihi Graiorum sacrata resolvere iura,

But now what further hopes for me remain,

fas odisse viros, atque omnia ferre sub auras,

To see my friends, or native soil, again;

si qua tegunt; teneor patriae nec legibus ullis.

My tender infants, or my careful sire,

Tu modo promissis maneas, servataque serves

Whom they returning will to death require;

Will perpetrate on them their first design,

And take the forfeit of their heads for mine?

Which, O! if pity mortal minds can move,

If there be faith below, or gods above,

If innocence and truth can claim desert,

Ye Trojans, from an injur'd wretch avert.'

"False tears true pity move; the king commands

To loose his fetters, and unbind his hands:

Then adds these friendly words: 'Dismiss thy fears;

Forget the Greeks; be mine as thou wert theirs.

But truly tell, was it for force or guile,

Or some religious end, you rais'd the pile?'

Thus said the king. He, full of fraudful arts,

This well-invented tale for truth imparts:

'Ye lamps of heav'n!' he said, and lifted high

His hands now free, 'thou venerable sky!

Inviolable pow'rs, ador'd with dread!

Ye fatal fillets, that once bound this head!

Ye sacred altars, from whose flames I fled!

Be all of you adjur'd; and grant I may,

Without a crime, th' ungrateful Greeks betray,

Reveal the secrets of the guilty state,

And justly punish whom I justly hate!

But you, O king, preserve the faith you gave,

If I, to save myself, your empire save.

The Grecian hopes, and all th' attempts they made,

Were only founded on Minerva's aid.

But from the time when impious Diomede,

And false Ulysses, that inventive head,

Troia fidem, si vera feram, si magna rependam.

Her fatal image from the temple drew,

Omnis spes Danaum et coepti fiducia belli

The sleeping guardians of the castle slew,

Palladis auxiliis semper stetit. Impius ex quo

Her virgin statue with their bloody hands

Tydides sed enim scelerumque inventor Ulixes,

Polluted, and profan'd her holy bands;

fatale adgressi sacrato avellere templo

From thence the tide of fortune left their shore,

Palladium, caesis summae custodibus arcis,

And ebb'd much faster than it flow'd before:

corripuere sacram effigiem, manibusque cruentis

Their courage languish'd, as their hopes decay'd;

virgineas ausi divae contingere vittas;

And Pallas, now averse, refus'd her aid.

ex illo fluere ac retro sublapsa referri

Nor did the goddess doubtfully declare

spes Danaum, fractae vires, aversa deae mens.

Her alter'd mind and alienated care.

Nec dubiis ea signa dedit Tritonia monstris.

When first her fatal image touch'd the ground,

Vix positum castris simulacrum, arsere coruscae

She sternly cast her glaring eyes around,

luminibus flammae arrectis, salsusque per artus

That sparkled as they roll'd, and seem'd to threat:

sudor iit, terque ipsa solo—mirabile dictu—

Her heav'nly limbs distill'd a briny sweat.

emicuit, parmamque ferens hastamque trementem.

Thrice from the ground she leap'd, was seen to wield

Extemplo temptanda fuga canit aequora Calchas,

Her brandish'd lance, and shake her horrid shield.

nec posse Argolicis exscindi Pergama telis,

Then Calchas bade our host for flight

omina ni repetant Argis, numenque reducant,

And hope no conquest from the tedious war,

quod pelago et curvis secum avexere carinis.

Till first they sail'd for Greece; with pray'rs besought

Et nunc, quod patrias vento petiere Mycenas,

Her injur'd pow'r, and better omens brought.

arma deosque parant comites, pelagoque remenso

And now their navy plows the wat'ry main,

improvisi aderunt: ita digerit omina Calchas.

Yet soon expect it on your shores again,

Hanc pro Palladio moniti, pro numine laeso

With Pallas pleas'd; as Calchas did ordain.

effigiem statuere, nefas quae triste piaret.

But first, to reconcile the blue-ey'd maid

Hanc tamen immensam Calchas attollere molem

For her stol'n statue and her tow'r betray'd,

roboribus textis caeloque educere iussit,

Warn'd by the seer, to her offended name

ne recipi portis, aut duci in moenia possit,

We rais'd and dedicate this wondrous frame,

neu populum antiqua sub religione tueri.

