II.228-253


 * // Aeneid // II.228-253 **



then indeed a new terror creeps the trembling chests for all,
 * tum vero tremefacta nouus per pectora cunctis  **

and they say that deserving Laocoon (gr. acc.) paid for his crime,
 * insinuat pavor, et scelus expendisse merentem **

who struck the divine tree with a spear (metonomy?)
 * 230 Laocoonta ferunt, sacrum qui cuspide robur **

and he thrust the wicked spear at the back/body
 * laeserit et tergo sceleratam intorserit hastam.  **

they shout in unison that the statue must be led to the base and that the divine power of the goddess
 * ducendum ( esse ) ad sedes simulacrum orandaque ( esse ) divae **

must be prayed to.
 * numina conclamant.  **

we separate the walls and we open defenses of the city.
 * dividimus muros et moenia pandimus urbis.  **

everyone girds for the task and they put rollings of wheels
 * 235 accingunt omnes operi pedibusque rotarum **

under the feet (dat.), and they extend hempen ropes from the neck;
 * subiciunt (takes dat.) lapsus, et stuppea vincula collo (abl. of separ) **

the fatal machine, pregnant with arms, climbs the walls.
 * intendunt; scandit fatalis machina muros **

boys and unwed girls sing (songs) around (it)
 * feta armis. pueri circum innuptaeque puellae **

and they rejoice to touch the rope with their hand; //fatalis, guadent: juxtaposition//
 * sacra ( carmina) canunt funemque manu contingere gaudent; **

it (the machine) approaches and threatening glides into the middle of the city.
 * 240 illa ( antecedent machina) subit mediaeque minans inlabitur ( takes dat.) urbi. **

o fatherland, o troy home of the gods and walls of the Dardans (trojans) famous in war!
 * o patria, o divum domus Ilium et incluta bello **

four times on the threshold itself of the gate it stopped and
 * moenia Dardanidum! quater ipso in limine portae **

four times the arms gave the sound from the belly (abl. source of seperation);
 * substitit atque utero sonitum quater arma dedere ( syncopated) ;  **

we press on nevertheless unmindful and blind with fury
 * instamus tamen immemores caecique furore  **

and we stand the unlucky monster on the hallowed citadel.
 * 245 et monstrum infelix ( acc. with monstrum) sacrata sistimus arce. **

even at that time Cassandra opens her mouth to the future fates
 * tunc etiam fatis aperit Cassandra futuris  **

not ever trusted by the trojans by the order of the god (apollo).
 * ora dei iussu non umquam credita Teucris.  **

we miserable, for whom that day would be the last, veiled the
 * nos delubra deum miseri, quibus ultimus esset **

shrines of the gods with festive foliage throughout the city.
 * ille dies, festa velamus fronde per urbem. **

meanwhile the sky is turned and the night rushes from the ocean
 * 250 Vertitur interea caelum et ruit Oceano nox **

enveloping the earth, the heaven, and the tricks of the Myrmidons (Greeks)
 * involvens umbra magna terramque polumque  **

with a great shadow; the Trojans, poured through walls, //tricolon:->makes deceits seem like natural event// //polysyndeton//
 * Myrmidonumque dolos; fusi per moenia Teucri  **

became silent (falling asleep); a sleep embraces their tired limbs.
 * conticuere; sopor fessos complectitur artus.  **