II.469-495


 * //Aeneid// II.469-495**



Before the vestibule itself and on the first threshold, Pyrrhus //Pyrrhus: Aeneas' son// //chiasmus: ipsum primo limine Pyrrhus//
 * Vestibulum ante ipsum primoque in limine Pyrrhus  **

leaps forth and flashing with arms and bronze lights:
 * 470 exsultat telis et luce coruscus aena: **

Such as when into the light a snake, having eaten the bad grass, //chiasmus: coluber mala gramina pastus// Mr. McGrann (based on the reordered text in the note on p. 90): such as a snake is when, having eaten bad grass, which (snake), swollen, the cold winter covers under the ground, now new, with its skin put aside/shed, and shining in its youth, (escaping) into the light with its chest raised it, lofty, coils its slippery backs to the sun, and darts with forked tongue(s) in its mouth. *Having added this and compared it to Willem's translation and Grace's transcription, I am impressed with the clarity of the translation from class. Barbara Weiden Boyd: just as when a serpent, having eaten evil plants, [a serpent] that, swollen, the cold midwinter was hiding beneath the earth, now new, its skin having been set aside and sleek with youth, rolls its slippery back[s] into the light, tall, its breast raised toward the sun, and flashed from (//ed. Yes she write 'from' despite her note in the text to take "ore" with "in"//) its mouth with its three-forked tongue[s]. which, swollen, the cold mid winter was covering under the ground,
 * qualis ubi in lucem coluber mala gramina pastus, **
 * frigida sub terra tumidum quem bruma tegebat,  **

new, with the skin having been shed, and shining with youth,
 * nunc, positis novus exuviis nitidusque iuventa,  **

with its chest having been raised, it coils its slippery backs
 * lubrica convolvit sublato pectore terga  **

high to the sun, and flashes with its forked tongue in its mouth.
 * 475 arduus ad solem, et linguis micat ore trisulcis. **

Together huge Periphas and driver of the horses of Achilles,
 * una ingens Periphas et equorum agitator Achillis,  **

Automedon, the armor-bearer, together all the Scyrian youth
 * armiger Automedon, una omnis Scyria pubes **

approaches to the roof/house and they hurl flames to the tops.
 * succedunt tecto et flammas ad culmina iactant.  **

He himself breaks through the hard doors among the first(men) that are attacking **480 limina perrumpit postesque a cardine vellit** with a snatched up double axe and he tears up the bronze gates
 * ipse inter primos correpta dura bipenni **

**aeratos; iamque excisa trabe firma cavavit** from their hinge; and now, with the timber having been cut out, he hollowed

**robora et ingentem lato dedit ore fenestram.** out the firm oaks and he gave a massive window with a wide mouth.

**apparet domus intus et atria longa patescunt;** the home appears within and the long hallways lie open/are revealed;

**apparent Priami et veterum penetralia regum,** the inner rooms of Priam and of the ancient king appear,

**485 armatosque vident stantes in limine primo.** and they see armed men standing on the first threshold.

**at domus interior gemitu miseroque tumultu** but the inside of the house is filled with groaning and with wretched uproar,

**miscetur, penitusque cavae plangoribus aedes** and the vaulted homes/hallways within reverberate

**femineis ululant; ferit aurea sidera clamor.** with women's shrieking; the uproar strikes the golden stars.

**tum pavidae tectis matres ingentibus errant** then the frightened mothers wander (aimlessly [//part of verb//]) through the huge house(s)

**490 amplexaeque tenent postes atque oscula figunt.** and having embraced they hold fast to the doorways and they fix kisses.

**instat vi patria Pyrrhus; nec claustra nec ipsi** Pyrrhus presses on with the force of his father; neither the locks nor

**custodes sufferre valent; labat ariete crebro** the guards themselves are strong enough to withstand; the door totters from the repeated (blows of the) battering ram,

**ianua, et emoti procumbunt cardine postes.** and the doors fall forward, moved from their hinges.

**fit via vi; rumpunt aditus primosque trucidant** a path is made by force; the Greeks, having been let in, break down the doors and slaughter the first (men)

**495  immissi Danai et late loca milite complent.** and they fill the place widely/wall-to-wall with soldiers.