So lofty, lest thro' your forbidden gates

Nam si vestra manus violasset dona Minervae,

It pass, and intercept our better fates:

tum magnum exitium (quod di prius omen in ipsum

For, once admitted there, our hopes are lost;

convertant!) Priami imperio Phrygibusque futurum;

And Troy may then a new Palladium boast;

sin manibus vestris vestram ascendisset in urbem,

For so religion and the gods ordain,

ultro Asiam magno Pelopea ad moenia bello

That, if you violate with hands profane

venturam, et nostros ea fata manere nepotes.

Minerva's gift, your town in flames shall burn,

Talibus insidiis periurique arte Sinonis

(Which omen, O ye gods, on Graecia turn!)

credita res, captique dolis lacrimisque coactis,

But if it climb, with your assisting hands,

quos neque Tydides, nec Larisaeus Achilles,

The Trojan walls, and in the city stands;

non anni domuere decem, non mille carinae.

Then Troy shall Argos and Mycenae burn,

Hic aliud maius miseris multoque tremendum

And the reverse of fate on us return.'

obicitur magis, atque improvida pectora turbat.

"With such deceits he gain'd their easy hearts,

Laocoön, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,

Too prone to credit his perfidious arts.

sollemnis taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.

What Diomede, nor Thetis' greater son,

Ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta—

A thousand ships, nor ten years' siege, had done-

horresco referens—immensis orbibus angues

False tears and fawning words the city won.

incumbunt pelago, pariterque ad litora tendunt;

"A greater omen, and of worse portent,

pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque

Did our unwary minds with fear torment,

sanguineae superant undas; pars cetera pontum

Concurring to produce the dire event.

pone legit, sinuatque immensa volumine terga.

Laocoon, Neptune's priest by lot that year,

Fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant,

With solemn pomp then sacrific'd a steer;

ardentisque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni,

When, dreadful to behold, from sea we spied

sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.

Two serpents, rank'd abreast, the seas divide,

Diffugimus visu exsangues: illi agmine certo

And smoothly sweep along the swelling tide.

Laocoönta petunt; et primum parva duorum

Their flaming crests above the waves they show;

corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque

Their bellies seem to burn the seas below;

implicat, et miseros morsu depascitur artus;

Their speckled tails advance to steer their course,

post ipsum auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem

And on the sounding shore the flying billows force.

corripiunt, spirisque ligant ingentibus; et iam

And now the strand, and now the plain they held;

bis medium amplexi, bis collo squamea circum

Their ardent eyes with bloody streaks were fill'd;

terga dati, superant capite et cervicibus altis.

Their nimble tongues they brandish'd as they came,

Ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos,

And lick'd their hissing jaws, that sputter'd flame.

perfusus sanie vittas atroque veneno,

We fled amaz'd; their destin'd way they take,

clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit:

And to Laocoon and his children make;

quales mugitus, fugit cum saucius aram

And first around the tender boys they wind,

taurus, et incertam excussit cervice securim.

Then with their sharpen'd fangs their limbs and bodies grind.

At gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones

The wretched father, running to their aid

effugiunt saevaeque petunt Tritonidis arcem,

With pious haste, but vain, they next invade;

sub pedibusque deae clipeique sub orbe teguntur.

Twice round his waist their winding volumes roll'd;

Tum vero tremefacta novus per pectora cunctis

And twice about his gasping throat they fold.

insinuat pavor, et scelus expendisse merentem

The priest thus doubly chok'd, their crests divide,

Laocoönta ferunt, sacrum qui cuspide robur

And tow'ring o'er his head in triumph ride.

laeserit, et tergo sceleratam intorserit hastam.

With both his hands he labors at the knots;

Ducendum ad sedes simulacrum orandaque divae

His holy fillets the blue venom blots;

numina conclamant.

His roaring fills the flitting air around.

Dividimus muros et moenia pandimus urbis.

Thus, when an ox receives a glancing wound,

Accingunt omnes operi, pedibusque rotarum

He breaks his bands, the fatal altar flies,

subiciunt lapsus, et stuppea vincula collo

And with loud bellowings breaks the yielding skies.

intendunt: scandit fatalis machina muros,

Their tasks perform'd, the serpents quit their prey,

feta armis. Pueri circum innuptaeque puellae

And to the tow'r of Pallas make their way:

sacra canunt, funemque manu contingere gaudent.

Couch'd at her feet, they lie protected there

Illa subit, mediaeque minans inlabitur urbi.

By her large buckler and protended spear.

O patria, O divom domus Ilium, et incluta bello

Amazement seizes all; the gen'ral cry

Proclaims Laocoon justly doom'd to die,

Whose hand the will of Pallas had withstood,

And dared to violate the sacred wood.

All vote t' admit the steed, that vows be paid

And incense offer'd to th' offended maid.

A spacious breach is made; the town lies bare;

Some hoisting-levers, some the wheels prepare

And fasten to the horse's feet; the rest

With cables haul along th' unwieldly beast.

Each on his fellow for assistance calls;

At length the fatal fabric mounts the walls,

Big with destruction. Boys with chaplets crown'd,

And choirs of virgins, sing and dance around.

Thus rais'd aloft, and then descending down,

It enters o'er our heads, and threats the town.

O sacred city, built by hands divine!

O valiant heroes of the Trojan line!

Four times he struck: as oft the clashing sound

Of arms was heard, and inward groans rebound.

Yet, mad with zeal, and blinded with our fate,

We haul along the horse in solemn state;

Then place the dire portent within the tow'r.

Cassandra cried, and curs'd th' unhappy hour;

Foretold our fate; but, by the god's decree,

All heard, and none believ'd the prophecy.

With branches we the fanes adorn, and waste,

In jollity, the day ordain'd to be the last.

Meantime the rapid heav'ns roll'd down the light,

And on the shaded ocean rush'd the night;

moenia Dardanidum, quater ipso in limine portae

Our men, secure, nor guards nor sentries held,

substitit, atque utero sonitum quater arma dedere:

But easy sleep their weary limbs compell'd.

instamus tamen inmemores caecique furore,

The Grecians had embark'd their naval pow'rs

et monstrum infelix sacrata sistimus arce.

From Tenedos, and sought our well-known shores,

Tunc etiam fatis aperit Cassandra futuris

Safe under covert of the silent night,

ora, dei iussu non umquam credita Teucris.

And guided by th' imperial galley's light;

Nos delubra deum miseri, quibus ultimus esset

When Sinon, favor'd by the partial gods,

ille dies, festa velamus fronde per urbem.

Unlock'd the horse, and op'd his dark abodes;

Vertitur interea caelum et ruit oceano nox,

Restor'd to vital air our hidden foes,

involvens umbra magna terramque polumque

Who joyful from their long confinement rose.

Myrmidonumque dolos; fusi per moenia Teucri

Tysander bold, and Sthenelus their guide,

conticuere, sopor fessos complectitur artus:

And dire Ulysses down the cable slide:

et iam Argiva phalanx instructis navibus ibat

Then Thoas, Athamas, and Pyrrhus haste;

a Tenedo tacitae per amica silentia lunae

Nor was the Podalirian hero last,

litora nota petens, flammas cum regia puppis

Nor injur'd Menelaus, nor the fam'd

extulerat, fatisque deum defensus iniquis

Epeus, who the fatal engine fram'd.

inclusos utero Danaos et pinea furtim

A nameless crowd succeed; their forces join

laxat claustra Sinon. Illos patefactus ad auras

T' invade the town, oppress'd with sleep and wine.

reddit equus, laetique cavo se robore promunt

Those few they find awake first meet their fate;

Thessandrus Sthenelusque duces, et dirus Ulixes,

Then to their fellows they unbar the gate.

demissum lapsi per funem, Acamasque, Thoasque,

"'T was in the dead of night, when sleep repairs

Pelidesque Neoptolemus, primusque Machaon,

Our bodies worn with toils, our minds with cares,

et Menelaus, et ipse doli fabricator Epeos.

When Hector's ghost before my sight appears:

Invadunt urbem somno vinoque sepultam;

A bloody shroud he seem'd, and bath'd in tears;

caeduntur vigiles, portisque patentibus omnis

Such as he was, when, by Pelides slain,

accipiunt socios atque agmina conscia iungunt.

Thessalian coursers dragg'd him o'er the plain.

Tempus erat, quo prima quies mortalibus aegris

Swoln were his feet, as when the thongs were thrust

incipit, et dono divom gratissima serpit.

Thro' the bor'd holes; his body black with dust;

In somnis, ecce, ante oculos maestissimus Hector

Unlike that Hector who return'd from toils

visus adesse mihi, largosque effundere fletus,

Of war, triumphant, in Aeacian spoils,

raptatus bigis, ut quondam, aterque cruento

Or him who made the fainting Greeks retire,

pulvere, perque pedes traiectus lora tumentis.

And launch'd against their navy Phrygian fire.

Ei mihi, qualis erat, quantum mutatus ab illo

His hair and beard stood stiffen'd with his gore;

Hectore, qui redit exuvias indutus Achilli,

And all the wounds he for his country bore

vel Danaum Phrygios iaculatus puppibus ignis,

Now stream'd afresh, and with new purple ran.

squalentem barbam et concretos sanguine crinis

I wept to see the visionary man,

volneraque illa gerens, quae circum plurima muros

And, while my trance continued, thus began:

accepit patrios. Ultro flens ipse videbar

'O light of Trojans, and support of Troy,

Compellare virum et maestas expromere voces:

Thy father's champion, and thy country's joy!

O lux Dardaniae, spes O fidissima Teucrum,

O, long expected by thy friends! from whence

quae tantae tenuere morae? Quibus Hector ab oris

Art thou so late return'd for our defense?

exspectate venis? Ut te post multa tuorum

Do we behold thee, wearied as we are

funera, post varios hominumque urbisque labores

With length of labors, and with toils of war?

defessi aspicimus! Quae causa indigna serenos

After so many fun'rals of thy own

foedavit voltus? Aut cur haec volnera cerno?

Art thou restor'd to thy declining town?

Ille nihil, nec me quaerentem vana moratur,

But say, what wounds are these? What new disgrace

sed graviter gemitus imo de pectore ducens,

Deforms the manly features of thy face?'

Heu fuge, nate dea, teque his, ait, eripe flammis.

"To this the specter no reply did frame,

Hostis habet muros; ruit alto a culmine Troia.

But answer'd to the cause for which he came,

Sat patriae Priamoque datum: si Pergama dextra

And, groaning from the bottom of his breast,

defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuissent.

This warning in these mournful words express'd:

Sacra suosque tibi commendat Troia penatis:

'O goddess-born! escape, by timely flight,

hos cape fatorum comites, his moenia quaere

The flames and horrors of this fatal night.

magna, pererrato statues quae denique ponto.

The foes already have possess'd the wall;

Sic ait, et manibus vittas Vestamque potentem

Troy nods from high, and totters to her fall.

aeternumque adytis effert penetralibus ignem.

Enough is paid to Priam's royal name,

Diverso interea miscentur moenia luctu,

More than enough to duty and to fame.

et magis atque magis, quamquam secreta parentis

If by a mortal hand my father's throne

Anchisae domus arboribusque obtecta recessit,

Could be defended, 't was by mine alone.

clarescunt sonitus, armorumque ingruit horror.

Now Troy to thee commends her future state,

Excutior somno, et summi fastigia tecti

And gives her gods companions of thy fate:

ascensu supero, atque arrectis auribus adsto:

From their assistance walls expect,

in segetem veluti cum flamma furentibus austris

Which, wand'ring long, at last thou shalt erect.'

incidit, aut rapidus montano flumine torrens

He said, and brought me, from their blest abodes,

sternit agros, sternit sata laeta boumque labores,

The venerable statues of the gods,

praecipitisque trahit silvas, stupet inscius alto

With ancient Vesta from the sacred choir,

accipiens sonitum saxi de vertice pastor.

The wreaths and relics of th' immortal fire.

Tum vero manifesta fides, Danaumque patescunt

"Now peals of shouts come thund'ring from afar,

insidiae. Iam Deiphobi dedit ampla ruinam

Cries, threats, and loud laments, and mingled war:

Volcano superante domus; iam proxumus ardet

The noise approaches, tho' our palace stood

Ucalegon; Sigea igni freta lata relucent.

Aloof from streets, encompass'd with a wood.

Exoritur clamorque virum clangorque tubarum.

Louder, and yet more loud, I hear th' alarms

Arma amens capio; nec sat rationis in armis,

Of human cries distinct, and clashing arms.

sed glomerare manum bello et concurrere in arcem

Fear broke my slumbers; I no longer stay,

cum sociis ardent animi; furor iraque mentem

But mount the terrace, thence the town survey,

praecipitant, pulchrumque mori succurrit in armis.

And hearken what the frightful sounds convey.

Ecce autem telis Panthus elapsus Achivom,

Thus, when a flood of fire by wind is borne,

Panthus Othryades, arcis Phoebique sacerdos,

Crackling it rolls, and mows the standing corn;

sacra manu victosque deos parvumque nepotem

Or deluges, descending on the plains,

ipse trahit, cursuque amens ad limina tendit.

Sweep o'er the yellow year, destroy the pains

Of lab'ring oxen and the peasant's gains;

Unroot the forest oaks, and bear away

Flocks, folds, and trees, and undistinguish'd prey:

The shepherd climbs the cliff, and sees from far

The wasteful ravage of the wat'ry war.

Then Hector's faith was manifestly clear'd,

And Grecian frauds in open light appear'd.

The palace of Deiphobus ascends

In smoky flames, and catches on his friends.

Ucalegon burns next: the seas are bright

With splendor not their own, and shine with Trojan light.

New clamors and new clangors now arise,

The sound of trumpets mix'd with fighting cries.

With frenzy seiz'd, I run to meet th' alarms,

Resolv'd on death, resolv'd to die in arms,

But first to gather friends, with them t' oppose

(If fortune favor'd) and repel the foes;

Spurr'd by my courage, by my country fir'd,

With sense of honor and revenge inspir'd.

"Pantheus, Apollo's priest, a sacred name,

Had scap'd the Grecian swords, and pass'd the flame:

With relics loaden. to my doors he fled,

And by the hand his tender grandson led.

'What hope, O Pantheus? whither can we run?

Where make a stand? and what may yet be done?'

Scarce had I said, when Pantheus, with a groan:

'Troy is no more, and Ilium was a town!

The fatal day, th' appointed hour, is come,

When wrathful Jove's irrevocable doom

Quo res summa, loco, Panthu? Quam prendimus arcem?

Transfers the Trojan state to Grecian hands.

Vix ea fatus eram, gemitu cum talia reddit:

The fire consumes the town, the foe commands;

Venit summa dies et ineluctabile tempus

And armed hosts, an unexpected force,

Dardaniae: fuimus Troes, fuit Ilium et ingens

Break from the bowels of the fatal horse.

gloria Teucrorum; ferus omnia Iuppiter Argos

Within the gates, proud Sinon throws about

transtulit; incensa Danai dominantur in urbe.

The flames; and foes for entrance press without,

Arduus armatos mediis in moenibus adstans

With thousand others, whom I fear to name,

fundit equus, victorque Sinon incendia miscet

More than from Argos or Mycenae came.

insultans; portis alii bipatentibus adsunt,

To sev'ral posts their parties they divide;

milia quot magnis umquam venere Mycenis;

Some block the narrow streets, some scour the wide:

obsedere alii telis angusta viarum

The bold they kill, th' unwary they surprise;

oppositi; stat ferri acies mucrone corusco

Who fights finds death, and death finds him who flies.

stricta, parata neci; vix primi proelia temptant

The warders of the gate but scarce maintain

portarum vigiles, et caeco Marte resistunt.

Th' unequal combat, and resist in vain.'

Talibus Othryadae dictis et numine divom

"I heard; and Heav'n, that well-born souls inspires,

in flammas et in arma feror, quo tristis Erinys,

Prompts me thro' lifted swords and rising fires

quo fremitus vocat et sublatus ad aethera clamor.

To run where clashing arms and clamor calls,

Addunt se socios Rhipeus et maximus armis

And rush undaunted to defend the walls.

Epytus oblati per lunam Hypanisque Dymasque,

Ripheus and Iph'itus by my side engage,

et lateri adglomerant nostro, iuvenisque Coroebus,

For valor one renown'd, and one for age.

Mygdonides: illis ad Troiam forte diebus

Dymas and Hypanis by moonlight knew

venerat, insano Cassandrae incensus amore,

My motions and my mien, and to my party drew;

et gener auxilium Priamo Phrygibusque ferebat,

With young Coroebus, who by love was led

infelix, qui non sponsae praecepta furentis

To win renown and fair Cassandra's bed,

audierit.

And lately brought his troops to Priam's aid,

Quos ubi confertos audere in proelia vidi,

Forewarn'd in vain by the prophetic maid.

incipio super his: Iuvenes, fortissima frustra

Whom when I saw resolv'd in arms to fall,

pectora, si vobis audentem extrema cupido

And that one spirit animated all:

certa sequi, quae sit rebus fortuna videtis:

'Brave souls!' said I,- 'but brave, alas! in vain-

excessere omnes, adytis arisque relictis,

Come, finish what our cruel fates ordain.

di, quibus imperium hoc steterat; succurritis urbi

You see the desp'rate state of our affairs,

incensae; moriamur et in media arma ruamus.

And heav'n's protecting pow'rs are deaf to pray'rs.

Una salus victis, nullam sperare salutem.

The passive gods behold the Greeks defile

Sic animis iuvenum furor additus: inde, lupi ceu

Their temples, and abandon to the spoil

raptores atra in nebula, quos improba ventris

Their own abodes: we, feeble few, conspire

exegit caecos rabies, catulique relicti

To save a sinking town, involv'd in fire.

faucibus exspectant siccis, per tela, per hostis

Then let us fall, but fall amidst our foes:

vadimus haud dubiam in mortem, mediaeque tenemus

Despair of life the means of living shows.'

urbis iter; nox atra cava circumvolat umbra.

So bold a speech incourag'd their desire

Quis cladem illius noctis, quis funera fando

Of death, and added fuel to their fire.

explicet, aut possit lacrimis aequare labores?

"As hungry wolves, with raging appetite,

Urbs antiqua ruit, multos dominata per annos;

Scour thro' the fields, nor fear the stormy night-

plurima perque vias sternuntur inertia passim

Their whelps at home expect the promis'd food,

corpora, perque domos et religiosa deorum

And long to temper their dry chaps in blood-

limina. Nec soli poenas dant sanguine Teucri;

So rush'd we forth at once; resolv'd to die,

quondam etiam victis redit in praecordia virtus

Resolv'd, in death, the last extremes to try.

victoresque cadunt Danai: crudelis ubique

We leave the narrow lanes behind, and dare

luctus, ubique pavor, et plurima mortis imago.

Th' unequal combat in the public square:

Primus se, Danaum magna comitante caterva,

Night was our friend; our leader was despair.

Androgeos offert nobis, socia agmina credens

What tongue can tell the slaughter of that night?

inscius, atque ultro verbis compellat amicis:

What eyes can weep the sorrows and affright?

Festinate, viri: nam quae tam sera moratur

An ancient and imperial city falls:

segnities? Alii rapiunt incensa feruntque

The streets are fill'd with frequent funerals;

Pergama; vos celsis nunc primum a navibus itis.

Houses and holy temples float in blood,

Dixit, et extemplo, neque enim responsa dabantur

And hostile nations make a common flood.

fida satis, sensit medios delapsus in hostis.

Not only Trojans fall; but, in their turn,

Obstipuit, retroque pedem cum voce repressit:

The vanquish'd triumph, and the victors mourn.

inprovisum aspris veluti qui sentibus anguem

Ours take new courage from despair and night:

pressit humi nitens, trepidusque repente refugit

Confus'd the fortune is, confus'd the fight.

attollentem iras et caerula colla tumentem;

All parts resound with tumults, plaints, and fears;

haud secus Androgeos visu tremefactus abibat.

And grisly Death in sundry shapes appears.

Inruimus, densis et circumfundimur armis,

Androgeos fell among us, with his band,

ignarosque loci passim et formidine captos

Who thought us Grecians newly come to land.

sternimus: adspirat primo fortuna labori.

'From whence,' said he, 'my friends, this long delay?

Atque hic successu exsultans animisque Coroebus,

You loiter, while the spoils are borne away:

O socii, qua prima inquit fortuna salutis

Our ships are laden with the Trojan store;

monstrat iter, quoque ostendit se dextra, sequamur

And you, like truants, come too late ashore.'

mutemus clipeos, Danaumque insignia nobis

He said, but soon corrected his mistake,

aptemus: dolus an virtus, quis in hoste requirat?

Found, by the doubtful answers which we make:

Arma dabunt ipsi. Sic fatus, deinde comantem

Amaz'd, he would have shunn'd th' unequal fight;

Androgei galeam clipeique insigne decorum

But we, more num'rous, intercept his flight.

induitur, laterique Argivum accommodat ensem.

As when some peasant, in a bushy brake,

Hoc Rhipeus, hoc ipse Dymas omnisque iuventus

Has with unwary footing press'd a snake;

laeta facit; spoliis se quisque recentibus armat.

He starts aside, astonish'd, when he spies

Vadimus immixti Danais haud numine nostro,

His rising crest, blue neck, and rolling eyes;

multaque per caecam congressi proelia noctem

So from our arms surpris'd Androgeos flies.

conserimus, multos Danaum demittimus Orco.

In vain; for him and his we compass'd round,

Diffugiunt alii ad navis, et litora cursu

Possess'd with fear, unknowing of the ground,

fida petunt: pars ingentem formidine turpi

And of their lives an easy conquest found.

scandunt rursus equum et nota conduntur in alvo.

Thus Fortune on our first endeavor smil'd.

Heu nihil invitis fas quemquam fidere divis!

Coroebus then, with youthful hopes beguil'd,

Swoln with success, and a daring mind,

This new invention fatally design'd.

'My friends,' said he, 'since Fortune shows the way,

'T is fit we should th' auspicious guide obey.

For what has she these Grecian arms bestow'd,

But their destruction, and the Trojans' good?

Then change we shields, and their devices bear:

Let fraud supply the want of force in war.

They find us arms.' This said, himself he dress'd

In dead Androgeos' spoils, his upper vest,

His painted buckler, and his plumy crest.

Thus Ripheus, Dymas, all the Trojan train,

Lay down their own attire, and strip the slain.

Mix'd with the Greeks, we go with ill presage,

Flatter'd with hopes to glut our greedy rage;

Unknown, assaulting whom we blindly meet,

And strew with Grecian carcasses the street.

Thus while their straggling parties we defeat,

Some to the shore and safer ships retreat;

And some, oppress'd with more ignoble fear,

Remount the hollow horse, and pant in secret there.

"But, ah! what use of valor can be made,

When heav'n's propitious pow'rs refuse their aid!

Behold the royal prophetess, the fair

Cassandra, dragg'd by her dishevel'd hair,

Whom not Minerva's shrine, nor sacred bands,

In safety could protect from sacrilegious hands:

On heav'n she cast her eyes, she sigh'd, she cried-

'T was all she could- her tender arms were tied.

Ecce trahebatur passis Priameïa virgo

So sad a sight Coroebus could not bear;

crinibus a templo Cassandra adytisque Minervae,

But, fir'd with rage, distracted with despair,

ad caelum tendens ardentia lumina frustra,—

Amid the barb'rous ravishers he flew:

lumina, nam teneras arcebant vincula palmas.

Our leader's rash example we pursue.

Non tulit hanc speciem furiata mente Coroebus,

But storms of stones, from the proud temple's height,

et sese medium iniecit periturus in agmen.

Pour down, and on our batter'd helms alight:

Consequimur cuncti et densis incurrimus armis.

We from our friends receiv'd this fatal blow,

Hic primum ex alto delubri culmine telis

Who thought us Grecians, as we seem'd in show.

nostrorum obruimur, oriturque miserrima caedes

They aim at the mistaken crests, from high;

armorum facie et Graiarum errore iubarum.

And ours beneath the pond'rous ruin lie.

Tum Danai gemitu atque ereptae virginis ira